#94 At the end of the day, your spaces are for people
I see it, I hear it, I feel it…
“I WANT MY DESIGN TO BE COOL!!!”
The concept of “Cool” is actually, to me, very important, but what gets lost in the design process sometimes is how the space works and feels for the user. I remember in the beginning of my schooling I would spend countless hours of designing to make my spaces look awesome, but I would get to critique and the jury would always remind me that my spaces were for people and they needed to be designed in a way that would encourage people to feel a certain way. You need to think about the intent of your spaces, and how you want people to feel. If you are designing a pool, do you want it to feel open and public, or closed and private? Maybe there is a mixture of spaces and each space gives its own aesthetic? Either way, when you are designing, think about the details. Think about what it would be like to walk in the space. How would it feel standing still, looking up, leaning on surfaces, sitting on the steps, running…
I do encourage you to design your spaces artistically. Do not be afraid to make something interesting, or maybe it is very simplistic, but at the end of the day, remember your program, remember your intent, and remember that your spaces are for people. Make it a great experience.