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Tips and resources for managing, producing and presenting your thesis

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Presentation tips for Architects, Part I

ARTICLE:

I came across this old article on ArchDaily - if you ignore the lame stock photos, there is some good advice in the article itself. Definitely relevant to a final presentation. As a rule though, it's probably best to avoid picturing your lecturers and external critics naked. 

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ADVICE - BOOK DESIGN - TYPOGRAPHY

Effective use of typography can really improve the overall aesthetic of your Thesis Book or Dissertation. Check out this article which has some great, simple advice on the use of typography/fonts.

  I would advise that you pay particular attention to the visual hierarchy of your text, particularly headings and sub-headings. If you spend a little time deciding which fonts you like and want to use from the outset, it will save time when you start to bring your content into the book layout. Will you stick with either a serif or sans-serif font, or use a contrast of both? This article suggests using a serif for headings and sans-serif for body text. Personally, I opted for the opposite - it's really up to your own judgement and taste. The main thing is that you always keep readability in mind. Be totally consistent in the font/size/positioning of your headings, and your book will look great and most effectively display all of your hard work.

  Any questions on book design? Ask away, and I'll keep posting anything useful that I come across between now and the end of the semester.

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At any stage in your architectural education, it is important to be able to source and use reference material. This is particularly true when it comes to detailing.

You will find your own preferred manufacturers of glazing, pre-cast concrete, etc, and we have provided some below to get you started.

One issue you may find is that manufacturers provide details in .pdf format, which may not be very useful if you are drawing in AutoCad.

However, using Adobe Illustrator, you can convert any vector drawing to .dwg format, allowing you to directly copy and paste the drawing into your own file.

You can see how at http://www.recordrepresent.com/convert-pdf-to-dwg/

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BOOK: STUDIO CRAFT & TECHNIQUE

If you're in 3rd Year or 4th Year, this book is definitely worth getting your hands on before you reach the end of your time at architecture school. And if you're in your thesis year, it's still not too late to benefit from the practical simplicity of the book's contents - it outlines really useful information and methods that will stand to you even after you have graduated. Written by Miriam Delaney and Anne Gorman. See the website for more info or to purchase a copy. There are 4 copies in the Bolton Street library.

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DRAWING: DETAILS

Some nice detail drawings by Architekti DRNH

fabriciomora:

Gardening Center - Architekti DRNH

[fabriciomora]

Europan 12 ( Italy,Milano) Landscape Transition

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DRAWING: ISOMETRIC DIAGRAMS, EUROPAN 12

There's something a bit nice about these. Personally I'm not big into info-graphic type labeling but these are well done. The application of some kind of selective texture to a traditional isometric line drawing is effective. Have a look at the project in the link.

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LINK: LAYOUT AND BINDING

Here is a link to a useful website about book layout.

Also, check out Duffy Bookbinder's website. Duffy's premises is on Seville Place, Dublin 1. There's a lot of useful info on the site. Don't leave it until the day before your hand up to find out where Duffy's is! I definitely did not do that.

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ADVICE: BOOK LAYOUT

Have you started laying out your book yet?? You should have! Well at least you should have started thinking about how you might want it to look.

This applies to everyone, but especially to thesis students - you have a lot of work to do, and often the idea of putting a book/report together on top of everything else is daunting. Here's a few pointers on the subject (note - I will keep adding to this list, also if you have any questions, ask away) :

- Sketch out (even roughly) page layout ideas. This is something we all know how to do from wall presentations every other week. You're just translating your knowledge into a slightly different (and longer!) format.

- Still on layout, think of clever and simple ways to keep your book interesting - you may end up with well over 100 pages, so it needs to be visually delightful. One easy way to achieve this is to have some page templates. Here are some examples:

       a) Clearly define chapter/section headings - you should try to keep these on the right hand page consistently.

       b) Create standard templates for body text/drawing layouts etc, and then create special pages - a full bleed image, a significant photo and quote, whatever - and spread these at intervals throughout the book - have a contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This will create a good pace, whether somebody is reading the book or just quickly leafing through.

      c) Be totally consistent, always use the same style for each of your templates - fonts, positioning etc. Obviously you can play around within this consistency once it has been established, but if it is not there from the beginning a book can look cobbled together.

(I will try to get back again soon with more on these points, and show some examples to illustrate.)

- Get to know InDesign. At the same time, imagine the real product. Do small test prints. Remember to always allow at least a 3-4cm margin for binding. This will vary depending on the amount of pages you have, but it is a good rule of thumb. Also, use placeholder text and images, then all your finished work will just slot into place.

More later!

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BOOK: THE DISSERTATION - IAIN BORDEN

If you're feeling stuck writing you might have a look at this book, if you haven't already been directed to it by a friend or a tutor. There are several copies of it in the Bolton Street library, of both the 1st and 2nd edition.

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ESSAY: 'WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ANALOGUE ARCHITECTURE' - ADAM CARUSO

This is an interesting read ahead of this evening's AAI lecture from Miroslav Sik. It provides a bit of insight into the context of the ETH at the time of Aldo Rossi and Robert Venturi's visiting professorships and their effect on the following generation of Swiss-German architects.

Click here to read

"The promise of Rossi and of Venturi was put to good use, and results in a substantial body of buildings and projects by Herzog de Meuron, Diener and Diener, Sik and others. Works that use typology to rediscover a purpose and a place for architecture in the city, buildings that employ ‘normal’ construction techniques to extraordinary artistic ends, work that also develops a critical attitude towards building in the city, neither blind ‘reconstruction of the European city’ nor a prolongation of the post war indifference."

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EVENT: EXHIBITION - 'DUBLIN SHOPS' BY PAUL TIERNEY

Date: Wednesday 12th March - Friday 25th April 2014

This exhibition of photography from Paul Tierney is opening this evening (Tuesday 11th) with a wine reception at the Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square, at 6pm.

Paul's work is well worth viewing by anyone interested in architectural photography. Also, there is a lunchtime lecture series to accompany the exhibition's run.

For more info click here 

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EVENT: DIT GRADUATE WORKSHOP @ LINENHALL

6pm, Studio 6, DSA Linenhall

"On Thursday the 13th we will have another Graduate Workshop on Rhino, Vray & Photoshop with Olwyn Helen Greene.  Hope to see you all there at 6 in the Studio 6 Seminar Space. Sorry for anyone was saw the incorrect date."   - ASA

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MODEL

Christoph Hiestand + Prof. Tom Emmerson - Switzerland

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archimodels:

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REPRAP 3D PRINTER

While we're still on the subject of DIY - check out this video about the self-replicating 3D printer. Recent graduate Shane Fitzpatrick successfully manufactured his own 3D printer during his thesis year.

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TOG HACKER SPACE - CHANCERY LANE, DUBLIN

"TOG is a hackerspace based in Dublin City Centre. It is a shared space where members can have a place to be creative and work on their projects in an environment that is both inspiring and supportive of both new and old technologies."

TOG could be an interesting place to visit, especially if you have some kind of construction project to undertake. There are a lot of different facilities and equipment available to members and visitors. Check the website for more details and events. They even have a class running at the moment where you can learn how to build your own hot wire foam cutter.

www.tog.ie

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DUBLIN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Follow the DSA Blog here:

http://dublinschoolofarchitecture.tumblr.com/

image: Geological Core Store (2013) by Petie Barry

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LECTURE: EMERGING LANDSCAPES

Lecture: Emerging Landscapes: Between Research and Practice by Krystallia Kamvasinou

Venue: Memorial Hall, UCD School of Architecture, Richview

Date: Thursday 27th March 2014, 13.00-14.00

Organised by: UCD School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture

Admission: This is a free event - all welcome

"This talk will look into the importance of ‘research for practice’ and will introduce ‘research through practice’ as a gateway into the academic profession. The talk will build on a personal perspective spanning over 14 years of doing research that ranges from design experiments with motion perception and video representation, to documentary film making in India, and from the advancement of theory through refereed publications to surveying temporary land use community initiatives in London through interviews, filming and web blogging."

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