Helix Design Inc

For the Chicago Architecture Today design competition I am working with Helix Design Inc. In our previous meeting we were asked to sketch some rough ideas for a possible logo to represent our firm. Adjectives that we thought would be important in incorporating into our logos were: fluidity, 2 towers, greens and greys, sustainable design, and futuristic. Here are a couple of logos that I have been working on individually.

For the Avenues event the Professional Practice students had the opportunity to sign up for mock interviews with a variety of different design firms. This gave us a chance to have a professional in the field review and give us feedback on our Personal Marketing Packages we did for our class.

Over the past few years I begun to lean more towards graphics and photography, and since there wasn't a professional photographer there to speak with I interviewed with Keith from Out of Our Minds Studio an Animation and Graphics Studio. The interview was very helpful in regards to my portfolio, I received great feedback, but I was disappointed that Keith said his firm was shying away from doing graphics, which is what I was really interested in talking about.

Networking - VA Tech Alumni Association

As one fo my Networking Events I attended the NC Triad Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Even though this event is usually catered to only VA Tech Alumni, the UNCG students that attended were welcomed with open arms. The event was hosted by Tom Hughes the President of the NC Triad Chaper. It was held in the Volvo Trucks North America building located in Greensboro, NC.

The event started with a brief H'orderves social followed by a presentation by Jack Davis the Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech. Jack introduced one of the colleges biggest projects the Lumenhaus. The Lumenhaus is a 100% self sustaining house that draws inspiration from The Farnsworth House by Miles Van Der Rohe. The house began as a research project in 2002 and developed in to a full scale building, that has entered many competitions including one in Madrid Spain where it came in first place. Since coming back to the USA the house has been featured in Times Square NY, and Millennium Park in Chicago.

I really enjoyed hearing about a different way of approaching design, which I think VA Tech does, and the fact that they are using research and actually full-scale builds to create new and innovative approaches to design.

Phase II: Strategy and Tactics

[Re]visioning 614-618 S. Elm St.

A brief synapses of our current Studio project:

This studio will be concentrating on a historic commercial building located in downtown Greensboro. Since the mid 1940's Deal's Printing company has housed it's business in the lower level of the building. Since then Charlie and Ruth Jones have bought out the building and have began to envision many new ideas they hope to instill in the buildings future.

The first week of our studio was dedicated to the introduction of the project, and the owners of the building. Phase I consisted of Site visit, Interviews and Research. Our first site visit was on Wed 12th. Charlie and Ruth gave our class a tour of the building while noting key parts of the building that presented present problems as well as hopes for certain spaces. After our initial tour we broke off into groups to begin measuring the space for our digital model as well as our other break down groups for the project. After the allocated amount of time for measurements and pictures we meet back upstairs with the Jones' where we were able to get a more formal idea of who they were as people and as a non-profit company. We also had a chance to ask them more in-depth questions about where they saw the building going and their main goals for the building.

Here is an idea of what they Jones' envision:

1st Floor:

• Central lobby area that will give customers access to both PB&Java and Theater space.
  
• PB&Java: a cafe that will offer the public of Greensboro multiple varieties of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Large enough for 49 people.
  
• A theater space that will encompass a 36" high stage, movable seating and if possible a full backstage area. Large enough to seat 150 people.
• Shared restrooms adjacent to both the cafe and theater.

2nd Floor:

• 6 Dormitory style rooms that will hold 2 interns each.
  
• Shared restrooms, kitchen and living quarters for interns.
  
• 3 Private guest rooms that will house guest of Charlie and Ruth. (Must have private access to 3rd floor)
• Shared restroom for guests.

3rd Floor:

• Private residence for Charlie and Ruth.
  
• Larger kitchen, prep, and storage space for "the Grub"
• Studio office for Ruth.

Assignment 1.0

For our first assignment in Professional Practice we were asked to submit a Cover Letter, Resume, and Single Page Summary Portfolio. This assignment would be used in determining which of the four Mock Firm Groups we would be placed in for a later assignement. We had a very short period of time to put these together in order to meet the competition deadline, which was helpful for me as I work better under pressure.

Welcome Events

At Napier University they have what is called "Fresher's Week" which is basically a week of social activities for new, returning and international students to get to know each other, make new friends and integrate. Some events were free, some you could purchase a Freshers Week Pass and head to all the late night pubs with after party after after party, and others you purchased individual tickets specifically for that event. I happened to purchase two individual tickets to the Safari Tour and the Pitlochry Highland Games.

the Safari Tour: We went to one of Scotland's Premier Safari Parks, Blair Drummond. Here they had what your normal zoo's have, except the cages. All the animals roamed freely. Downfall was when you went to see animals such as lions you could only drive by, no walking. Plus was we were able to ride a wave boat to a loan island where they kept their chimpanzee's.

Here's a few pictures from Blair Drummond:



Pitlochry Highland Games: One of the most associated things with Scotland is the Highland Games and I just happened to be so lucky as to see one of the last official games held in Scotland for the 2010 season. The games were held in a small town called Pitlochry. It is a very picturesqe town, with little tea shops, sheep shops, and your tourist hussel and bussel. There was tartan and kilts everywhere, even a few "true traditional" highlanders. We were able to experience pipe bands, solo piping, highland dancing, tossing the caber, throwing the hammer, tug of war, track events, cycling, and a pipe band parade. Plus there was food and whiskey galore.

Here's a few pictures from the Games:

Highland Dancing:


Solo Piping:

Tossing the Caber:

Throwing the Hammer:

Tug of War:

Track Events:

Pipe Band Parade:

Extra:

A Series of Events

Its been a while...but a very busy while for me. So many fun and exciting things have taken place since my last post, so I thought I would finally tune you all in on all my adventures.

Lets see where to begin...Only a few days after meeting my new flatmates we all decided to do one of the staples of Edinburgh - visit the Royal Mile or High Street. This is the street that connects both the Castle and Palace of Holyroodhouse (where the Queen stays on vacation). This street is the most popular street in Edinburgh, lined with shops, pubs and more history than most know about. It is also surrounded by a maze of medieval wynds and closes (I now know where JK Rowling got her inspirations for Harry Potter).

The majority of the buildings located on the Royal Mile are 17th- to 19th century tenement buildings. And despite the name the Royal "Mile" is actually a little longer than a mile. The "Royal" comes from being used by past kings and queens as a processional route between the castle, parliament and the palace.

Here's a few pictures from our stroll:

The Whitehart Inn - where i tried Haggis, Tatties and Neeps for the first time.


St. Giles Cathedral - known for its stained glass and organ. This is also where John Knox served as a minister.



The Copper Man - yes that's a real man, if you don't put money in his cup he'll hit you with his sword.


John Knox's House - one of the oldest surviving tenement, dates from around 1490.


One of the many closes found down the Royal Mile.


"the largest, longest and finest street for buildings and number of inhabitants, not only in Britain, but in the world"
- Daniel Degoe 1723