How do we get ideas out? From where will the ideas come out from? If we have a recipe for success, we need a bowl (metaphor) for the ingredients to mix in. And what are the ingredients to make an interesting and success-oriented design? What would make the critics get excited?
The questions asked are pointing towards understanding the process of design, and in particular the shape and form of the design. Imagine, from no shape, to some form, and to a ‘final’ form…hence the title.
However firstly, the designer should be the biggest critic.
In the game of design, a designer should acquire the highest level of learning, which is the ability to judge his or her design. The discerning eye for the good, the bad and the ugly, will give a sense of conviction, a sense of direction and the power to articulate and debate with the designer’s critics.
Secondly, we need to ask whether there is a thing called “Creative Intelligence”? For the studio masters, are we in the business of educating architects? If we are, we are equally in the business of creating and facilitating the environment for creative intelligence to flourish. The other words for "creative" are: original; innovative; resourceful and; ingenious.
Intelligence is to do with the intellect and brain power.We then know that the beginning phases of a creative endeavour is a very important period when all components of the design need to be mixed together, to work with each other, and if that happens quickly in the first few days of the design process, the rhythm and pace of the game (or design process) can be controlled easier. It's all about tactics at the beginning of the process. The strategy to win in the end was envisioned earlier on, but the tactics to win as the design process proceeds, little by little, is what counts the most. Has the designer this skill? This skill to form and shape, and to keep to the ideas and concept in the early design processes.
There is a beginning and an end to every creative endeavour. Will the designer recognize this?Concentration is vital. The designer’s activity may clash with the managing other work activities. When you have many things going on at the same time, concentration will not be easy to achieve. We get distracted easily from the game or what we should be doing, planning and creating chances and putting together the pieces to make things happen.
We need to watch out for the designer who panicked easily. We need to point this out to them. Don't break down. Don't fold. Keep the shape and form of your design by not panicking and by being cool. Keep the original ideas working and not panicked by starting back to square one when you have something already done for weeks. For example, the role of the studio master is to make the students aware of the design process. The studio master is the partner to the students’ success.
In the design process, the designer needs to allow the shape and form to emerge by facilitating all input and discussion. By facilitating, it means that input needs to be processed. If it's useful, use it immediately. By being resourceful, the designer is being creative.There is a game going on in the design process. Control the game. Dictate the game. Win the tactics. However we need to know the opponent.Who is the opponent then? Is it the studio master or the guest critic?Well, they are just there to make the game happen, to “mirror” the designer’s judgment and introspection of the design.Usually we think that our opponent is the ‘other team’ or the critic, but it is actually the designer.
Hence, in a studio-based learning, the designer (student) needs to know him or herself well, the strengths and weaknesses that the designer has and how to act upon them. The realization of the strengths and weaknesses would need to be shown again and again by the studio master in the individual desk crits, group discussion and interim crits.
(This piece was derived from the earlier post. Pic at the top shows a cupcake and a pair of hands with camera phone at Eden Cafe, Amcorp Mall and the pic above shows hand-painted chocolates)
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