Activity

I think its a cool idea. Maybe a good way to test the waters, if you will, without offending anyone, would be to post photos and a description of a project that no member was involved with the design of. Just to see how it goes, establish ground rules like no ad hominem attacks, etc. Maybe it could be something in your town that was recently built…[Read more]

Yeah – I know – it seems huge, amorphous, something on the edge of imagination and technology….

Do you think it would be a “too many cooks” kind of thing? Would our opinions and expertise be too widely divergent? Could we organize regionally? It would be really neat if we could get an online charette or critique going at any rate.

The…[Read more]

tanya, I feel bereft of ideas on this topic, and it is bothering me…I have been trying to think about it for 24 hours..what would work? A green design dream blog, a photomontage of twitter photos with landscape criticism – like/ don’t like…a mass charette on the design of – what?
how about a mass charette on the landscape implications of a…[Read more]

Chad, if you see me mugging people for work in front of a box store, just put a bullet between my eyes. Things are not that bad. It has actually been status quo for the three and a half years that I have been with this current firm. I should be thankful for that under this economy, but I’m looking to do better despite the economy.

Thanks Tanya.…[Read more]

The point is simple. When we are ill and can not decide what medications to take, we visit a doctor who is board certified. We trust board, b/c they control standard of the medical practitioners. Simply they control all including nurse, medical assistants etc. They don’t talk such that nurses are better doctors and so forth b/c they know their b…[Read more]

You might not want to have your profile picture be of you blowing smoke (weed?)… employers look at social networks… just a thought…

Brad:

I attended one of your two day workshops in SF a few years ago, and like everything else that one learns in intensive settings like that, either use it or lose. I have lost most of (perhaps even the CD from the workshop ….can you send me another ?)

In answer to your questions:

I would love to hear your thoughts on the following…[Read more]

yes, though not full time

Blake:

Thank you very much for this link. There is super-tonnage info there. Just what I was looking for.

Landplnr2001

1.Architects that I know and like – specifically for projects that don’t have the budget for a full LA firm, but need site design and planting help – so trying to find a niche there that takes advantage of my low overhead (single-person office).
2. biologists and ecologists with the national park service, national forest service and Nature…[Read more]

This discussion thread will wrap-up at the end of this week. It appears that there are two new ones that have just been started and probably will weave in well to what the summary of what everyone’s commentary in this forum has been so far. These new introductions also might provide a proactive (yeah, I know hard to keep that mindset these days)…[Read more]

Fantastic suggestions, all! Clearly I won’t be able to see everything, but you’re giving me a great start. If anything else comes to mind please keep adding to the list…

Hi, Andrew.
While I am currently employed managing a department that now has no staff (put my last guy on day-to-day yesterday morning as billable work is available; we’re in a bit of a lull before some new contracts kick in) and focused primarily on marketing to fill the pipeline, your question prompted this notion I might try if I were in…[Read more]

What do you think that looks like organizationally speaking? Yes – been thinking about it for a while wondering if its too crazy to bring up….I think it could work….just don’t know how…..
More ideas?

As someone who relies heavily on computers, even in schematic, it certainly makes selling the project to the client and to a municipal board MUCH easier. The old ‘cartoony’ style of presentations left a lot to the imagination and individual interpretation. The concepts were ‘optimized’ using artistic license to the point that the finished product…[Read more]

This is a good discussion. The common “thread to the thread” seems to be that graphic representation is important, but it does not substitute for knowledge and understanding about creating the built space.
I don’t use black & white line work because I think it works better. I use it primarily because I lacked hand drawing skills early in my…[Read more]

I’ve monitored this thread with intense interest. I’ve also refrained from tossing in my 2 cents because i have a very strong opinion. I hate the photo-realistic paste-up renderings that look and feel like scrapbook hobby work. I realize this is a harsh judgment. Yes, I have to cede there are probably good pieces that have been done, but, to me,…[Read more]

Pencil, pen, marker, mouse, keyboard, camera… they’re all tools. Means to an end. Digital technologies have made some aspects easier, yes. But it’s the use of those tools that makes something better, not the tool itself. Digital may save a great deal of time for a creative, talented designer, or allow them to move in new directions with new…[Read more]

Brilliant. I was thinking this for a while as well. My line of thinking was to offer review services on some large scale projects, such as whats going on with the National Mall. We do have public input (taken with a grain of salt, I’m sure), but I think targeted PROFESSIONAL peer opinions, or even charettes, would be very beneficial to these kind…[Read more]

NO