Freshman Year, Judson University
Learning Design Essentials
My first year at Judson focused on basic two and three-dimensional design philosophy. See below for some of my favorite projects from that time
- We were directed to put down every emotion and emotion-evoking word or phrase onto paper, using different writing styles and sizes determined by the weight of the word or phrase, changing the angles and allowing things to overlap. At first, this was silly, then, a meditative release. And then, when we were directed to cut up our emotions into squares and arrange them to make beauty, the metaphor flew over our heads. Weeks later, after using the same building blocks to establish an understanding of simple design rules, we pinned our 3 x 5 boards for critique.
- I hated blind contour; my mind just did not work in outlines, nor my eyes with spatial tracking. When we moved on to cross contour, I was a bit better, I could understand it a little more, for having trained in blind contour. To do both at the same time? A mess. I spent hours hating my inability and trying to make it work. To this day, I'm proud of this piece. It may just be lines, but I swear I can make out the drooping and bundled blanket, the solid chair and desk. beyond it.
- This was my first "architectural" project. It was an attempt at using a standard kit of parts—some masses, some skins, some sticks—of regular dimensions to invoke volumes of space. I'm not convinced I did well, but I know that the skills I learned doing this project allowed me to begin to understand space and void as things which can be designed.