Design Process : A Primer for Architectural and Interior Design

Design Process A Primer for Architectural and Inerior Designers Sam F. Miller, AIA First, you'll learn how to look at building components and materials inside and out, evaluating: structural materials; heating, electrical, and plumbing systems; aesthetics and light; the site; movement of people and traffic; and ecological considerations. Then, you'll learn why research is important and why you need to be familiar with particular building types - hospitals, museums, manufacturing facilities, airports, libraries, office buildings, and mixed-use structures - before you even think about designing. And you'll take a look at building codes and local zoning ordinances. After a thorough grounding in the physical, you'll meet that all-important client and learn how to find out what they really want as you develop a list of goals, problems to be solved, and design requirements. You'll learn how to brainstorm with the client and discover why it's important to involve the client in the design process from beginning to end. Next, you'll learn how to give shape to your ideas as you explore sketching and techniques for model building; then you'll refine your design, building on the synergism of sketching and modeling. You'll even learn how to surmount those inevitable dead ends with tried-and-true techniques from the pros. Finally, you'll learn how to package the results of your labors in a professional presentation as Miller discusses the merits and drawbacks of various presentation methods. Plus, the author includes candid interviews with some of the field's most respected designers: R. Scott Johnson, Bart Prince, and Steve Badanes, among others, to give you the perspectives of working professionals at different levels. Whether you're a novice in the classroom or an old hand with a celebrated clientele, you'll get a fresh look at the elusive design process in this real-world primer.