Creative Space2

Art 200 / Greg Clayton

Create a small, efficient space that facilitates creative process.

Creative Space2

Individual Design Problem: (you work on your own)

Ideal workstation for a single
a) Graphic Designer/Web Designer, 
b) Interior Designer, 
c) Artist/Illustrator, OR
d) (you define who your client is). 

Max 8’x8’x8’ ft. space.

Present on a 11x17 sheet/board.
Any materials may be considered for the design and presentation— as long as they satisfy the functional and aesthetic concept of your space.

Design Problem—Limited: (collaborative design team)

Ideal workstation for a small design office
 a) Graphic Designer/Web Designer, 
b) Interior Designer, 
c) Artist/Illustrator, OR
d) (you define client). 

Max 8’x8’x16’ ft. space.
(alt: you may design any space that has the same volume as this space — 1024 cu. ft.)

Goals:
Create a space that inspires sustained creative activity.
Create a space the meets as many functional needs and wants as possible.
Communicate your concept and your design clearly, concisely and aesthetically.

Present on a 30x40 sheet/board.
Prepare and organize the presentation.
Provide large headings to orient the viewer.
Group or cluster images to organize related content; separate groupings with adequate negative space and/or borders.
Include explanatory notes as needed.
Include at least one plan view or isometric view that orients the viewer to the overall use of space.
Show details where helpful.
Include client description and content statements.
Select a very few colors to unifiy the presentation graphically, and to provide adequate contrast.

Due Dates/Stage:
1st Presentation — informal sketches and notes arranged for class feedback.
2nd/Final Presentation — 30"x40" board organized to professionally, concisely communicate your concept and design

Present your Initial Concept (Individual Design)

Create an 11x17 (max)  concept presentation. 
Present any notes, ideas, materials, equipment, views, etc. that might introduce us to your distinctive conception of your ideal workspace.  This may be very rough…this quick presentation  is an organized collection of ideas, not a finished design.

Include a concept statement describing what you are aiming for — what are the distinct and unique qualities of your creative space? What does benefits or functions does this space offer? (content/functional concept) 

Describe the client briefly — what kind of designer works here?  What kind of design work is done here?  (client concept)

What graphic/visual forms will dominate and unify your design (graphic concept).

Presentation/Graphic Communication Issues:

As you arrange your ideas on your board, think about emphasis and relief — make sure there is enough relief space to keep your presentation from feeling cluttered and disorganized.

Think about graphic hierarchy— what visual “information” should be very prominent, and what can be subdued?

Think also about alignment as a strategy for introducing a sense of order.  What edges (of photos, sketches or text blocks) might be aligned?

Think about the border or bounding space —  leave enough  relief space “outside” the design, to help “frame” the area that has imagery and information.

Suggestions

Brainstorm, List & Inventory what you need:
List the tasks that you must complete in order to create what you create — what tasks or activities are actually done in this space?
List the equipment or resources that must be accessible in order for you to do what you do.
List and describe the workspace that must be available in order to complete each task — particularly, how much space is needed? What work surfaces (desks, drawing boards, computer monitors, pin-up boards) are needed for each task.
Describe what inspires you — what gets your ideas flowing? What gets you curious and eager to explore new solutions? What situations evoke a sense of wonder in you?

Sketch lots of ideas...quickly. There is no "right" answer to this. Give yourself lots of options — require yourself to create 20 possibilities in 10 minutes. (really...you can do it.)
Then step back and see which ones seem more "right" than the others. Explore what's missing in each idea. Note the "must have" features in each idea.
Refine, combine, revise as needed — sketch more.
Then clean up several of the best concepts as best possible — take them to the next level of clarity, detail and completeness.

Remember that your idea is more important than your skill...but push your craftsmanship as far as you can. Craftsmanship affects how well you concept will be communicated to others.

Imagery for Presentations:

Sketch all you can, but feel free to grab imagery of existing objects/equipment — don't draw what you can find images of.

Use a photocopier to duplicate, enlarge or reduce found or created images.  (you can also lighten or darken images.)  Consider including a label or title.  Are notes or explanations needed? (remember all of Rube Goldberg’s notes?) 

Sketch over Isometric or Persective templates to quickly rough in 3D sketches of your concept.
Use a light table, and trace over these templates. These are PDF files -- most print on tabloid (11"x17") sheets. Each template offers a slightly different view of your space.

Isometric — 30°x30° A moderately "bird's eye", centered view.	Isometric — 20°x20°	Isometric — 10°x10° A fairly low angled, centered view.
3 pt. perpective grid from above.	(another) 3pt Perspective Grid.

 

Sketch — Exploration & Communication

Recall the 4 roles of sketching discussed in class: ideation/generation, refining/analyzing concepts, seeing/percieving, and communicating.
You may not do any "seeing" sketches for this project, but each of the other three tasks will be used.

Explore sketching as a tool for analysis of necessary features/traits (list, describe or show features that need to be included, or features  that have been included in other related designs, or features  the might  be included.)

Explore sketching as tool for ideating.  Record every wild idea that comes.   Make notes as needed – ideas  may be  recorded in words or in images. 

Explore sketching as a tool for getting deeper into the solution – sketch other views or close up details…use your sketches to make your ideas concrete and specific so that any problems become more  obvious before you finalize your  design.

Explore sketching as a tool for communicating your concept to others.  What are the essential views or  features that must  be  presented in order for others to comprehend how your design/idea is  unique?

Creative Spaces

Explore what other designers and creative folks have done. Most businesses thrive on creative ideas — some businesses work hard to provide environments that nurture and open-ended, focused, creative process. Below are some photos and articles dealing with creative work spaces. Be sure to send me links to any sites/sources that have good ideas or examples.

Pixar	10 seeeeeriously cool workplaces	ClearLeft (graphic design firm) Flickr
	Inspiring Workplaces photo pool (Flickr)	MindLab (Flickr) An egg to create in.
	Office Design That Drives Creativity	Creative Workplaces
	Creative Office Design	Inspiring Office Spaces
Link Between Creativity And Office Design (article)	Design That Drives Creativity (article)	Office Design Gallery

Send me links to images of, or info on places that inspire the best!

Glossary | | | Ideal Creative Space || Isometric Instructions