Outdoor Classroom
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Overview:
Title: Outdoor Classroom Size: 60.96 cm x 91.44 cm Medium: Hand drawn and digital sketches mounted onto foam core Date of Completion: April 2023 Exhibition Text: The objective of this outdoor classroom is to create a solution to the current problem that students face: a lack of comfort and classrooms that dont function well in their learning. Using Frank Lloyd Wright as an inspiration and techniques learned from Murph and Thornton, I was able to use pencil and digital sketches to include on a poster to compile all of my ideas. I wanted to create a solution that is both functional, comfortable, and visually appealing. |
Inspiration: Frank Lloyd Wright
The designer that I was inspired by is Frank Lloyd Wright. I researched many industrial designers and architectural designers but was immediately inspired by his works. However, I was not inspired by everything. I was mostly inspired by how clean and simple his works are and also the use of wood in his pieces. In my sketches I intended for my structure to be mostly wooden. I was also inspired by what appears to be an office space on the right. I also liked how simple the office part is. In my design I also intend for there to only be tables and chairs. Overall, I feel like i was inspired by just the ideas of his works but it did play a part in the creation of my sketches.
Planning
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The next step in my plan was to create a quick rough sketch of my potential idea. I knew right away what my idea was going to be. I knew that I wanted to have a large wooden canopy with some kind of table with chairs. This sketch that I made is just a quick pencil sketch with minimal details. However I was able to quickly build off of it and create more sketches.
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Process
After I completed this sketch, in class we did the ideation on the white boards. I used the previous sketch and added a few more small details. This white board ideation was able to help me critique my own ideas and also add more ideas. I was inspired by some other designs that I saw and added my own flare to them in my final sketch. I was also able to get really great feedback from people. I think that this ideation process was a key moment in coming up with ideas. It really made me think on a whole other level.
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After the white board ideation, I created my final sketch. In the final sketch I gathered my original ideas and my new ideas. I added some new components, such as a heater, solar panels, plants, and another table. I think that all of this goes back to my "why" for doing this project: making people feel comfortable and welcome in the new space. I think that these new additions will make the space feel more welcoming and home-like.
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I also did more up close drawings of some of the components of the piece. I did drawings of the table that would have a storage area and the chair that could potentially be used in the space. I also made some descriptions of the components. I included the pros to these components to show why these could be potentially bonuses.
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The next thing was going to MIAD to present the ideas that I already had in mind. For this I made two posters that help to show my thought process and the drawings that I had come up with. I was able to get feedback from fellow classmates that helped me to improve the drawings and Ideas that I already had.
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Then Thornton started to come into art class to help us sharpen up our ideas and teach us some new skills. The skills included straight lines without a ruler, multiplication and division of squares, isometric and orthographic drawings. We did many different practices (seen in the experimentation section). With these new skills I was able to work on my pre existing sketches and also work on a new rough sketch.
On the right is one example of the practices |
The last step in the process was to work on my poster for my next MIAD presentation. To prepare for this I had to include what the problem was, what my objective was, the inspirations, existing solutions (and pros and cons), and lastly my ideation and concept drawings. I composed all of these, some of which I already had, into photopea to create the poster. After everything was laid out, I had it printed and glues it down to foam core.
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Experimentation
All of these drawings were done when Thornton came to the school to help us refine our skills. These practices were done to teach us multiplication and division of squares, straight lines without a ruler, and dimensions. All of these practices were helpful in making my sketches more organized and cleaner. I believe that these practice were very helpful to certain aspects of my project.
Critique
For the critique I will be comparing and contrasting my final sketch to the inspiration pieces created by Frank Lloyd Wright. To start, I was very inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright because I loved how simplistic and clean they look. I love how even though they are simple, they still look welcoming. In my piece, I also wanted the structure to be fully wooden because I think it feels more home-like and simple. As seen above, that is a similarity to the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Another similarity is the clean edges that come with the simplistic form. There are many differences however. One difference is that the seating in mine is very mch different. I think for the purpose of an outdoor classroom we need seating that is comfortable but not to the extent of the seats on the left. I decided to include a rolling chair because it is comfortable but also easy to work in. I needed my design to be heavily functional because of its purpose. Another difference is that my canopy is a very open structure. This allows for natural light and fresh air. The designs by Frank Lloyd Wright appear to be enclosing which would not work for my outdoor classroom. Overall you can see that I did use the works of Frank Lloyd Wright as somewhat of an inspiration while also making this piece fully my own.
Reflection
This project has been very exciting for me because it has given me an opportunity to express how I feel about the current classroom spaces along with how my classmtes and friends feel about them. I love that I am able to give ideas about how we could create a space that is functional and welcoming for students because I feel like we currently lack that. Overall this process has given me a lot of insight into the specific reasons why students feel certain ways in school. A lot of it has to do with being in an enclosed building with a lack of natural light and classrooms that are boring and dull. I was able to do a lot of research to determine ways to fix this problem. I was able to use my creative side to come up with aesthetically pleasing while also funtional. The easiest part of this project was doing the sketches and the hardest part was presenting because of my nerves. Overall this was a very enjoyable process.
ACT questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause and effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
With my piece and the inspiration pieces I am able to see a cause and effect relationship when it comes to the material that would be used for the piece. also in the clean edges and simplicity. The cause and effect relationship is evident in the visual aspects.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Frank Lloyd Wright has the approach of creating spaces that people can use that is functional and visually appealing.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I have come up with many conclusions throughout my research. The main conclusions that I have made from talking to fellow classmates and friends is that the learning process can sometimes be difficult because of the learning environment. The classrooms sometimes make it hard for students to focus and stay awake.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research is personal comfort.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While doing my research I had made the inference that students would prefer only comfort over the visual aspect for the outdoor classroom but I think that is a wrong inference.
With my piece and the inspiration pieces I am able to see a cause and effect relationship when it comes to the material that would be used for the piece. also in the clean edges and simplicity. The cause and effect relationship is evident in the visual aspects.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Frank Lloyd Wright has the approach of creating spaces that people can use that is functional and visually appealing.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I have come up with many conclusions throughout my research. The main conclusions that I have made from talking to fellow classmates and friends is that the learning process can sometimes be difficult because of the learning environment. The classrooms sometimes make it hard for students to focus and stay awake.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research is personal comfort.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While doing my research I had made the inference that students would prefer only comfort over the visual aspect for the outdoor classroom but I think that is a wrong inference.
Citations
Ray, Debika. "A Forgotten Frank Lloyd Wright Masterpiece Is Finally Getting Its Due." Architectural Digest. 14 Apr. 2020. Web. 1 Dec. 2022.
Staff, AD. "6 Lesser Known Frank Lloyd Wright Architectural Works You Didn't Know Existed." Architectural Digest India. Architectural Digest India, 06 June 2017. Web. 1 Dec. 2022.
Staff, AD. "6 Lesser Known Frank Lloyd Wright Architectural Works You Didn't Know Existed." Architectural Digest India. Architectural Digest India, 06 June 2017. Web. 1 Dec. 2022.