Week 7 Team Question.

What kinds of intentions do sketches (in terms of drawings, ideas and writing) capture well and not so well?

Sketches are seen to be a VERY important part of any architectural project. The intention of sketches is to develop and change any ideas created throughout the design stage of a project. These sketches usually are very rough to begin with and then develop to more detailed sketches during the entire design phase.

These very rough sketches are usually very hard to understand or comprehend (possibly only understood be the designer themselves), but the intention of his/her design is there to see. These sketches show what the designer wants in their design, even though changes will occur, but there intention will always be there. These intentions will be different for every designer and these intentions will also need to reflect what the client wants as well.

Even though all intentions are different, some they all have there own interpretation on universal intentions. They would include:

· Layout
· Exterior/interior design
· Movement
· Lighting?

Sketches are used by designers themselves so they can express there ideas and intention in a pictorial format, rather then boring and mundane words. Designers think and express their ideas as pictures, and sketches are used so they can view their own ideas on paper. Some sketches done by designers can expand a whole sketch book, full of ideas, inspirations and intention they wish to explore in their design. Sketches help to express and communicate these ideas that only pictures can do. We must remember the saying, a picture can tell 1000 words, and this is so true with sketches. One can only image if their we no sketches to express one’s ideas.

Even though sketches are seen as helpful, they can cause problems.

Because sketches are just that, sketches, some people may not be able to understand or comprehend what the intention of the designer is. If I was someone who was seeing a piece of paper with lines or over the place, I would think more then likely they will not understand what the designer is doing. I would compare to to an artwork with lines going everywhere, most people will just look at it and think what’s is going on in this person head, while others will understand what the intention of the artist is, be that an expression of ones self or making a statement. So to are sketches in architecture. Only people with enough training will understand what the intention of the designer is when seeing a sketch for the first time.

But despite this, sketches are very important and are necessary. Without them, no one will understand what the thinking or intention of the designer is.

I know this only scratch the surface of what is a very large topic area and I could go on for ever, but I hope this helps to understand sketches in connection with intent.