Brandon Young's Archive

I just read an interesting article in Architect about the potential for skyscrapers to be constructed from wood. Michael Green, a Canadian architect, collaborated with engineer Eric Karsh to envision how wood could be used to create structural systems that typically utilize steel or concrete, both of which are responsible for significant carbon emissions globally. Not only would the use of wood drastically reduce those emissions, it would also provide massive amounts of carbon storage. Here’s a link to a TED article (no video yet) and an ArchDaily article. Green and Karsh compiled their findings in a white paper that was published last March. You can download the paper here.

We will spend the first few weeks of the semester hearing (and seeing) from each student about their internship experience. This is an extremely valuable exercise for both the presenter and the audience. Shared experiences will surface, as well as unique ones. Hopefully, this will help illustrate the breadth of possibilities in field of design.

The presentations should answer the following questions:

1. What is the name, location and type of business/firm/store? (Include types of projects they typically work on.)
2. What types of experience did you gain? What types of projects did you work on? (Include visual examples of work completed – design sketches, site photos, construction photos, etc.)
3. Were your goals and expectation met? How and why or why not? (Include specific reflections on experience.)
4. What conclusions did you draw from the experience and how will they influence your career choice?

Let’s make this happen in Abilene. All of the big trucks may be a bit of an impediment, but we can do it. Cyclists unite!

Overview

In an effort to create a brand identity beyond the brandmark itself, students will apply color, typography, imagery and graphic elements to reinforce the brand across a variety of media. The goal is to create a consistent visual language for the brand that is infused with meaning and value, and provides unity through multiple applications.

Objectives:

• Investigate the use of typography, form/symbols and color to communicate meaning and unify the core concept
• Increase typographic skills (letter spacing, word spacing, leading, scale, proportion, etc.)
• Evaluate the use of information design
• Develop design process
• Refine drawing skills as an integral part of design thinking
• Increase proficiency of using software to manipulate and integrate type with objects

Assignment

Step 1: Choose one of the brandmarks you created this semester (projects 2 – 5). You may make small refinements to the mark if necessary, but there is not enough time for redesign.

Step 2: Using the brandmark as your foundation, choose five touchpoints (business card required) from the list below to reinforce the brand identity.

• Business Card (required)
• Letterhead
• Collateral (brochures, special publications, information graphics, etc.)
• Website (w/favicon)
• Signage/Environmental Graphics
• Product Design
• Packaging
• Advertising
• Environments
• Vehicles
• Uniforms
• Ephemera (a.k.a. goodies, swag, stuff)

Process Requirements:

• Sketches: 10 min. for each touchpoint
• Inspiration: Collect visuals for each touchpoint (3 min. for each = 15 min.)
• Reading: Designing Brand Identity, pgs. 124-171, 182-3

Final Deliverables

Brand Identity Book

• Format: size and orientation is up to you (8 x 10 min.), color, bound
• Cover: Include brandmark, can include title if desired
• Pages:
  • Table of Contents
  • Brandmark w/variations (color, b&w)
  • One page (min.) for each touchpoint (consider a spread for each)
  • Label pages with touchpoint and page number
• Back cover: include your name, ART 353: Identity and Brand Design, and Spring 2012

Process Documentation:

Neatly organize the following process documents in a report binder with your name on it.

• Photocopies of sketches (10 min. for each touchpoint)

Digital Files:

Upload PDFs of the brand identity book to the class dropbox on myACU.

Schedule & Deadline

• Mon., Apr. 16: Project introduced
• Wed., Apr. 18: Work day – touchpoints
• Fri., Apr. 20: Post inspiration to the blog
• Mon. Apr. 23: Workday – touchpoints
• Wed., Apr. 25: Workday – touchpoints
• Fri., Apr. 27: Workday – touchpoints
• Mon., Apr. 30: Critique – have prints of all work ready to pin-up @ beginning of class
• Wed., May 2: Workday – Brand Book
• Fri., May 4: Workday – Brand Book
• Finals Week: Final Presentation/Critique

Grading Criteria

Project = 20% of final course grade

Link to grading criteria

Student Examples:

• CityLink 1
• CityLink 2
• VPUG
• Ecomagination
• GE Energy
• BioShell

Overview

This project continues the exploration of different types of brandmarks, specifically those that incorporate the brand name in their creation. The challenge, besides designing a visually striking brandmark, is to discern which type of mark is most effective for the client. Please refer to the previous project and/or your text for a description of the different types of brandmarks. Here’s a good online resource with examples of each.

Assignment

For this assignment, you will develop brandmarks for either the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (ATEMS) or ACU’s Equine-Assisted Counseling & Learning.

Step 1: Each of you will be assigned one of the following clients.

• Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (A.T.E.M.S.) – you must choose one of the following mascots: Bombers, Phoenix, Smashers and Vipers. Go here to download a PDF briefly describing the school and ideas for logo (please refer to this assignment for specific requirements and deliverables). – Ashley, Aubree, Chase, David, Evan, James, Jennifer, Mallory, Ryan & Zack
• Equine-Assisted Counseling & Learning – a branch of ACU’s Counseling Center – Amy, Brittany, Jenny, Jordan, Keith, Leeanna, Philip & Tenchis

Step 2: Do some research and gather useful information.

Step 4: Start Designing! (You’ve probably already started this by now.) Project requirements are as follows:

Process:

• Inspiration
• Sketches (15 min. for each mark)
• Rough comps (one for each mark, black & white)
• Writing: 1 blog post and 2 comments (see writing requirements)

Product:

• Design two different marks.
• Each mark must incorporate the brand name. ATEMS mark must include selected mascot.
• Design both black & white (no mid-tones or gradients) and color versions for each mark.

Final Deliverables

Final Composition:

• Arrange each mark (both b&w and color versions) on individual black matboards
• Matboard size (for each mark): 21″ x 12″ (landscape orientation)
• Sheet size (for each mark): 8″ x 8″ (marks should be 6″ x 6″ max.)
• B&W mark on the left and color mark on the right
• 2″ margin around entire piece, 1″ between b&w and color versions
• Put your name on the back of each matboard
• Create a sheet with marks at three different sizes – 6″ x 6″, 3″ x 3″ and 1″ x 1″

Process Documentation:

• Inspiration posted to the discussion blog.
• Place photocopies of sketches (15 min. for each mark) in a report binder with your name on it.

Digital Files:

Combine all marks into a single PDF* and upload to the class dropbox in the myACU files system.

*prefix file with your ACU username followed by an underscore (ex: bly95s_brandmark 4.pdf)

Schedule & Deadline

• Wed., Mar. 28: Introduce project, Guest Steve Eller with ACU’s Counseling Center
• Fri., Mar. 30: Post inspiration to discussion blog. (Make sure to label the type of mark – wordmark, pictorial mark, abstract mark or emblem)
• Mon., Apr. 2: Work day
• Wed., Apr. 4: Work day (Brandon will not be in class)
• Fri., Apr. 6: No Class – Good Friday
• Mon., Apr. 9: Rough comps due, Critique
• Wed., Apr. 11: Color palette selected, Work day
• Fri., Apr. 13: Final presentation/critique, blog post due by class
• Mon., Apr. 16: Turn in all deliverables, blog comments due by class

Grading Criteria

Project = 15% of final course grade

Link to grading criteria.

Overview

This project continues the exploration of different types of brandmarks, specifically those that incorporate the brand name in their creation. The challenge, besides designing a visually striking brandmark, is to discern which type of mark is most effective for the client. Please refer to the previous project and/or your text for a description of the different types of brandmarks. Here’s a good online resource with examples of each.

Assignment

For this assignment, you will develop a brandmark for a fictional US-based luxury accessory retailer. Concurrently, a group of upper-level interior design students are designing the retail store space for the same fictional companies. Please refer to this document (PDF) for more information about the retailer.

Step 1: Each of you will be assigned one of the following potential business names.

• Chatoyer: Amy, David, Evan and Jennifer
• Zyro: Brittany, Jenny, Jordan and Ryan
• N. Morangie: Chase, James, Leeanna, Mallory and Tenchis
• Bennett’s: Ashley, Aubree, Keith, Philip and Zack

Step 4: Start Designing! (You’ve probably already started this by now.) Project requirements are as follows:

Process:

• Inspiration
• Sketches (15 min. for each mark)
• Rough comps (one for each mark, black & white)
• Writing: 1 blog post and 2 comments (see writing requirements)

Product:

• Design two different marks.
• Each mark must incorporate the brand name.
• Design both black & white (no mid-tones or gradients) and color versions for each mark.

Final Deliverables

Final Composition:

• Arrange each mark (both b&w and color versions) on individual black matboards
• Matboard size (for each mark): 21″ x 12″ (landscape orientation)
• Place 8″ x 8″ b&w mark on the left and 8″ x 8″ color mark on the right
• 2″ margin around entire piece, 1″ between b&w and color versions
• Put your name on the back of each matboard
• Create a sheet with marks at three different sizes. We will discuss this more later.

Process Documentation:

• Inspiration posted to the discussion blog.
• Place photocopies of sketches (15 min. for each mark) in a report binder with your name on it.

Digital Files:

Combine all marks into a single PDF* and upload to the class dropbox in the myACU files system.

*prefix file with your ACU username followed by an underscore (ex: bly95s_brandmark 2.pdf)

Schedule & Deadline

• Mon., Mar. 5: Introduce project
• Wed., Mar. 7: Post inspiration to discussion blog. (Make sure to label the type of mark – wordmark, pictorial mark, abstract mark or emblem)
• Fri., Mar. 9: Work day
• Mar. 12 – 16: No class (Spring Break)
• Mon., Mar. 19: Work day
• Wed., Mar. 21: Rough comps due, Critique
• Fri., Mar. 23: Color palette selected, Work day
• Mon., Mar. 26: Final presentation/critique, blog post due by class
• Wed., Mar. 28: Turn in all deliverables, blog comments due by class

Grading Criteria

Project = 15% of final course grade

Link to grading criteria.

Teams

• MSL – Melanie, Sara Beth & Lauren
• HAT – Haley, Al & Tana
• KSK – Kasi, Shannon & Kirsten
• BLNC – Briana, Lisha, Nicole & Chad

2012 Retail Design Institute Competition

For more information specific to the RDI Competition, please go here. There are some good Q&A documents that may help with design direction.

• Request for Proposals
• Allocation Program
• Updated First Floor Plan (dwg file)
• Updated Second Floor Plan (dwg file)

Great handwritten type from Dana Tanamachi based in Brooklyn, NY. (Click on image or here.) I especially like the time-lapse page – great look at design process!

10% of the course grade is determined by the process documents (sketches, preliminary drawings, etc.) you’ve created throughout the semester. Each project required a certain number of these process documents to be submitted as a portion of the grading criteria.

The final Design Process Book should meet the following requirements:

• Format: 8 1/2″ x 11″ portrait, spiral bound book w/clear protective cover
• Cover page needs to include: Design Process Book, Class Number and Name (ex: DSGN 341: Architectural Design 1), Semester and Year, Student Name
• Provide divider sheets between each project’s process docs (label with project number and name)
• Provide copies (no originals) of process documents for each project

The Design Process Book is due at the scheduled final exam date and time.

Assignment

You have received a commission to design a small cabin located on a 1,500 acre ranch southwest of Abilene outside of View, Texas. The cabin will serve as a retreat for your clients, a retired entrepreneur and his artist wife, who live in Nashville, Tn. Having grown up in the area, they have an emotional connection to the land and enjoy the peace found at the ranch. Their desire is for the cabin to be built using principles of sustainability and inspiration from the vernacular.

The house should meet the following requirements:

• Responds to surrounding context (views, environmental conditions, etc.)
• Provides a clear connection between inside and out
• Incorporates sustainable design principles
• Utilizes compressed earth blocks for exterior wall construction
• 900 sf (net area) that includes:
• Living room
• Kitchen/Dining
• Bedrooms (x2, 8′ min. dimension)
• Bathrooms (x1)
• Laundry room/closet
• General storage (indoor/outdoor)
• Space designated for mechanical/water heater
• Outdoor space (not included in total net area)

Design Process:

Writing + Sketching

• Writing: 1 Blog Post and 2 Comments (see Writing Requirements)
• Sketches: 25 min.

Final Deliverables

Drawing Set:

Size: 11″ x 17″ (landscape). Do not bind. We will pin-up individual sheets at the scheduled final exam date.

• Cover page
  • Project info: project name, student name, DSGN 341, Fall 2011
  • Drawing Index (table of contents)
  • One exterior perspective (greyscale w/shadows)
• A1.0 – Site Plan
  • Identify house on site plan
  • Identify contours, road, walkways and landscaping on site plan
• A1.1 – Furnished Floor plan
  • Label all rooms
  • Show furnishings in rooms
  • Show all permanent fixtures and casework (plumbing, cabinets, built-in furniture, etc.)
  • Show elevations and section symbols
• A1.2 – Dimensioned floor plan (show built-ins, but not furnishings)
  • Label all rooms
  • Show all permanent fixtures and casework (plumbing, cabinets, built-in furniture, etc.)
  • Do not show movable furniture
  • Provide overall dimensions, dimensions locating openings in exterior walls (windows and doors), interior dimensions from wall to wall, dimensions locating all door positions
  • Show elevation and section symbols
• A2.0 – Roof Plan
  • Indicate roof slope graphically with arrows pointing down slope
  • Note roof rise/run (i.e. 3:12)
• A3.0-3.1 – Building Elevations
  • Four primary elevations (two per sheet)
  • Rendered w/shadow (greyscale)
  • Label important heights (grade, floor, eave, top of roof)
  • Include some portion of grade line in each elevation
• A4.0 – Building Sections
  • One longitudinal
  • One cross
  • Label important heights (grade, floor, eave, top of roof)
  • Show call-out for wall section
  • Include some portion of grade line in each elevation

Important Notes about Drawings and the Drawing Set:

• Each sheet (excluding the cover) needs to have a title block that contains: project name, student name, DSGN 341, Fall 2011, sheet name and number.
• Include graphic scales, labels, symbols and north arrow where necessary.
• Be sure to reference elevations and sections to the appropriate sheet and drawing number in the set.
• Line weights. Use them to establish spatial depth.
• Poché works well to define space.
• Click here for a Revit file with sample title blocks.

Scale Model:

• Scale: 1/8″ = 1′-0″
• Make sure it is finely crafted! (Keep a sharp blade and use your drawings as templates.)
• Use chipboard, illustration board or museum board – NO FOAM CORE
• You can also use basswood. Especially useful for smaller details (such as window frames).
• Create a base for the model (flat site). Include street and sidewalk.

Process Documentation:

• Photocopies of sketches – Turn these in as part of your final Design Process Book
• Writing (post to blog on specified date below)

Digital Files:

Upload the drawing set (saved as a high quality PDF*) to the class dropbox on myACU.

*Prefix each file with your ACU username followed by an underscore (ex: bly95s_project 3.pdf)

Finals Week

• Project due (including comments to blog posts) at scheduled final exam time.

Resources

• SketchUp Site Model w/Contours
• Revit File w/Title Block
• National Ranching Heritage Center (TTU)
• Lake|Flato Architects
• Texas Architect Magazine
• EarthCo (fabricate large compressed earth blocks)
• North Park Community Plan
• LMI House Design