Thank you to the professionals at Robert A.M. Stern Architects for their continued efforts in supporting our students.
One of the most daunting aspects of WHSAD/RAMSA summer program is critiques. Students need to learn how to weather the slings and arrows from professional architects who are providing feedback in the vein of what one might experience in the field. The first critique sometimes stings, but through the pain comes progress, and after the second, third times and beyond, students not only grow more comfortable with constructive criticism but also come to welcome the feedback as it assists in creating a more nuanced and sophisticated product. For their midterms, the students presented their designs, received feedback, and then composed reflections based on these four categories:
1. Summarizing Critiques
2. Positive Feedback
3. Unspoken Thoughts
4. Skill Development
Featured below are a few of those reflections along with images of each student’s work.
Amari Clyde, Rising Senior
In terms of criticism I didn’t get much on my model; however, I did get some advice. During my presentation I mentioned how I felt that the idea I had for my design was already completed in my paper models. The judges told me that I should see the collage, paper model, sketches, and photos as separate explorations of the same idea. The main takeaway I got from that is that the collage being subpar shouldn’t discourage me since it is its thing, and thus I don’t need to consider it If I don’t feel the need to. Some of the positive feedback I received mainly had to do with my ability to make a landscape model and a more building like model. The judges also felt that I was in a very good position for my 3d model on Rhino.
One of my talking points during the presentation was how I decided to base my model more on the idea of my image. And for my image I saw lots of flowing lines with some interruptions here and there, and so for my 2 models I used those ideas as the basis for their designs. In my presentation I also mentioned how I made my first model with the idea of a landscape and the second model was supposed to look more like a structure. I was asked to show my sketches, which I didn’t have much to do. However I did talk about an important idea which was that it’s good to interpret your design ideas in as many ways as possible.
Overall the midterm review was a very fun experience. Especially compared to last year since back then we faced a plethora of issues, plus the newer kids did a much better job at presentations compared to last year’s group. As for myself I think I did a much better job at presenting my ideas to the judges. Last year I always had the feeling that I didn’t say enough but this year I am much more satisfied with my performance.
Dylan Nocelotl, Rising Junior
A brief summary of yesterday’s presentation of my model could be that my 3D model and collage were able to get the architects’ attention. They mentioned that they loved how I was able to extract the folds I added to my model from the original artwork and also they mentioned how I was able to leave space to make movement and go explore. The architects from RAMSA believe that my design has potential and that I should keep exploring and to think about adding another dimension to my model. I did appreciate how they noticed that I was able to make a good use of the foreground and background of the original artwork. And finally they suggested that I should look into origami techniques in order to improve my work since it would help me a lot.
Something I did want to talk about was how I had the idea to add another material to my model. The architects mentioned that I should add another material to it, and I was intending on doing that, but I ran out of time, so I figured it was better for me to move on to my collage and work on it instead of wasting time on my model. But I am thankful everything came out pretty good. For the next three weeks what I would like to focus on is trying to work harder and being able to work faster since I usually like to take my time in specific details. My goal would be to learn how to manage my time and pay more attention. Also, I would like to stick to the suggestions the architects gave me.
Finally, I would like to add that during the presentation we were able to collaborate with each other by not only presenting in pairs so that we could give enough time for others to prepare for their presentations, but by taking notes of each other so that nobody could miss any comment or suggestion from the architects. I believe this system is great since it helps us all to be on the right track and to move on fast to the next phase of this program. And other than that I would like to thank my supervisors Mr. Crockford and Mr. Rodriguez as well as the architects from RAMSA for taking the time to make this program that would help us gain new experiences and learn things that would not only help us today but in the future.
Edwin Villanueva, Rising Senior
Pleased with the final results, I was asked how to begin thinking about building more with my current designs, and how to continue something new that was much bigger. Supporting my created sketches and artwork, I was advised how to further implement these new skills into the final versions of my models and designs. I was told to continue collaborating with peers, as teamwork is an essential part of designing, learning how to communicate ideas and learning together, learning how to incorporate them into our building processes.
After finishing presenting my work to RAMSA, I was congratulated for crediting my work, as being the only one to do so. This stood out to me as I value my work very much, and knowing that this is essential for designers for any work created was meaningful. Furthermore, I was quite ecstatic learning that wanting to implement my thoughts and “texturized” designs directly from the artwork onto my design was considered rather bold, and only further enhanced the final pieces of the model. Finally, being able to clearly express my initial ideas and construct them into reality, demonstrate the idea to RAMSA, gain support to continue even further with my ideas, and not be afraid to reach new heights, opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of having this opportunity to work with RAMSA.
I remember after finishing my presentation, that when making my collage, I instead longed to create art rather than perceived dimensions. I had earlier remembered that architecture was art, containing both history and expression. Architecture was simply another form of expression, so I had tried to convey this through both 3d, mostly 2d shapes, hence explaining why my final collage did not look like the many presentations of my peers.
Looking for inspiration online at different collages, there were many new skills I wanted to try but simply did not know how to communicate this into my final collage. For one, I wanted to explore by outlining my images and creating further textures, such as ripped paper. I wanted to create further layering using outlines, however was forced to instead use lines, effective, but not the original idea I had wanted to demonstrate. For future skills, I would like to explore further perspective and learn how to cover up mistakes, or learn AI tools to change multiple materials into a singular material that one cannot see with the eye. This would allow me to more easily adapt my designs into online artwork and sculpt my visions in shorter times.
Alyssa Diaz, Rising Senior
In SYEP, we have collaborated with RAMSA for this summer to work on a project that deals with abstract art. With context we go through a few different software programs to reach our end goal over the course of a 6 week program.
Pairs of students were assigned a painting, and we interpreted it in our own ways by creating sketches and structures. Eventually, we used Photoshop to invent a greater idea along with a collage expressing different aspects and ideas we came up with. As time went on we had to prepare for the midterm when the mentors we are working with will come in to critique our work and give us the feedback we need to go forward.
With due time, the midterm approached, and we had to gather all the information from the last 3 weeks and how it became the idea for the midterm. We also presented to the architects that are working with us and told them our full process and defended our work as much as possible. Everyone had 2 minutes to speak on their work. Each critique had different value and meaning to the individual, whether it be about depth, or what stood out the most, even what to do going forward and what to focus on during the next steps of the project. For my critique, the mentors emphasized how my project gave flow which is something I was trying to portray in my artwork. The majority of them saw that I took the flow and motion idea and reached greater lengths and stood on that idea for my artwork which felt relieving that I was able to express it and others could see the direction I was going. Another critique I got was that not all work has to be over the top or complicated. Sometimes the simple ones get the meaning across better and won’t scatter your mind in the wrong direction. The last comment was to build up on the work, keep the ideas simplistic but go outside the box, to not stick to just one idea, intertwine all that is possible thought.
Overall during my presentation, I felt I kept out certain thoughts that I would’ve liked to add but didn’t think about. When explaining what I had done I gave a literal description, by expressing I was going with a bridge idea which strips away from what others thought it might be. I think going beyond the bridge idea might open more ideas for me and thinking of other linear proposals.
Steven Lazaro, Rising Junior
From my desk critiques and midterm review I gathered that I should continue the idea of using my paper lines as almost like pathways and each wooden block to keep them the same. Also another thing mainly gathered was that I should keep up the idea over how I have a linear but not linear structure going on which helps create this space making it look like it’s floating. Overall I should keep heading the direction I am in and shouldn’t be scared to keep experimenting since the direction it’s in is really appealing and nice based on the midterm.
So when it was my term to present and I heard all the feedback, I felt relieved to know what I’m creating doesn’t look like anything and rather is appealing and looks to have a sense of ideas and a perspective. One commenter mentioned that my collage looked like the Transformers which made me feel good since somebody is able to see more than the wooden blocks and paper. Another thing was how my vision did seem appealing and it stayed true to the painting and everyone followed with what I said which I enjoyed.
There is a thought I wanted to say which was that my partner and I didn’t speak at all since my teacher recommended that we shouldn’t since if we did we both probably feel like we’d copy each other and then get our ideas mixed up since we would think we have to start something all over. Other than that, there wasn’t much thought I had. I just wanted to really make sure that my model and direction I took was actually something rather than nothing or junk since at the start of this program I was truly lost and a little intimidated with how they told us there would be a lot of work. However, I felt better as we went on and this gave me more motivation and confidence to keep continuing my work.
I think a question that I have would be how in Rhino would this work like what exactly are we creating? Is it our model or something different again?
I think this experience has helped me develop the skill to analyze something more deeply with a better thought rather than it being plain since I really can see many things now with a different perspective than what’s given. Based on my model a skill I wanted to incorporate was how to better carve since I really didn’t like how chipped and messy it appeared. Also, in Photoshop I wanted to learn how to use the layers better since I had a hard time making my work more organized. I lacked the skills to carve since I sometimes created way too much space and chipped up areas that I had to work with because I made it that way and I didn’t want to waste anything.
Skills I would really like to develop are more technological ones since I don’t really like using technology, and it confuses me from time to time and I need this skill to enhance my project since we’re gonna move into another program and I don’t want to waste time learning step by step. This is also important due to how in architecture using technology really carries and helps ideas become more possible and accessible. Another skill I’d like to learn and use is communication since I didn’t talk to the person I was partnered up with, and we both had our own ideas which was good but I feel like if we had communicated we could’ve inspired each other better.
Jennifer Segundo Ramirez, Class of 2024
What I heard from RAMSA that felt good and even meaningful about my project was that when I was talking about my project they felt that my model brought them into an environment. Also, when I said the words warmth and comfort, my project made them feel like that in the colors I used. In addition, the feedback that I got back from them was to explore more and that I should take more photos of my models that bring out other elements which I can use in my Photoshop and bring my 2d Photoshop collage into a 3D collage. In general I really enjoyed and felt so happy with the comments and feedback I got because it made me more confident in my work than I was before.
One thing that I wanted to say that I didn’t discuss in my presentation is that in my collage I didn’t talk about how I used reflection, repetition, and a lot of layering which I really enjoyed using. Also, I took many perspective photos with different lighting hitting at a particular part because it was also something I enjoyed exploring around which also made me like my model a lot. I believe my ideas to change up my 2d collage into a 3d is somewhat going to look like one of my main images that most of the RAMSA mentors enjoyed.
Something that I wanted to explore or even incorporate into my Photoshop was shadow. I felt like the shadow could have helped my Photoshop collage look like a space, but I didn’t know how to do that on Photoshop. I also believed I could continue exploring with different folding and cuts to add onto my model and add more to it. The skill set that I would like to develop is my presentation skills because even though it isn’t my first time presenting in front of people, I still get nervous. I feel like this is very important because it reflects on your work and even the thought process of your project which is very important. Also, I feel like you should be able to express your own work and even explain the thought of it because the only truly one who knows the whole thing of the project is us.