Hand-drawing is a fundamental skill an architect needs to learn. But today's students skip this step and jump right into 3D modeling software. What are the implications?
As a professor of architecture who myself was in school *before* computers (dating myself), we always insist on students drawing by hand. For the advanced grad studio I teach in the fall, we don't allow computer drawings at all for the first few weeks. It unnerves some people, but we get them through it. Developing a love of drawing is possible for everyone—with practice.
You are so right about the pandemic. For all the tools that enabled us to continue teaching and learning during that time, we are still discovering things that fell through the cracks during that time, and hand drawing - literally, thinking with a pencil or pen in hand - is a big one.
I've been thinking of writing about the virtues of hand drawing myself; this inspires me. Brava!
This is so timely and true!! I often get asked why I am learning how to draw/paint TODAY in the age of all these visual generative AIs / when I can just take a photograph but constructing a reflection of reality from scratch is different because you're also learning how the world works in the process??
And with writing, it's baffling to me that people think they can churn out essays just by prompting but no really it hits different when an actual person is actually behind the words.
All this to say that I hope I don't become overly cynical about tech because it IS very useful but learning how to use it in the right way is so important.
P.S. really appreciate that visual you put together on COOL 3D and FLOOR PLAN??? - this one tells so much with just one glance (and how the two correlate w each other!)
So true! And applies to everything, very important to learn the fundamentals before using technology.
Being able to do a sum or a division the old fashioned way vs. using a calculator. Even if you always use the calculator, the mental ability it gives you to know how to do it yourself is invaluable.
Or driving. I've recently wondered, will my kids learn how to drive? With the driverless cars inevitably approaching, it will probably be lost, but still think it's an ability that develops spatial awareness and should be learned.
So well laid out with this specific architecture example (that also reminds me of the joy I get watching my dad draw out his schematics and such).
And mostly, great reminder to use our hands! I say this to myself, since I barely use them for something manual, but the few experiences I recently had (modeling with clay, calligraphy) have always brought back a sense and experience I don't get another way.
“I brought it into existence, which means I had to think about what that line really was.”
YES. I think this hits on the beautiful relationship that develops between a person and what they’re drawing/capturing by hand. Whether it’s something you’re looking at and trying to capture, or it’s coming from your own head, there’s an interaction taking place there, and an understanding that gets formed. You learn about something more fully and deeply when you take the time to do it, especially when it comes to making things. It’s like the effort to draw a person or thing vs trying to get Midjourney to do it. What gets lost in that process? Literally everything! It’s probably one of the greatest lessons most people miss out on. We seek pixels first, but it should all really start with pens and pencils.
It’s the same with writing, speaking as someone who starts with pencil or pen [or Sharpie] on paper, always. Whether it’s writing my own stuff, or studying someone else’s. NO SHORT CUTS. Learning and mastery takes time! Comprehension takes time! Creativity takes time!
[Side note: I think it's important to mention this is a lil different for people who need to start with tech first for accessibility reasons, like I'm thinking with students I've worked with who had to use speech to text on Google Docs., but in general, I don't like when students are tasked with jumping straight into that for writing/work. I think the world would be better if it allowed for, and when it makes sense, required, more work and learning by hand]
I loved this glimpse into your architect mind. I love the visuals! But I selfishly wish they were on paper :)
This essay, and the one prior about going back to work, have really resonated with me. You've so elegantly woven two worlds that typically aren't in the room at the same time together: art/creativity/slowness and work/money/drive. I like reading about how one seeps into the other.
I had similar painstakingly slow tracing paper exercises in design school. I don't think we even started on computers until the third year. Once I had to trace the "cage" of an oscillating fan 40 times on tracing paper 😳
This was such an interesting read! I’m always curious of the behind the scenes in the architecture world. Also, you make one of the most compelling arguments against thr idea that software/automation resolve everything. Can’t be an architect if your buildings can’t be built.
Maybe I’ll have to start drawing my Blender dreamscapes by hand first 😉.
As a professor of architecture who myself was in school *before* computers (dating myself), we always insist on students drawing by hand. For the advanced grad studio I teach in the fall, we don't allow computer drawings at all for the first few weeks. It unnerves some people, but we get them through it. Developing a love of drawing is possible for everyone—with practice.
You are so right about the pandemic. For all the tools that enabled us to continue teaching and learning during that time, we are still discovering things that fell through the cracks during that time, and hand drawing - literally, thinking with a pencil or pen in hand - is a big one.
I've been thinking of writing about the virtues of hand drawing myself; this inspires me. Brava!
This is so timely and true!! I often get asked why I am learning how to draw/paint TODAY in the age of all these visual generative AIs / when I can just take a photograph but constructing a reflection of reality from scratch is different because you're also learning how the world works in the process??
And with writing, it's baffling to me that people think they can churn out essays just by prompting but no really it hits different when an actual person is actually behind the words.
All this to say that I hope I don't become overly cynical about tech because it IS very useful but learning how to use it in the right way is so important.
P.S. really appreciate that visual you put together on COOL 3D and FLOOR PLAN??? - this one tells so much with just one glance (and how the two correlate w each other!)
So true! And applies to everything, very important to learn the fundamentals before using technology.
Being able to do a sum or a division the old fashioned way vs. using a calculator. Even if you always use the calculator, the mental ability it gives you to know how to do it yourself is invaluable.
Or driving. I've recently wondered, will my kids learn how to drive? With the driverless cars inevitably approaching, it will probably be lost, but still think it's an ability that develops spatial awareness and should be learned.
So well laid out with this specific architecture example (that also reminds me of the joy I get watching my dad draw out his schematics and such).
And mostly, great reminder to use our hands! I say this to myself, since I barely use them for something manual, but the few experiences I recently had (modeling with clay, calligraphy) have always brought back a sense and experience I don't get another way.
Great essay Elizabeth :)
“I brought it into existence, which means I had to think about what that line really was.”
YES. I think this hits on the beautiful relationship that develops between a person and what they’re drawing/capturing by hand. Whether it’s something you’re looking at and trying to capture, or it’s coming from your own head, there’s an interaction taking place there, and an understanding that gets formed. You learn about something more fully and deeply when you take the time to do it, especially when it comes to making things. It’s like the effort to draw a person or thing vs trying to get Midjourney to do it. What gets lost in that process? Literally everything! It’s probably one of the greatest lessons most people miss out on. We seek pixels first, but it should all really start with pens and pencils.
It’s the same with writing, speaking as someone who starts with pencil or pen [or Sharpie] on paper, always. Whether it’s writing my own stuff, or studying someone else’s. NO SHORT CUTS. Learning and mastery takes time! Comprehension takes time! Creativity takes time!
[Side note: I think it's important to mention this is a lil different for people who need to start with tech first for accessibility reasons, like I'm thinking with students I've worked with who had to use speech to text on Google Docs., but in general, I don't like when students are tasked with jumping straight into that for writing/work. I think the world would be better if it allowed for, and when it makes sense, required, more work and learning by hand]
I loved this glimpse into your architect mind. I love the visuals! But I selfishly wish they were on paper :)
This essay, and the one prior about going back to work, have really resonated with me. You've so elegantly woven two worlds that typically aren't in the room at the same time together: art/creativity/slowness and work/money/drive. I like reading about how one seeps into the other.
I had similar painstakingly slow tracing paper exercises in design school. I don't think we even started on computers until the third year. Once I had to trace the "cage" of an oscillating fan 40 times on tracing paper 😳
This was such an interesting read! I’m always curious of the behind the scenes in the architecture world. Also, you make one of the most compelling arguments against thr idea that software/automation resolve everything. Can’t be an architect if your buildings can’t be built.
Maybe I’ll have to start drawing my Blender dreamscapes by hand first 😉.