Madeline Dalsimer - Design Portfolio - 2024

Portfolio Design

Madeline Dalsimer

All photos taken by Madeline

‘Editor’s Note’

In first grade I returned home from art class expressing to my parents my desire to pursue a career in art. However, I was met with skepticism. That marked the first time, though assuredly not the last, where I was cautioned against trying to make a livelihood from my passion.

Reflecting on this moment, I find myself smiling at the innocence of my younger self, whose perception of art was confined to pen and paper. This realization has since matured. Art can transcend traditional mediums, encompassing the subtleties of daily life. The folds of a landscape, the textures of fabric, or even the irregular edges of a book’s pages contain art. This unique form of art is what I immerse myself in as a new designer.

Since embarking on my collegiate journey and beyond, my ambitions have expanded. Yet, the desire to pursue art has remained. In the forthcoming years, I aspire to attain a master’s degree in fashion design, complementing my bachelor’s in landscape architecture. My long-term aspiration is to establish my own fashion enterprise. In the interim, I seek opportunities to gain experience and further my knowledge. I intend to do this by remaining open to learning. I aspire to be at the forefront of the design relm, collaborating with like-minded, ambitious individuals. I aim not only to devise solutions but to create art.

Ultimately, my greatest ambition is to one day convey to my six-year-old self the gratifying truth: that I have created a livelihood from the very pursuit that ignited my youthful imagination.

Photo taken by Sophie Bier

The Little Lifestyle

The Tiny Lifestyle atmosphere creates an oasis of remote living not offered anywhere else in the center of Athens, Georgia. Limited vehicular traffic allows residents to be enclosed in this lifestyle where distractions simply disappear. When you need a breath of fresh air or are missing an ingredient in your nighttime meal, a community garden and fire pit are located right outside every home.

When the residents want to socialize or take a stroll, there are hiking and walking paths laid all across the property ranging from accessible to secluded. If this is not enough, the residents of the Tiny Lifestyle get to enjoy a grand central park neighboring a community center overlooking the waterfront. The amenities offered include— unlimited exercise classes, personal trainers, hot tubs, sauna, indoor pools, gymnasium courts, indoor tracks, pickleball courts, a bar and grill, and so much more! Come unwind and experience a new way of living, The Little Lifestyle way of living.

graphics hand drawn

Plan view of one lot Axon of a home

Interior of a home

Tucked under bundles of wilderness, cozy single and double-living homes are up for sale. This community was designed to allow couples and singles alike to relax and unwind from the busy streets of downtown Athens.

Marseille, France

Unite d’Habitation

Located at the southern edge of Marseille, France, on the west side of boulevard Michelet, the architect Le Corbusier designed the Unité d’Habitation to resemble the streets of a neighborhood. With its human proportions, chunky pilotis, and interior “streets”, the Unité d’Habitation has redefined high-density housing by reconstructing a city inside an 18-story slab block. If one climbs these 18-stories and looks down, they will see that the building is situated in the heart of a large park, its main elevations facing East towards the mountains and West towards the sea. The building is often cited as the initial inspiration for the Brutalist architectural style.

axon of an apartment unit

The internal streets appear once every three floors with most of the apartments having two living spaces directly on top of each other. Large windows allow for the viewing of landscapes to the east and west sides of the building. The exterior streets wrap around the building in a continuous loop with an exit through the main plaza heading out towards the city.

Le Corbusier

The Unité d’Habitation in Marseille brings together Le Corbusier’s idea for communal living with the demands of post-war France. Completed in 1952 in Marseille, France, after World War II, the need for housing was at a remarkable high. The immense Unite d’Habitation contains an internal shopping street halfway up, a recreation ground and children’s nursery on the roof, and a generous surrounding area of parkland made possible by the density of the accommodation in the building itself. At 165m long, 24m wide, and 56m high the Unité d’Habitation sets a commanding presence in the landscape. There are 337 apartment units and 23 different types of layout. Le Corbusier designed the units to span from each side of the building, in addition to having a double- height living space reducing the number of required halls to one every three floors. The grand pilotis and imposing concrete facades sitting similarly they would in a park gives the highrise an imposing sculptural feel. The roof is entirely given public for a shared space with elements on top are purely sculptural.

all graphics hand drawn

Residential Designs

Luxury Housing

At the intersection of contemporary and craftsmanship lies luxury residential design. Luxury housing is considerable in size, located in the optimal area, constructed and finished with high-end materials, and designed with uncommon architectural details. A luxury backyard is in addition to a luxury property. Luxury backyards commonly feature large swimming pools with cabanas and elegant, decorative trees like the Italian cypress.

plan view of luxury pool

section of sculpture garden

axon of luxury courtyard

Most Americans would find great difficulty discovering a flood of extravagant luxuries in their cities, so luxury residences blur the barriers between private and public life. The amenities provided by these high-end residences range from traditional conveniences such as gardens, fountains and tennis courts to more extravagant attractions such courtyards and sculptures. If you can imagine it, it's already in a luxury home.

Some luxury homes have indoor or outdoor courtyards and gardens with lavish artwork and landscaping in addition to luxury backyards. An inner courtyard filters natural light into areas of your home that might otherwise be draped in shadows. This area can be a private oasis protected from neighbors that allows you to connect to the outside when combined with well-planned landscaping.

all graphics hand drawn

Secret Garden

Client Driven Design

Hidden right outside the city of Athens, a new kind of residency is being developed with the beauty of nature in mind. As you enter this entrancing living community you are entrapped in an oasis-like no other. Every part of the designed community is a surprise and hiding around every corner is something new. The main road twists around the homes with a barrier of trees so even the drive to your home feels like an experience.

Beautiful shade trees are sprouting abundantly around the whole neighborhood giving each homeowner an extra backyard. Within these hidden forests, a secret garden with benches and trails connecting to more secret hideaways ensures no resident will want to remain indoors. With affordable housing, all ages are encouraged to come and experience the Secret Garden, as you may think you know

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s version, but you have yet to experience it in real life!

southern magnolia camellia

shirley poppy

‘caramel’ coral bells creeping red rescue grass japanese plum-yew oakleaf hydrangea plum tree

delphinum

Secret Garden Plant Pallet

My design focuses on the ability to create a contrasting new environment in the center of Athens, GA while still designing per the client’s requests. Leaning towards a more traditional design similar to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel written 1911, the secret garden is designed with elegance and timelessness. The neighborhood is not souling designed for living but enjoying.

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The Westminsters Schools

Pollinator Garden with Selected Flowering Plants that Attract and Support Wildlife

Pollinator Garden

As pollinators face declining populations, the creation of pollinator gardens has become an increasingly important way to support and protect these crucial members of our ecosystem. Incorporating young students in the design process can provide them with valuable hands-on learning experiences and help foster a love of nature and the outdoors. The Westminster Schools Pollinator Garden has been carefully designed by a landscape architect to provide a vibrant and inviting space for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds.

The garden features a variety of native plants and flowers that will attract pollinators and provide them with the food and shelter they need to thrive. The garden serves as a hands-on educational resource for our students. They will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of pollinators and the role they play in our ecosystem, while also gaining an understanding of the principles of landscape design and the importance of native plants.

The design process for the garden began with a thorough assessment of the school’s existing outdoor space and a consideration of the specific needs of the pollinators we hoped to attract. We then worked with the school and local experts to select a variety of native plants and flowers that would provide the necessary food and shelter for these creatures.

The garden’s design also incorporates features such as meandering paths, habitat homes for wildlife, and seating areas to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. With each step of the process we interacted with The Westminster Schools fifth grade class inspiring ideas, teaching, getting feedback, learning and listening. We are excited to see the garden come to life and to provide our students with this unique learning opportunity.

The vision of the Pollinator Garden is to create a space that is functional, educational, and aesthetic while fostering an interest in and appreciation for pollinators and native plants. The Pollinator Garden design incorporates colorful plantings, pollinator habitats, paths throughout the garden, and seating for the interest and enjoyment of both teachers and students at The Westminers Schools.

Native Plant List

From the beginning, The Westminsters Schools Pollinator Garden project mission was to create a functional and aesthetic pollinator garden for the enjoyment of faculty and students. Initially, a simple pollinator garden design was generated which focused on plants. After much development, the garden design now features designated seating areas, paths throughout the garden beds, and interesting pollinator habitats, while incorporating the initial detailed pollinator planting palette. The primary goal of The Westminsters Schools Pollinator Garden is to provide opportunities for nature-based learning and to further support the longevity of pollinators and native plant species.

The image below showcases an educational activity with Westminsters Schools students, involving cutting out plants, trees, and benches to arrange them in the garden space. This interactive session promoted creativity and learning using simple tools like glue and scissors.

A U T O C A D G

The concluding activity with the Westminsters Schools students was crafting personalized 3D model pollinator gardens based off the students’ previous 2D designs. The students used different 3D materials, glue guns, and a cardboard base to create their own fairytale gardens. The students embraced this handson experience, fostering imagination, creativity, and curiosity about garden design. My time collaborating with the students was an invaluable experience that will remain with me forever.

This art piece captivates eyes as blue as the sea and as deep as a well. Through nuanced brushwork, it invites reflection on the profound depths of human emotion and experience.

This watercolor piece celebrates beauty of marine life. This aims to evoke appreciation colorful diversity of our

celebrates the This artwork appreciation for the our world.

This artwork delves into human emotion, portrays a sad face with hidden complexities inviting viewers to ponder the depth of our expressions.

“The Wall” is an artistic creation that captures the essence of a nations borders as more than mere physical structures. This piece illustrates how these boundaries serve as metaphorical barriers, separating races, ethnicities and cultures.

“Echoes of Silence” is a mixed media piece confronting the American school gun violence epidemic. The artwork was created after the Parkland Shooting, when profound fear was instilled among students and educators nationwide. Within its shadows, the silhouette serves as a stark reminder of the tool used by the student.

In loving memory of a faithful friend, this watercolor artwork captures the essence of a beloved Labrador Retriever. May this painting serve as a heartfelt tribute to the cherished memories Caroline and Duke shared together.

This watercolor piece captures the spirit of another furry friend. Painted a year after the first, it symbolizes the enduring friendship shared between companion and friend.

The feeling of being trapped. Generation Z grew up in a society where we were constantly told that there were problems to fix, with no guidance on how to fix them. This is the exploration of truth vs. lies in our society & the feelings of being trapped by the search to distinguish them from each other. Essentially, our generation has been thrown into this world, been fed lies & truths about societal issues, and is trying to discern them through trusting their own instincts.

Content Director: Elizabeth Nitz

Content Assistants: Antonia Mason, Chiamaka Uwagerikpe, Nykia Cook

Styling: Rachel Egan, Skylar Perez

Beauty: Carly Judenberg, Alexandra Catalano

Photography: Aisha Iyengar

Videography: Bailey Pelletier Writing: Amelia Sturkie

Layout: Maddie Dalsimer, Sydney Burton, Sarah Orji

My first Instagram account was created in the third grade. Much like my peers, I lived and breathed this new world of internet connectivity. I never let go of my iPod Touch– until I got my first iPhone in the sixth grade. The upgrade was monumental. It was all there, at my fingertips. The entire world, just a tap away. By expanding platforms, I began to share more posts, view more videos and take in more information; my mind revolved around my iPhone. After hours of absorbing content, reality was slowly warped. Every night I came home, shut the door of my bedroom and stepped into my new favorite realm: the world of high speed internet.

Inside this new domain, the shackles that once held me back were released. My prospects were limitless. With no guidance, I conquered this empire on my own. However, my triumphs were short-lived. Suddenly, my mind seemed like a web of perpetually intertwining strings with no destination. My thoughts melted from my skull, my insecurities manifested hideously, the skin around my cuticles bled, my anxiety boiled, my growing pains ached. Was this what I desired? Trapped, I wondered how I could live without the internet. Could I survive? Without it, I was empty, but with it, I was surely not whole. Stuck in this conundrum, I grasped tightly to the ground below. “Stay here,” I would whisper. “Don’t divulge”. But there it always was, so unrelenting, scooping me up like shattered glass, it cradled my broken bones.

“Always hooked to those damn phones,” my grandmother would utter. Was I always hooked? Was that so bad? Surely I had my free will and could put it down if I wanted. But perhaps I didn’t want to; perhaps the internet was beneficial. The news, information, accessible knowledge –it was all there, calling out like sirens. Simply tap to read, click to view, swipe to share. How could you not desire to deep dive into these dark waters with the possibility of swimming towards something consequential?

I grew as the internet grew. Together as one, I felt my soul was tethered to the radiant light that filled my pores every night. My appearance, characteristics, personality, it all relied on what was curating the most likes. Selling my independence, I was drained; an empty vessel floating aimlessly across voids. Swallowed into an oblivion of solitude: the likes, followers, views, my only companions. Who do I turn to for guidance? My elders were ignorant of my entrapment, and I had to unwrap the tethers that clung to my skin myself.

On Behalf of Gen Z,

My legs dangle off the edge of the examination table while I feel my feet mirror the heeled steps I took that night.

it. Stop it.

Dear Diary,

I finally left the house. I finally left my parents. I am finally free.

I’m experiencing this overwhelming feeling of independence. I can do whatever I want without the disappointed glare of my mother or the stern reprimands of my father. I am freed from the oppressive shackles that prevented my own self development.

I started going out with my roommates more. I drink almost every night. My mom never let me drink at home. She used to say alcohol leads to nothing good, which made me want to try it even more. As soon as she closed the door of my college dorm, my lips found the nearest Svedka bottle, and I drank. It didn’t taste good, but the rush of doing something my mother condemned was enough to encourage me to continue. I spent the whole night over the toilet throwing up. As I laid over the cold linoleum, I heard my mom. Her voice was so clear, I thought she was kneeling right next to me. She said five words that caused me to burst into tears: “I am disappointed in you.”

My dad used to criticize my outfits. Your shorts are too short. Your top shows too much. I hated him for it. I love fashion. It’s how I illustrate my creativity, and he always limited my expression. I know it was just him being protective, but it wasn’t fair. He doesn’t get to sexualize me. Now, I wear what I want without covering it with an oversized sweatshirt or heavy jacket. I constantly get compliments on my outfits, and it makes me feel good. The clothes I wear reflect who I am. What’s interesting is every time I stare into a mirror to evaluate my outfit, I hear a whisper in my ear that mimics my father. The whisper is quick and fleeting, but somehow always makes me consider changing.

The whole independence thing is scary. I am starting to realize life is filled with constant decisions, and I keep making the wrong ones. My parents used to make all the choices for me, and now I’m expected to just know what to do. Their advice and cautionary tales ring in my head, but I always ignore them. I want to be able to say I figured it out without them. I don’t need them. I am my own person.

Now why did I decide to pick up this diary and write to you? I haven’t opened these pages since highschool.

They repeat words you’ve said to me a thousand times. I’m weak. I’m a liar. No one will believe me. Was it a ten when you spit those words like venom at me after I forgot your boss’s name? When the strings slammed my knees to the ground to repent in front of you? Or is being an embarrassment only an eight?

Shh. Keep quiet. We will help you.

She will never believe you. We exist only in your mind. You are so weak and easy to control.

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

It’s too much now. Those blank faces, the scale, thinking back has reignited the pain. The lock breaks inside of me and memories of you bubble up to the surface.

The pain explodes into my chest and erupts with powerful energy through my veins. It is too much. Too sharp and too hot and way more than a ten. I’m vibrating, humming with the hurt and the power it gives me to see clearly.

TW: Sexual Assault

Clomp, clomp. Clomp, Clomp.

Email: madelineashtondalsimer@gmail.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinedalsimer