Depetris, Julie

I have always been a very driven person who strives for perfection and accuracy. But among being driven I always have to remind myself not to let my goals get in the way of relationships and other personal goals. Even though I want to be one of the best and stand out, I will want to lift those around me and help them succeed along with me. I am very driven and passionate, but I don’t ever want it to take over my life. I want to be seen as someone others can rely on and trust.

Do you have any plans after this semester?

During the break, I plan to work and also get my portfolio updated for internship applications. I also hope to apply for internships throughout the break and find more that I would be interested in.

What type of designer would you like to be?

I want to focus on commercial design, but specifically see what museum and art gallery design is like. I am working toward a minor in art history and I have a degree in art, so I want to connect my two majors together in some way. Interactive children’s museums have always interested me as well. I have a lot of experience with childcare and child development, so schools and higher education design are an interest as well. But, overall I want to learn and experience working in most commercial design sectors if I can.

Can you tell me about any problems you ran into in the studio or outside?

Last semester my family went through a lot of medical issues, so at the beginning of this semester we were just transitioning out of that. So the beginning it took a little while to get comfortable and in the groove of working. The expectations were higher than usual, which was a little difficult knowing how far to push the work and how far to keep developing, or even when I needed to just start over and try again. The stress from this semester was higher but it was managed pretty well. It was the most strenuous and intensive semester but overall I loved every second of it.

What kind of place would you like to design next?

I would love to design a school or a museum. Maybe a renovation for an old school building or a museum for more things than just artwork, artifacts, etc.

What do you think makes a good workplace?

The most important factor of a workplace is collaboration and brainstorming space. All of us in the studio work together in some capacity to get opinions or to help each other, so having enough workspace and easy access to other desks is important. Also having good acoustics so that it’s not distracting to be in a space full of multiple people. Having areas to get away from working for a small break time is also very important.

Can you tell me what evidence-based design means to you?

It means to balance the clients expectations with your own design intentions. But to not avoid any of the clients asks, but to collaborate with them to compromise any changes that are needed.

Compared to previous semesters, the semester may be challenging in many ways, but you may be able to see your accomplishments. Reviewing your accomplishments, what did you learn from this studio?

I learned how important it is to follow the requirements that a client asks for, and how easy it is to miss something. It’s very important to analyze and thoroughly read through project briefs multiple times because the first time it’s highly likely that something was missed. I also learned how to take what the client wants and do what is asked but also design a space that fits my own design intentions.

Would you like to share anything with future students of this studio?

Please speech up if you do not understand something! Its better to ask for help and speak up then be lost and end up doing the wrong thing. Also many projects that we do may seem like they have nothing to do with the design, but they end up helping so much and further your understanding of the design and concept.

PROJECT STATEMENT:

Next’s goal for the Dallas architecture firm is to provide a transparent, inclusive environment for their employees. The clients want hybrid spaces for the employees that can adapt to their preferred work style. Next also aims to focus on multigenerational collaboration so spaces adapt to the team’s needs and promote m learning exchanges among team members.

Finally, they want to provide a higher technological integration into the space for easier, seamless collaboration, interactive displays, and video conference tools with clients. The advancement also provides an easier, more flexible way for the firm to access new knowledge and share material. To meet these goals fo hybrid work accommodations mixed with rejuvenating and private

DESIGN CONCEPT STATEMENT:

Starting the design process, the concept of “threshold” was thought through to its multitude of meanings. The specific definition that was focused on pertains to the level or point at which you start to experience something or at which something starts to happen. The alignment with the NEXT goals was recognized as innovative thinking and a forward-looking approach to collaborative work. The initial design development focused on organic shape and was shaped by a and an equation. Following several rounds of iterations and brainstorming, the term “alternating” was incorporated into the concept. The aim was to create zones with clear wayfinding and spatial clarity without using physical barriers. The concept of “threshold” inspired ideas of well-defined room separation and clear identification, while “alternating” expressed the idea of seamless transitions between spaces. Layers were employed to convey this concept to life through alterations in ceiling height, room division, and categorization. The main focus of the design was to create a ceiling element that reflected the concept.