In-Progress Learning Portfolio
ORIOL ROYO OBREGĂ“N Arch 101. Architectural Design Studio I Jerry W. Lum City College of San Francisco
A.1
What’s my Sign? Concept Generation + Collages Pg. 4
A.2
What’s my Sign? My Sign 1.0 Pg. 6
A.3. What’s my Sign? My Sign 2.0 Pg. 8
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Table of Contents
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The first collage I created consists on adjectives that describe who I am.. I decided to organize them following the shape of a redwood tree. By using a natural element I incorporated my passion for the environment into my description. I have intentionally chosen a redwood tree since to me, they represent wisdom, longevity and a they provide a solid structure. The adjectives are placed in the tree with an intention. I placed the adjective persistent in the roots of the tree since it represents who I’ve been since I was a child. On the trunk of the tree I placed attributes of me that made me take very important, challenging and scary decision during my life. The lower –and older- branches have qualities that I have since I was born, the medium branches include adjectives that I discovered about myself overtime through life changes and experiences. The top branches include adjectives that even if they are part of me, I still have to develop. The second collage is a compilation of images that represent persistency, adaptability and capability. The images are personal pictures, images from artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Rebecca Johnson and images found on the internet. I created the third collage just as a way to organize my ideas and images and to be able to create a final and more abstract collage full of symbolism.
SECOND COLLAGE
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THIRD COLLAGE
A.1 What’s my Sign? Concept Generation and Collages
FOURTH COLLAGE
FIFTH COLLAGE
For my fourth collage I used a black and white manmade rock wall that seems to be unbreakable. I placed in the middle what represents a crack, an explosion that breaks the unbreakable wall. . For the explosion I used colors with warm hues and high saturation to call the attention of the public and make sure that they focus on the dark and small picture of the middle.
For the fifth collage, by using oblique directions I wanted to create a tension between destruction, pollution and degradation and an alternative future, a green future in which human beings embrace nature.
The central image represents how the current type of human development is pushing away and destroying the natural environment that sustain us.. The picture has a lot of symbolism and even if it uses dark colors, the part in which nature has been removed looks dirtier and darker than the part in which nature is still present.
For the alternative future in which I included green walls and roofs, wind turbines and an organic design from GaudĂ I used bright colors. In this collage bright colors represent an awakening.
For the destruction, located in the top right -which to me represents an aggressive and abusive position- I used dark colors with the exception of a forest fire.
In the middle of the collage I used a plain (representing human development) and a snake (representing sin) colliding and creating an explosion in which nature is freed again.
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For my first sign I used reclaimed barn wood to represent persistency, the persistency of wood to be s t ro n g ove r t i m e , wa x e d string for adaptability and brass metal for capability.
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I n o rd e r t o c re a t e a n attractive combination I used red, white and gold colors.
The next step was a little bit tedious, it consisted on attaching the nails to the wood board.
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To create the sign I started by choosing a word that scares me but that has always been a motor in my life, change.
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I n o rd e r t o m a k e i t attractive I experimented with different fonts until I found one that was attractive for my sign.
O n c e t h e n a i l s we re i n placed I had to remove the paper that I used as a reference.
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The last step consisted in adding the waxed string to the sign.
I properly sized the font according to the size of the wood and I clean the contour of the letters in order to be able to proceed with the next step.
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Fo r t h i s s t e p , i t wa s important to keep a small and homogeneous distance between the nails to avoid the sign to look ‘pixeled’ when adding the string.
In order to create a crisp word I started and finished adding the string to the contour of my word.
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A.1 What’s my Sign? My Sign 1.0 REFLECTIONS • Strengths: a. The sign was within the required parameters and it was solid and stable. b. The sign is attractive and unique. c. I managed my time properly. • Weaknesses: a.
At first it didn’t cause impression in the public.
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b.
The small details were not appreciated from the public.
c. I can improve my design method by organizing my ideas since the beginning. • Opportunities: a.
Create a sign that can placed parallel to the wall.
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b. I can create a more interesting, architecturally pleasant sign. • Threats: a.
The new sign needs to be related to this sign and I am using heavy materials.
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The second sign was more challenging since it required to be more abstract and to have two sides.
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I decided to use a circle to give shape to the sign. In order to create a ‘perfect’ circle I used a dish as a reference.
I n o rd e r t o r e p r e s e n t “change” in an abstract way, I used a symbol composed by three spirals. S i n c e t h e s i g n h a s t wo fa c e s , I d u p l i c a t e d t h e symbol.
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I am lucking of resources such as hammers and a saw but I managed to ask a friend to use his tools.
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Since I knew about the second sing, I already had another piece of wood for it.
I experimented with different ideas and designs i n o rd e r t o c re a t e a n appealing symbol.
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I adapted a long piece of the same type of reclaimed wood to create the sign structure.
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W i t h a n a t u ra l s t r i n g , I balanced the weight of the sign and its structure to ensure that it was stable on the wall.
As with the first sign, the last step consisted in adding the waxed string to the sign. In order to create a crisp word I started and finished adding the string to the contour of my word.
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A.1 What’s my Sign? My Sign 2.0 REFLECTIONS • Strengths: a. The sign was within the required parameters and it was solid and stable. b. I made drawings and research about how to distribute the weight of the sign. c. I used heavy materials and only two pins to sustain the sign because of the thoughtful design it was structurally sound.
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d. All the materials are part of the sign including the string that supports it to the wall. • Weaknesses: a. I only experiment with the sign once, I took too much of a risk but not placing the sign in the wall before the class. b. I could had experiment with new materials. • Opportunities: a. Learn more about structures and forces to make a more paradoxical sign. b. Improve the level of detail by for example sealing the wood and using two string colors that create volumes. • Threats: a. Not experimenting with other techniques and materials. b. Maintain a high level of energy to continue improving myself.
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