Thursday, March 31, 2011
Have computers made architects less disciplined?
Slate Magazine: "We generally assume that technological advances save time, boost efficiency, increase productivity, and so on. Once we get used to the latest conveniences, we can't imagine life without them. I've been writing a book chronicling a building designed and built in the mid 1970s. During one of my interviews, an architect involved in the project reminded me that this was a time before faxes, cell phones, color Xeroxes, personal computers, and Power Point. The cumbersome and slow production of drawings and reports required extensive preparation—hurried changes were difficult if not impossible. Such working methods required what he described as 'tremendous discipline and rigor of thought.'
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7 comments:
In a way, reading this article made me appreciate hand-drafting a little more. At times, it did feel like a drag to have to complete a hand drafting assignment knowing that it could be completed in less than 1/2 the time in a neater manner on a computer. But it does seem like I do use my brain in hand-drafting rather than in a CAD assignment. And there definitely is a sense of accomplishment when completing a simple one-sheet assignment, so I can't imagine how that feeling can multiply in an architectural drafting. In the society where speed and efficiency seems like the most important thing, it is nice to appreciate hand-drawn projects like an artwork.
This article makes a really good point, and I definitely think it is important to think deeply and plan carefully before sending out drawings. I'm not convinced, however, that CAD is creating a lack of discipline and care. It's just different. While in hand-drafting you have to plan everything out before you draw it, you can brainstorm and troubleshoot WHILE CAD drafting. You can work through problems with the benefit of being able to quickly see them in front of you. You can also easily change things and make adjustments. While the processes are very different, I wouldn't say that one is better than the other.
Like Sam, I think that CAD isn't there to make somebody think less, but rather to save time. Drafting, be it hand or computer, is not architecture or design; it's a means of communicating it.
It'll be interesting if freshman studiocraft next year gives students the option to draft each assignment however they please; I imagine a lot of people will jump to computer drafting from the get go, get too caught up in the program, and fail to think about the over-arcing goal of the assignments.
Drafting in Cad is just different form of communication where you can take a more organic route to finished product. I appreciate CAD way more than hand drafting because it gives me that freedom to work that way.
I get and appreciate the concept of solidifying everything your doing before committing to paper, but I wouldn't trade the ability to quickly manipulate and work with objects that CAD provides.
Besides the soapbox, I liked how the author talked about the skill and level of attention required for the original ink methods for producing drawings. That was some nice history tidbits.
I think this closely parallels hand drafting vs. CAD drafting in theatre. I did a lot of computer drafting before CMU and VERY little hand drafting, at first it drove me crazy, using imprecise tools to do precise work is frustrating and time consuming. Now, 7 months later I am so thankful I am doing hand drafting, while I may never do it in the industry I feel that it has really strengthened my skills and eye-hand coordination and will benefit me in countless areas of theatre. It also helps me with CAD drafting.
This is one reason why we learn hand drafting! it is so true that computers have made it easier to make mistakes and yes they are the same mistakes that you may make hand drafting but your more likely to do them when you are drafting on a screen and not on a piece of paper. at the end of the day though cad is their to enhance efficiency and save time. this is good as long as we don't lose ourselves in construction with the mouse and we still apply our drafting techniques and disciplines to it. CAD is a very great tool. but it is still a tool and is still drafting and should require the same amount of discipline, precision, patience and training
This is true when you are brought up on a computer for designing you just play around a lot more with the computer rather than think it out and hand draw before going to the computer. Also you are much less attached to a computer drawing then a hand drawing that you have put a lot of time in. There is a lot less thought put in how you are presenting your work to the people that you are working for until the end but you should be talking to them the entire time. I know that at CMU Drama we don’t get introduce to CAD till later after we have got some basic hand drafting experience. I think that is the way that all places should do it. It makes you think in a good way.
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