I NEED HELP!!!

Ok. My 3-quarter long grad project is coming up soon. I will start the research phase in the fall (sept). I STILL DO NOT HAVE A TOPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO???????

I am clueless. I do know the following: I don't like healthcare projects; I'm not interested in general office projects either.

I had a great time working on my hospitality project (hotel,spa,etc). Hotels and public spaces might be the way to go.

While residential design is very open and less restrictive than commercial design, I have done so many projects in that area that I am kind of tired of it. I don't know that my Grand Final project that will determine...or at least sway...which employers want to talk to me should be solely residential.

At one time, I thought I would transform a family farm that we own. However, I am currently doing that in an independant study. I am researching barns of the midwest-specifically eastern iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. I will then remodel/preserve the old barn for another use.

So..I'm open to suggestions via email or post your thoughts on here. Submit it all; the wild and the wacky. I promise I will address every suggestion.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week three is over. Only 8 more to go. Midterms will be here in just 2 weeks.

Codes class: Took 2 tests. Still need to photograph 2 codes violations *somewhere* in town and write a one page paper (for each) that summarizes them. Have 66 pages to read on Egress and Exits. Must outline that chapter & complete the vocabulary for it. Also need to start work on a 10,000 square foot retail space; must create the client profile this week, outline the building footprint in AutoCad and get comparables for the neighborhood it is to be built in.

Textiles: Don't think I learned anything this week. Homework this week is designing a repeating textile pattern and creating a write-up and boarded presentation about its specs, construction and applications. Also need to complete the textile sample notebook. Haven't even started that. A group project in PowerPoint is due on week 5. Haven't started that either.

Independant Study: Research on Barns of the Midwest- Still reading and reading. Field work and measurements are done of the barn and I can start loading that data into AutoCad. Need to finish with notetakeing and write the paper (30 page) so I can start the plan for the barn remodel.

Digital Presentation: Things were slow this week. A very boring in class project about text formatting in Illustrator. My group finished last- It was just so dry and dull that we were cracking up the entire time. Good thing we are class favorites and that the instructor has a sense of humour. No immediate homework for next week, although I haven't worked on the logo/letterhead report.

So, what are my plans for the weekend? Homework, of course!!!

Here's something new......Let the song load and just press play! This is Pink with Indigo Girls. I LOVE this track...hope you do too!

Week Two

How is this for consistency? Two postings in a row!!!

So, week two is over. I was hit hard by a cold that lasted Monday night-mid-day Wednesday. I missed my Codes class and now have to make up a quiz. I was able to email the outlines to a friend and she turned them in on time for me.

Codes: Must make up that quiz- I hear it was 5 pages long WITH load and occupancy calculations. Ugh. Suddenly, I'm feeling sick again....

Texitles class was uneventful. We did some burn tests to determine fabric components. Must get started on that notebook.

Independant Study: I missed my meeting with the instructor because it was on Tuesday..the day I was the sickest. I just couldn't drive and hour to Denver for class. Still reading and doing research.

Digital Presentation: Still learning Illustrator. This is the only class I actually like going to. Still have to complete a report on business logos and letterheads...due week 6.

My new digital camera should be here tomorrow. This will make some of my school research easier. Can't wait for that! The week ahead looks like homework, homework, homework.

Week One

Week One is over. Ten more to go.

Independant Study looks to be fairly easy, providing I don't fall into a pit of procrastination.

Textiles & Finishes looks like it *might* be easy, since I studied fiber at Iowa State already. There is a pretty hefty notebook and sample book to complete. I may want to knock that out immediately.

Digital Presentation is going to be my coolest class. I will be creating posters and brochures of my work using Adobe Illustrator. I'm really excited about this one!

Building Codes....what can I say? I love the instructor, but his lecture style is kind of all over the place. He also has a very hefty notebook project that is due along with some in class drawings, as well as active research on codes in existing buildings. I think this class may kill me. Really.

So that's it for now. I'm going to try and be more consistent with my posts and keep this blog updated weekly. If you don't hear from me.......I've fallen into a pit of homework.

What do you mean MY BREAK IS OVER?????

I meant to post here during the spring quarter. As you can see, that didn't happen. This was the WORST quarter I have ever had...mostly for personal reasons, but the work load has increased... A LOT!!!

End result: All A's.

The three weeks of break have evaporated. WHERE DID MY TIME GO?? Let's see, I went to the Blues Traveler concert at Red Rocks on July 4. My parents came for a visit. Other than that, I can't remember a whole lot.

School starts on Monday. The line-up for the summer is :
1) Independant study (which will be research on converting and restoring barns)
2) Codes & Barrier Free Design (YUCK)
3) Textiles & Finishes
4) Digital Presentation

I will not be a teaching assistant this quarter. Mainly because there was not a class in need that fit into my schedule. The teacher that I worked for the past 2 quarters has left school to work at an architectural firm. I was hoping that he would stay on until next year and help see me through my grad process. Ugh.

I was also elected as Secretary for our student ASID chapter. This shouldn't take up too much of my time. My only problem now is that I sold my old laptop and need a new one to take notes on. Wish I would have thought of that before I sold it!

Pictures that I am posting are jpgs that were created in SketchUp. I completed my Hospitality Design and my Advanced Residential Design classes using SketchUp. It's pretty easy to use. For anyone that wants to try, there is a FREE version of it available through Google (they just bought this local colorado company). It's fun to use and there are lots of free objects available online to use in your projects.

Happy Summer to all!!!

Sunroom Views (entry)

Attached Apartment (behind house) Views

Living Room Views

Axonometric Views- First and Second Floors