CDisco: Documenting a Design Project

Part 1 in a series on documentating design projects.

As the Career Discovery program draws to a close it seems useful to document a couple of lessons learned. Amongst my colleagues and the CD students there is often confusion regarding how design artifacts go from studio >> camera >> computer >> portfolio or web. Since a minority of people will never see your original models, prototypes, drawings, etc. the documentation will be the end representation of both your work and skill to the rest. This first part in a series of posts aims to give an overview of the documentation process.

Step 1: Design

Using good craft on your design deliverables will yield the best results in the documentation phase. It is difficult, if not impossible, to make great images of poorly conceived and/or executed projects. Build good models, make readable drawings, and your documentation will work for you.

Step 2: Capturing the Artifacts

At the GSD we have a simple photography studio setup that is great for taking photos of objects and models. If you do not have access to something similar do not fret! It is simple to get a working setup with minimal investment. The three keys to a successful photographic studio are lights, background, and camera. Up until last year I used a couple of desk lamps, a large sheet of paper and a Nikon D80 to document all of my work. Drawings, diagrams, and other digital representation are already captured, but require similar processing as photos for final output. A further post will detail setting up a studio and scanning documents in more detail.

Step 3: Photo Processing

Transfer the photos onto your computer and save a backup before processing them. Your models and drawings will never look as the day you shot them, things fall apart, so backups are essential. Open your most promising photographs, drawings, and diagrams in Photoshop and process them in preparation for the final steps. Tutorial for this step here.

Step 4: Portfolio Design

Having a printed version of your work is a good idea for designers. Most design jobs and graduate school programs require a portfolio for application so your documentation becomes the face of your skills as a designer. Physical portfolios are generally laid out in Indesign and require high resolution images for printing. For publishing on the web images can be lower resolution and require a different process for publishing.

Step 5: Web Portfolio

Maintaining a website for your portfolio is a great way to be able to quickly and easily display your work. While a printed portfolio is considered more formal, a personal website can be updated and shared more easily. There are several great systems available on the interweb for publishing portfolios including Indexhibit and WordPress.

Eating the Dinosaur

From Chuck Klosterman:

“…now I realize I was simply partying with too many Modern Leftists. I should have spent more of my social time with Post-modern Leftists; they never care what you say to them, as long as you don’t criticize architecture or Girl Talk.”

Klosterman’s books are my US Weekly.

Works: The Swoop and GSD Studioworks

My third semester design project for the Harvard College of Arts and Sciences was selected for the GSD Studioworks exhibition and the model will (hopefully) be featured in the school’s lobby next semester. The Swoop, so dubbed by a classmate, is sited on Church Street in Harvard Square and provides 300 undergraduate beds. More information and media for the project are available here.

Works: Cones Selected to GSD Studioworks

My second semester design project for the North End Boston Public Library was selected for the GSD Studioworks exhibition. The rare book library design houses books and resources on the opaque outer envelope with a series of penetrating cones on the interior. The cones of multiple opacities act as light tubes, study spaces, circulation, and a forest of spaces of differing intimacy. I was interested in the dialogue between private / public ideas and restricted / available resources. More information and media for the project are available here.

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