VIRTUAL: Learning. Life. Work.

Abstract

Constructing Representation is a first year MFA graduate course at Pratt Institute in which the students are introduced to analog and digital methodologies and architectural drawing for the first time. Rather than a traditional drafting course that starts with a mayline and triangle, or a newer version that jumps straight to CAD, this course aims to teach students to reach for the tool that best suits the idea they are trying to communicate graphically. With brief introductions and tutorials of hand drafting, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, collage, precedent images and weekly dialogue, the class is highly conversion based, constantly challenging the students to communicate through drawing. After an overview, we lean on teaching a thought and creative process versus prescribing a step by step workflow. What are the students trying to achieve and how do they get there? By testing multiple strategies and mixing media, the students begin to learn the strengths of the tools and of their own skill set. Once conventions are understood, how do we break them? Through what media? Furthermore, instead of a traditional assignment to grade sequence, this course asks the students to evaluate themselves. The process of reflection on their learning process allows the student to tell themselves their strengths, areas for improvement, and seek answers to further questions. The concept of hybrid is present in their drawings, learning, and evaluation.