Designing for Second Use

Designing for Christmas & other holidays,

Kicking around new ideas based on limited use.

sddrawings.com

I've been kicking around the idea of talking about different facets of design we each use everyday.  There have been so many great ideas by so many talented people, that me trying to recreate the wheel and come up with something completely new seems silly to set out and try to do.  Kind of how 3M didn't come up with the tape you used this Holiday season to wrap your presents, they just make the tape better (Yet, sometimes it just happens; still waiting and working on that watershed moment).

A good designer considers all the uses currently needed and possible future requirements prior to finishing a design.  For instance, you build a house; in said house you have a hall.  Sure you can use that hall for walking down now, though will it be wide enough should you or someone else need a wheel chair sometime in the future?  That is planning for the future.

Which is exactly what I've been thinking about, being able to design in future and cultural uses into our built environment.  For instance, Christmas...  Now that this year's holiday has come and gone, there will still be another one soon enough.

Seems like everyplace I've lived, I have always "tucked" our little tree into some corner.  Obviously a decoration, like a tree, that is only around for a couple of weeks probably should not have a dedicated spot reserved for its use year round.  Yet we place so much emphasize on this season, maybe we should think more about a specific space for something like that.   I'm not surprised either that we as a society do not build a "Christmas Tree Room".  What normal family has the funds to dedicate a portion of their house to only a 3 week period to house a single tree?

Which makes me wonder why, if we're okay with multi-purposing space, why we do such a poor job of it elsewhere. What I am much more interested in is the reuse of space, let's call it "Designing for Second Use".  Let's come up with ideas for Double or triple the use of an area.  The pantry is a perfect example.  So many people live with 24" deep pantry shelves that get filled from back to front so that you just can not find anything in the dark recesses of the kitchen pantry without spelunking (caving) gear.  My answer is to look at my hiking gear.  I like to carry as few items as necessary and look to make double or triple use of items.  A tent stake not only holds down the corner of my shelter, though a well designed one also acts as a latrine shovel (hey, design can be a dirty business, but you don't want to forget the toilet, so we have to talk about it).

Furthering on that idea is the hide-away bed.  I'm not initially against them and the thought of creating something that can be stowed away when not in use and provides another option, perhaps a fold out desk when the bed is lifted might be really cool.  I even have an idea for side tables that act as a night stand when the bed is engaged, then "swing in" to work with the table for all of your pens and papers you would normally leave on a bed.

This is what I mean by designing for Second Use. I'm not creating anything new, I'm simply working on ideas to make something better.

Mobile Web Site Designs

Site Design for your Phone,

Lots of fun...frustrating fun.

sddrawings.com/mobile

Before the Holidays beseech us all, and shoppers make their way to the grocer for food stock to feed Aunt Harriet, or Uncle Bob; I decided to take an evening and work on a new mobile site for sddrawings.com.  I never realized the ingenuity that goes into designing for your little pocket PCs until I tried to incorporate one into my site.  There's a whole lot less real-estate to work with to start with.

Well, that's not entirely true.  I have a pseudo page I made over at m.hikealabama.org, though it doesn't use any of the page calls like I'm trying to design into my own site.  I might scrap everything and move to a wordpress site.  They are fast and nimble, easily modifiable (well, as easy as any web designing can be I guess) though I understand there are issues on keeping the sites up to date for security purposes.

The biggest problem I am having is writing a cookie to work off the htaccess file to show mobile users right off the bat, a page to decide if they want the mobile site or the main page.  It's frustrating, but a fun little hobby if nothing else.

Anyways, check it out and give me any feedback you may have.

Happy Trails!

-Michael S

The Little House, Cabin 4 (in a series)

The Little House or Cabin #4,

I'm hooked on small smart design...

2d plans | 3d plans

At JUST over 1,000 sq ft total, This Cabin features:

• 2 bed / 1 bath
• Lots of Storage
• Wide open First Floor "Public" Living Areas
• Full Kitchen with Serving Bar
• Dining Room
• Sweet Little Porches
• Smart Shelving

sddrawings.com

Election Day/Foreverwild (tired of reading about it on FB yet?)

Alabama Amendments & Forever Wild Rant

Just my opinions...

How Forever Wild works:

& A real short write up re: my

opinions on Alabama Amendments

from sddrawings.com

YES - Amendment 1 for Forever Wild
YES - Amendment 2 - Bond issues - Amends current Bonds to allow issuance of general obligation bonds to provide funds as job incentives
YES - Amendment 7, allow unions to have secret votes (old union guy here, I'm good with that)
YES - Amendment 8 - Legislatures Provide that the compensation paid to legislators can not be increased during term of office. Repeals last years pay raise
NO - Amendment 9 - Taxes Allows legislature to implement business privilege tax on corporations, and Churches
Yes - Amendment 11 - Prohibit any municipality outside of Lawrence County from imposing any municipal ordinance Keeps Decatur from overpowering Lawrence County.

all others, you guys are on your own

Good thing is, Foreverwild pays for itself through the interest of monies gained from selling our state's natural oil & gas reserves. So essentially we are selling public resources, to acquire land in our state. Forever Wild then makes these lands available for EVERYONE to use. It's hard share raw crude oil and have fun in the tar fields, alot easier to trade that for some pristine wilderness action.

In some places that Foreverwild has purchased lands, the mineral rights and timber rights may have already been sold. Meaning you might see an oil well or a clear cut on public land. Once the lease runs out, that'll be that though. 10% of the sale of our petroleum sales go to a trust fund for Forever Wild, Forever wild can only draw so much at a time from the interest earned, leaving the Lion's share in the fund.

So it buys private land (note: anyone can suggest a purchase) out of the interest earned. It's a great setup. The same funds pay for land upkeep, controlled burning, wildlife control etc etc. Even if the renewal doesn't pass, there's enough income generated from the account to keep up the land in it's possession indefinitely (sunset laws). This keeps the lands from being a burden on the state (read tax payers), then the 10% income Forever Wild would have received is just put back into the general fund.

Like I said, a wonderfully and beautifully enacted piece of legislation.

IF Foreverwild vote does not pass, it ONLY continues in a "sunset act" way. Which is to maintain the lands it currently holds. The organization is absolved, jobs lost and the "funds" you are talking about come from the additional interest accrued from it's current account balance. There's more jobs created out of Forever Wild than would be made by those in power now, don't think those we "intrust" to make our decisions for us wouldn't use that money for something foolish.

The idea some people have is that they REALLY want to put their hands on that money coming in from the selling off of our oil and natural gas reserves. Literally the state is selling the minerals from the ground, it gives Forever Wild 10% of those funds. Those resources are Public domain, they belong to everyone in the state of Alabama.

Certain people want to get all they can for their special little projects, Forever Wild is using public resources no one can go out and enjoy (oil and gas under the Gulf) in such a great way, as to provide Public resources we ALL can enjoy forever. This doesn't COST us anything. We get wonderful places to hike and camp and enjoy in the great outdoors. Plus, it allows us to keep walking around and breathing up all the fresh air and what not.

Happy Trails!
Michael Sherrod

So, Just who is an Architect?

Who is an Architect?

Stepping into a hornet's nest here I know...

This was inspired by a thread over at Linkedin, where there are some wonderful thoughts and then there are some very ignorant opinions.

So who is an architect? from sddrawings.com

An Architect is a person whom: graduates from an accredited University, works in an Architectural office, obtains the proper amount of time as required under the direct supervision of a licensed Architect, passes their accrediting exams and becomes licensed themselves.  They then will have to keep their license through on going education, keep insurance on themselves and continue to practice in the field of designing buildings.

At least that is the synopsis I got from reading the thread. There has been very little discussion about what to call the class of professional whom has the talent to design some of the most beautiful buildings and is not a registered Architect.  A great man once told me, Jefferson was not a licensed Architect, though he designed and built Monticello, undoubtably one our nations greatest examples of classical Architecture and a crown jewel.  Under the current system, a person can not call themselves an Architect even if they have completed school and been in the field for decades on end.  This is absurd and irrational.  This ideologue is akin to the seagulls in "Finding Nemo" who screech "mine", when they see a bit of food being offered.

Architecture is the science of blending Art with construction to form the art of design through the built form, more or less.  In today's construction world, A licensed contractor can erect an enclosed space with minimum plans and the final product can be abysmal.  His take at Architecture on that project could be seen as a failure, even if the building is sounds and meets all codes, the final aesthetic appeal makes the project a flop.  He is still not an Architect, just a builder.  An Architect can design a building and it too can be a flop, even if it passes all building codes.  Just like writers can flop at their craft, painters etc… So this argument leads me to consider anyone who engages in the design of a building is practicing Architecture, just as anyone who obtains pay to build a building is a Builder, anyone who paints and gets money for it is a painter; painter, "one who paints".

I am a draftsman.  I draw for a living under the direction of Architects, Planners and Contractors.  Often time I am asked to draw a house plan or help with the renovation/addition of a house.  I could be considered a Designer under this pretext.  I have been in the field of Architecture for roughly 14 years. I have not been through an Architecture program, much to my dismay.  Life events have kept me from the opportunity to do such, and so I would never use the term Architect, to describe myself.  This does not mean I am not qualified to be able to produce a set of construction drawings and a beautiful design.  After so many years in a field, one learns a little something.  With side studying and networking, I have picked up and am more capable of most students, interns and probably many registered Architects to come up with a solution to a design need.

Now, of two people, one being a licensed Architect proven by the state to have met the minimum requirements to be capable of designing a building; the other having 20 years in the field and perfectly capable of the same project management and design.  Common sense tells us to hire the person with the degree, then we look at experience, ability, availability and cost.  That is what a client really needs to consider: "Can this person perform for me and help me design the best design for my needs".  THAT is what I do.  When I need another professional such s a structural or civil engineer, I call someone.  When I need a registered Architect, I have a group of people I work with I can pick who I think would be the best person to work on a specific project.  In essence, I'm not selling you on just me and my ability, but someone who can choose the right team for your project.

Then there are the Java/software Architects... that's for a whole other discussion...

sddrawings.com

Haunted "Gingerbread" house (plans)

Just in time for Trick or Treat,

Just a little design fun in October...

Needed a break from Cabin designs, so here's an old style re-drawn from sddrawings.com

I can not imagine anyone building a turn-of the century design like this anymore.  Normally this house would have multiple coal fireplaces, probably one in each room; and usually those fireplaces would split rooms, say between the Dining and Family Rooms.  The fireplaces would then share a flue. I opted out of drawing those.  Also, I added amenities such as indoor plumbing and closets. A closet was uncommon as everyone used wardrobes.  I still prefer a wardrobe and dresser over a closet.

• 5 bed / 3.5 bath
• Walk-in Pantry w/mop sink & broom hanging rack
• Serving bar between Kitchen & Dining
• Haunted Library where books fly off the shelves
• Spooky Den
• Scariest thing, 2 study areas upstairs for kids to put homework desks

This little Cabin Packs a Punch with lots of amenities

The little Cabin that could,

This Cabin Packs a Punch with lots of amenities...

2d plans | 3d plans

At 612 sq ft on the First Floor, a little less upstairs. This Cabin features:

• 3 bed / 2 bath
• An integrated Booth @ the Kitchen Island, open Pantry shelves so your foods don't get lost in the back (look for a blog rant about that here soon)
• Ample room in the open Den featuring a fireplace and vaulted ceiling that looks up to a sleeping loft.
• Master Bedroom shares a full bath with guests downstairs
• 2 Bedrooms and full bath upstairs with more room in a common sleeping loft for bunk beds or to be used as a play room
• Wide front porch for enjoying this beautiful Fall weather in October

sddrawings.com

On the state of Computer Hardware for Drafting

On the state of Computer Hardware for Drafting from sddrawings.com

Drafting has come a long way from the old drafting tables and drawing buildings by hand, or cutting out GFCI outlets and pasting them onto a floor plan.  I view drafting as part of my artistic endeavors.  So when I design something (even if it may never be built), I still consider it to be a piece of art that I would find pride in hanging, on anyones wall.

So if drafting is an art, how far back can we define drafting as it is known today?  Surely we can all agree modern CADD drafting falls under this pretense.  Using a computer & sitting down to render an object (think ship blueprints, or designs for your 'what-ch-a-ma-call-it') or a building in any shape or form is considered drafting.  If we go back further than modern day to 1889 when the Eiffel Tower was erected, the blueprints for the Eiffel tower and the process of creating those plans was considered being 'drafted'. The tools were different, the process was probably a bit more involved, yet the team of Designer's and craftspeople accomplished an amazing structure by drawing it first.

What about further back through the years?  Tools and processes continue to change the further back we go in time.  Egyptians used reeds and papyrus, wooden boards and hieroglyphic symbols to get their point across.  I'm sure the pyramids and cities were thought through prior to just digging down and laying a foundational stone. Same with the Mayans, whom used animal hair and feather quills to write in their codexes.    So through the years, drafting has always been a beginning phase of where the Art of building, begins and intercedes with an idea.  Infact, that's the entire process of drafting, to get an idea across.  To make something so you can make something else, properly.

Using modern equipment involves a computer, a mouse, keyboard, screen and the software to make it all go.  I use an Apple MacBook Pro with a Microsoft bluetooth mouse.  I've used probably at least a dozen different computers or laptops to make my drawings.  I've dealt with printers and plotters, setting up rolls of paper and hand feeding in special printed vellum with title blocks and stamps.  In the drafting field, we are so much more lucky to have what we have today versus the tools of the past.  We are so disconnected from having to render anything by hand, I'm afraid the 'art' of drawing is going to be lost.  One of my last projects 'The Austin', I did sit down and make 3 or 4 pages of hand drawings and sketches.  They were rudimentary to the point where I achieved the basic shapes and proportions I felt would look appealing. In fact, I jumped straight to a 3d rendering of this house plan and skipped the standard 2 dimensional floor plan process completely.  Then there is my Lake Cabin 1 (3d version) where I never did touch graphite to paper to draw the first line, though I did draw the floor plan in 2d CAD and the 3d renderings last.  So my process has been a mix of hand drawing, photography of interesting details, maybe I just saw a bracket I liked and sketched it for later, or sometimes inspiration hits by the ways of a paying client who just wants a floor plan, which was the case with my Lake Cabin 1 (2d version).

Drafting on a laptop has it's ups and downs, I can draw whenever and where ever, though I find using the trackpad unbearable, so my needs necessitate the use of a mouse, mouse pad and table to set up my computer.  I prefer to have a secondary screen to just my laptop screen.  Having two monitors is a game changer.  I can only imagine thinking about the egyptians attempting to draw on half a board, where having two halves would be a huge bonus.  Think about your computer set up, could you operate more efficiently by having your tools pallets on one screen and your main drawings on another?  Another bonus to this set up is having reference files open on your smaller screen behind your tool pallets.  I can open a reference file from a past job, check font types, line weights and then jump straight back to the plan I'm working on currently.  I've talked about this in a previous article, How to deal with Learning a New Drafting Style.

As far as computer systems go and monitors, most are interchangeable.  If you're new to the drafting world, you're going to become a tech guy once you land a job in the field.  Especially if you find a position in a smaller firm.  Not only did I draft for an Architect *Cough Steve Mouzon, but I became quiet proficient at removing boards, knowing how to install, reinstall software, rebuild operating systems, setting up local area networks and trouble shooting a myriad of problems.  What you'll learn if you don't already know (the younger generation here probably already has it all figured out) is that the ability of certain graphic cards installed in a computer can only push out so much information to a monitor, or vice-a-versa; a monitor can only handle so much while a graphics card may well exceed the screens ability to render at the highest setting.  The same goes with computers, ram and hard drive space.  While the difference between different setups is usually cost to you the end user (buyer/consumer), the end difference is likely negligible with modern systems.

A question was posed to an online forum of CADD users I frequent, 'What's the difference between 2 computer set ups' one advertising a clock speed of 700 mhz faster than another model.  The consensus from the group with this answer: 'About $250 and maybe 15 seconds of lost rendering time a day, IF you're using a highly intense 3d program'.  So in a nutshell, yes, time is money and you get what you pay for, but you can still get to the store in a Pinto, as you can a Mustang.  I chose a middle of the road rebuilt Apple laptop.  Namely because I can travel and work out of the office at remote locations.  I didn't want to spend excess money or go into debt to buy the top of the line computer where a used one was only 6 months old. I preferred a built in DVD/CD drive over having to buy an external one to go with the top of the line model. I have made some choices with other hardware.  I wanted a bluetooth mouse so I could hook up an external drive to my laptop (the drive uses both USB ports to power it).  Had I gone with another brand like a Logitech mouse, I would have lost mouse use or backup use; as those mice require the use of one of your USB ports to power the RF controller so the computer can talk to the mouse. So I would then have to draw with the trackpad, which again, I disdain.

Since we're talking backing up your computer, I see it much like the old Realtor's slogan 'Backup, Backup, Backup'.  You can never have enough backups.  I keep 4 separate copies of current projects.

*One backup is the hard drive is in my laptop

*Second backup is an external hard drive

*Third hard drive is another external hard drive I back up to about once a month

*Fourth hard drive is a free online backup service (Dropbox)

Older projects are on all of my local external hard drives while I also burn DVD's once a year of my entire system.  Losing a hard drive doesn't have to be a problem, if you will just back up.

So on an Apple computer running Powercadd, I chose a setup that works for me.  Research your programs to see what will work for you. Buy an external hard drive and setup an incremental backup regiment. Research is easy with a couple of hours and a wideband connection.   If you don't have a computer yet, use a friends, or the public library.  You don't need the most current computer and your most cost effective way to get a faster system will be to increase RAM.  Other parts can be changed out later over time.

sddrawings.com

Lake House / Hunting Cabin

Lake House / Hunt Camp,

A sweet little design...

See a newer Cabin Plan here

• 2 bed / 2 bath
• Sleeping Loft / Play Area
• Loft over looks Great Room Below
• Master Bedroom has full bath, shower, tub & walk-in closet
• Full Kitchen open to Dining Room

2d version here

3d version here

sddrawings.com

 

Weeee, fun for grownups, red brick house 3d Model

Weeee, renovated the site and found a bunch of OLD 3D models for client's houses

http://www.sddrawings.com/index.php?page=3dredbrick

Being Responsible with your time as a draftsman

Another week: sddrawings.com In Keeping with drafting for the beginner. This week I'll look at ethics as a draftsman and some of the pitfalls working as a desk jockey. I hope that even these ideas can be used in what ever job you may go into; whether it is design, pet sitting, auto mechanics, climbing telephone poles, etc…

Today's desk jockey jobs carry some new pitfalls you used to not have to worry about.  With the advent of connectivity; being able to check Facebook, emails, texts and tweets can be time sucking endeavors.  Undoubtably, in a year or two, there will be a new emerging site that will integrate to your smart phone, where you can waste your time anywhere, in any job.  As a draftsman, you know computers, have probably been on Facebook for years and may have more than one email address.  Even a lot of the guys I worked with in Mobile who have gone on to the rough and tumble world of working in ship yards are connected at the push of a button.  But now, you landed a job in an Architectural or Engineering firm, maybe it's where you've always dreamed of working.  Even more reason to be cognitive about the time you spend at work, but not on the job.

These electronic connections between your friends can be important.  They can be very good for networking and increasing your knowledge.  However, they will also reduce your productive time.  As en employee you have to set a personal standard and adhere to company guidelines about the use of such social media.  Ignoring business ethics for a minute, just your personal work ethics should dictate how much and how often you should "check in".  No matter what job you signed up for, you agreed to work for someone for monetary compensation.  You are selling time out of your life, but that was an agreement you made the choice to make. 

If you are in my position as a self-employed contractor, your time is even more valuable.  You are literally billing someone for your time.  You are not just showing up and letting someone tell you what to do.  As a contract draftsman, I bill in 15 minutes increments. I have to be dedicated and intent with ever hour of my day if I want to be justified in sending someone a bill for my time.  Not only that, but working from home, which I often do, there are a lot of distractions.  If you're in an office setting, obviously home distractions are limited.  So regardless if your employer is lax on allowing you to check your Facebook status, you still have a job to do.  There are even great resources biblically that discuss your work ethics. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (GNT) says "While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”  Then in Colossians 3:23 (GNT)  we are told "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

Since this is a blog about being a draftsman, how does all this apply to actually drafting?  In my field of Architectural Drafting, I am responsible for taking hand sketches and producing CAD drawings.  I make floor plans and elevations on my CAD system (Powercadd from ENGSW.com). I have made short cuts in my computer file system that allow me to grab items from my drafting library and use them quickly over many different jobs.  On an Apple computer, I have a folder in my dock so I can easily access any Library file.  When you draw an item, make sure it is drawn correctly so you can re-use it (discussed in a previous blog post Design & drafting techniques).  These time saving tips make me a very good and very fast draftsman.  I produce good quality work. If I took a minute or two here or there to check Facebook, I could easily get lost coming back to my project/drawing.  I want to be accurate and social media distractions do little in really helping me to stay focused on getting my job done correctly.

I have also learned sitting behind a desk day in and day out is not healthy for a person. Getting up every couple of hours to stretch and hitting the pavement for a jog once a day makes me more productive as a draftsman. It staves off the boredom of looking at a computer screen for hours on end, which I feel is the ultimate reason people constantly look to social sites; to be entertained, if only for a moment.

So know where your time is going.  Consider keeping an hourly journal of your day for a week.  Your life is limited and you should know where your time is going.  This is how great people do great things.  Consider Benjamin Franklin. He kept a Daily routine from morning until evening, where he questioned what he's done, will do and is going to do.

You may have already landed your dream job in a design firm.  Be part of the team by being responsible.  Be a valued employee, I wouldn't hire someone whom I felt would waste mine or their time always being socially connected when there's great work to be done.

sddrawings.com

Sketchup

Really enjoying Google Sketchup

Design & Drafting techniques

Another week: sddrawings.com In Keeping with drafting techniques for the beginner. Again, another post about keeping to the basics, keeping it simple, and keeping it accurate. I hope that even these ideas can be used in what ever job you may go into; whether it is design, pet sitting, auto mechanics, climbing telephone poles, etc…

Every Engineering firm & Architectural office has their own way of producing CAD drawings.  Just like every artisan has their own way of painting, every mechanic has their own way of fixing a problem and every telephone lineman has their own way of placing strand and cable.  The old saying goes at 'Ma Bell', you send 6 linemen out to do a job, you'll have 6 different ways for it to get done.  Whom ever you work for will have their own set of rules and ways of drawing.  A big secret I've used for years was to ask an Architect or Engineer for a copy of their work to reference.  Even a paper copy will give away secrets to their drawing style, though paper copies will not show advanced CAD information such as 'layers'.  Having a paper copy of a similar project as a reference handy, will help you on matching the office standards.

 Some Designers tend to have a lax approach to their drafting techniques.  They opt to simply get their point across, making the design being built their main focus, while they see CAD drawings are simply the means to make that happen.  Where they are lax in drawing techniques, they usually have a more hands on approach to the final outcome of the project.  The Contractor will usually find this designer in the field more often.  This designer is also more apt to make calls to check on projects and verify everything is going the way it should.  As a draftsman working for this style of Designer, you will probably be called upon to make field visits and document the progress or verify dimensions.

 Other designers are very meticulous about their drawings.  They will have every element fit on a page precisely.  This can provide for very quick drafting and allow for modifications easily.  Usually these designers are very detailed orientated and have greater success through release of their drawings to be built correctly, with little or no further input from the Designer.  Even during construction, a builder will have fewer questions regarding this Designer's intent (which I will address in the future).

 I personally like to use a mix of these two drafting techniques.  My goal is to find a happy medium between art and giving instructions on how something should be built or compiled.  One aspect of any design work, is the use of 're-usable' content.  This spans across all industry.  It is rare to find a car where every bolt is a different size and thread count.  The same goes for any of my designs, whether that is drawing a house or designing a web site. 

if we look at a few of my latest web site designs:

sddrawings.com   hikealabama.org   habitat2012.org (Just to name a few) 

You'll see a common element in all three of these.  That element is the menu bar (as of Sept 2012), is essentially the same across all 3 sites.  I did this to simply save time.  Not that I can not go back and change it later, but an initial place holder with a product I know was designed correctly the first time saved me days of fiddling with html & css code.  Just like one of my past posts about getting things drawn right the first time see http://sddrawing.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-all-in-dimensions_9.html, once you get a detail or drawing element correct, it's easy to reuse it across many drawings, or in this case a web page.

The bonus of this 're-use' of an element or detail, is that my finished product is completed much quicker as there is less drafting & design work to do.  The entire point being; learn what works for your office, learn how to reference other work to mimic or match what has been done in the past & be accurate with your work as it will make it much easier in the future to reuse your own work.

Feel free to email or post your own thoughts. sddrawings.com

Sneak Preview & Playing with Shading on a not completed elevation

Don't ask where the door is... this is a work in progress & a Sneak Preview of Playing with Shading on a not completed elevation.

check out sddrawings.com for more

How to deal with learning a new drafting style?...

Another week: Keeping with drafting techniques for the beginner. Again, another post about keeping to the basics, keeping it simple, and keeping it accurate. I hope that even these ideas can be used in what ever job you may go into, whether it is design, pet sitting, auto mechanics...

"Just a simple
notebook is enough"

      Learning anything new requires your time and attention.  When you are taking the jump from your high school, trade school or Architecture/Engineering program to head into the commercial world of drafting and design, it is going to be very important to be prepared and ready to learn.  Even if you have worked for a Designer before and you are going to another office, you have a daunting task of either re-learning a good portion of your trade, or a new way to go about it.  Each office will have their own standards and requirements for their drawings.  There are some basic fundamentals to help you get acclimated quickly to your new surroundings.  Aside from the basics I've already covered in previous posts like: show up, be on time, be in good spirit.  You will want to take notes. Notes, take a lot of notes.  You have been educated, that's why you have a job, though certainly you know how to take notes by now.  You have enough knowledge that someone has decided to put their trust in you to help them make their life easier.  So get a notebook and dedicate it to JUST that designer's system.  Purchase a good notebook and a pen.  You are a professional, this is part of your job.  Practice good handwriting skills and keep your notes in order. Hopefully you will actually be able to use them later.

     There will be a lot of things you have either already learned or will learn that works across the board. For instance, Layers are in all CAD systems; Autocad, Powercadd and Microstation (just to name three).  Things you will not find across the board is individual drawing styles between designers.  Some may use a "profile line" layer, some may use an intricate title block and so on. Regardless of what the topic is about during your training or meetings about your project, take notes of what the Designer (or co-workers) you work for explain.  During meetings, when reviewing your drawings or just another set of prints you will have ample opportunity to take notes.  This notebook will be your drafting "bible" while you work there.  Look for opportunities to fill your notebook.  It may be drafting styles, it may be standard practices.  Consider having a section in your notebook to differentiate between the myriad of different topics for optimal organization.

      Practice makes perfect, once you get into the rhythm of drafting for one Designer, you will learn the system and hopefully become very versed in production & design work that suits your environment.  While you are with one designer, one way you can meet their expectations is to use their past jobs as reference.  If you're on a CAD system, you can have other jobs similar to the one your working on available on the screen.  It's easy to jump back and forth between the two separate jobs.  Alternately, print out a ledger size drawing for reference or use a full size printed version of another job available to reference while you are drafting on your project.  Make it easy to jump back and forth between the two drawings, the goal is to mimic what has been done before, so make it easy on yourself.  The more you draft for one designer, the more you will understand their system and style.  Ask lots of questions.  Think about your questions, write them all down and at the opportune time, ask the Designer to look them over and give you feedback.  A good reason to write down your questions is that you will not bombard the designer (or trainer if you're just learning CADD) with a million small nit-pick questions. Obviously, they want you to know the answers to your questions, but make it easy on them and thusly yourself.  Think if you were in their shoes.  How would you want to be treated and approached?  There really is no such thing as a dumb question, sometimes it's just how you go about it.

Happy Trails!

sddrawings.com

It's all in the dimensions…

       In this week's installment: I'm going to keep with drafting techniques for the beginner, since this blog is so new. So this post is about keeping to the basics, keeping it simple, and keeping it accurate.

       Construction drawings are intricate.  There are many parts and pieces to them.  A highly qualified builder will take your drawings and make something using them as an instruction book.  This is not an Ikea instruction booklet, you want to be detailed; though more importantly, you want to be accurate in your CAD drawings.  It's part of your job, like showing up every day & on time.  As a draftsman, you will be using a computer, it's good at counting to the "umpteenth" degree.  Take advantage of this tool.  Be accurate with your drawings.

Your reputation is on the line with every line you draw.

       Every line should be placed and set at a "good" dimension.  Just drawing a line to what "looks" good will not be good enough.  Use exact dimensions, have a reason why pieces in your drawing are a certain length.  We don't want any funny dimensions.  The same holds true for modifying your drawings once you've layer out a few lines.  Tools like the "move tool" or the "reshape" tool are powerful and important features.  We want to use them, but use them accurately.

       One drafting technique for moving objects & lines is the "click and drag" technique.  Whether your dragging a line to another location, or a point in a polygon, snap is your friend.  Use those quick keys (or set them up) End point, Center & intersection snaps will help your accuracy. Learn to use them.  The move tool is a great tool in helping your click and drag drawings, though not the most accurate.

       The next technique is the "move command" (depending on the CAD system & what it is called).  The move command is far more accurate than the select and drag style, even using the move tool.  Typically with move, you choose your object, key in the command to move the object in an X or Y coordinate. This is your best bet when you want accuracy. The reason this is more accurate has to deal with the way the CAD system thinks.  In snap and drag, the system is trying to guess at what you want, with the move tool, there is no guessing.  The computer adds up the numbers before your finger comes  off the "enter" key.

      Eventually you will work on enough drawings where you will use one component over several different jobs (say you draw a door, you may copy & paste that door from one job file to another).  Be accurate to start with, inaccuracies breed.  You should be able to measure anywhere on your project and have even decimals.  The jobs where you have a measurement of 1.235432443", is fouled.  It will radiate through the entire drawing set.  Take pride in your work, be an artisan, be a craftsman.  Let the office brag about you so you don't have to.

The image on the left shows a dimension that is fouled...


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