Studio Research Summary

We have now began our newest and final studio project which is looking inward at our own existing studio space and seeing how we can solve some issues currently. This began by examining the four core values of our department through the visual explorer.  After that we all broke up into groups between Tommy’s studio and our studio to research different things such as built aspects, conduct surveys, examine social and behavioral qualities, existing spaces, lighting, furniture and many other things.

Probably one of the more fascinating groups to present were the individuals that conducted the surveys because in their results they asked questions about whether or not we find the space to be inspirational or not? Which is the most used space between all the years, and what space would they have if they could... It seemed that as time progressed the space wasn’t able to inspire like it once could as a first year. To me personally that does make sense because we as human beings often become tired of certain things after a length of time whether it’s a house, or a car or a room in this case. Also the statistics showed that as our time passed here we spent less time here because our work becomes more digital based and many of us our able to continue our work outside of the classroom and offsite at home. With every year we need different amenities such as the first years need more storage for material and more space for constructing projects. Second year is a period where your work is still hand somewhat but then begins to make its way into the digital realm and by third and fourth year the majority of our work is digital based which ultimately requires less space. 

What I’m considering doing with this project is basically emptying the entire floor and establishing better configurations of the furniture systems. It seems that by finding systems furniture that can be right above the outlets in the floor solves the issues of cables being everywhere and gives everybody their own floor outlet but the desk would ultimately have outlets on the tops of them as well. By doing this I think we can establish a better grid and also ideally a better arrangement. I am thinking I want to space plan the studio area and create an open plan that better fits the needs of the students and also the professors but still allows for those break out sessions to occur and can embrace different situations and easily adapt. I am also interested in what I can do to graphically enhance the space and leave an area for each studio to really do whatever they want with. I plan to introduce color into the space and also new materials to enlighten the overall feeling and just create a space that’s more lively and more rich in work, people, and life in general.