Visual Words
We architects are known for our creativity…with materials, ideas, problem-solving…and even our words. We are not above making up words, adding an “-ism”, an “-ers”, or an “-ation” to the end of a noun. What we’re trying to get at is the visual representation of what it means, so today I thought I’d talk about visual words.
Note: This is the fortieth post in a group series called #ArchiTalks. This month’s topic is “Words.”
Fenestration = window layout on an elevation
Sociopetal = space that promotes interaction
Terminating vista = An important building at the end of a view
Viewshed = what you can see from a certain spot
….you thought I was joking, didn’t you? I can go at this for days. I literally do, sometimes. But, you see, my approach to this blog and the way I practice is to try to reach more people and do more good. My words mean nothing if it doesn’t improve the life of a client, a user, a community in the long run. And on the mentorship side, what good is it for me to talk the lingo to someone still learning? It’s like speaking a different language. This is why I sketch. This is why I happily use my words to break down an idea and draw it out for a client or a mentee or someone taking the ARE. What do I mean exactly? Let’s take a look at how sketching = visual words.
Visual words with the contractor
In the best of projects, your contractor and design team act like just that…a team. You use your words well, but you also aren’t afraid to sit down at a table and work through a detail together.
On a project that I’m helping oversee at RATIO that’s about halfway under construction, we had to do just that recently. As the contractor works through the exterior envelope construction and preps for gradework, we needed to coordinate the details of the officially submitted sliding door, the tolerances of the sidewalk slope, and the chosen tile thickness by interiors. The above sketch made, you guessed it, visual words of the narrative on how to perform the threshold detail.
Visual words with the community
A contractor might be able to somewhat understand our archispeak, but it’s unwise to assume a community can. More than understanding, you as the architect want to come across knowledgeable and empathetic, not pompous and domineering.
Sketching to provide visual words and supplements to your conversations ensures that the people affected by your project, who don’t necessarily have formal training in architecture or design, understand and feel comfortable with your plan to solve their problem. They might not even know they had the problem in the first place, but your visual word doodle might just make them realize your value after all.
Visual words with a future architect
Most of you know me know how the AREsketches came to be, but that’s the best explanation of visual words I can give you. If you’re new to my site, go take a gander after this last paragraph. 2+ years, almost 3 published books (shooting for a fall 2018 publish date), and almost 1,000 sketches later, my translation of study material to visual words in the form of easy-to-understand sketches have been helping future architects become architects. And if that’s not a great reason to draw out what you’re saying, I don’t know what is.
I use sketching to create visual words so that the contractor understands how the bulkhead will work and why it matters.
I use sketching to create visual words to ensure a community member understands their access and transportation options to and through a site.
I use sketching to create visual words to explain just what the hell “sociopetal” means so that a future architect can visualize it while taking the tests.
Architects are proof that a picture is worth a thousand words. We just have to learn to use those visual words wisely.
To see the take on “Words” from other Architects, follow the links to the others in the #ArchiTalks group who are posting today on the theme:
- James Mehaffey – Yeoman Architect (@jamesmehaffey) “Words Are Important”
- Eric Faulkner – Rock Talk (@wishingrockhome) “Words are Simple — Too Simple”
- Michele Grace Hottel – Michele Grace Hottel, Architect (@mghottel) “words”
- Jeffrey Pelletier – Board & Vellum (@boardandvellum) “Use Your Words (Even When You Can’t)”
- Mark Stephens – Mark Stephens Architects (@architectmark) “Words”
- Brian Paletz – The Emerging Architect (@BPaletz) “A picture’s worth”
- Leah Alissa Bayer – Storytelling LAB (@leahalissa) “Architects Are Storytellers”
- Jeff Echols – Architect of the Internet (@Jeff_Echols) “Is anyone listening to your words?”
- Meghana Joshi – IRA Consultants, LLC (@MeghanaIRA) “Architalks 40: Words”
- Drew Paul Bell – (@DrewPaulBell) “Mindset for Endless Motivation and Discipline #Architalks”
