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One thing that is common in all students who come to me is that they are always unsure of their requirements. It is my goal to make my students understand that there is never a right or wrong idea when it comes to design and that it is always seen subjectively by the critic. Sometimes the idea might be great but poorly communicated and never gets the merit it deserves or the idea might be poor and excellently communicated but doesn’t fair too well regardless of their efforts.
The best of work I have seen is from students who have matured their designs and understand what it takes to communicate it.
I aim to strike a balance to help students to mature their designs and be able to present and communicate their designs most effectively in the shortest period possible.
Striking this balance can be painstakingly long and is quite an undertaking and maybe the reason why architecture courses are so long and so many students drop out in the first year. For those students struggling I offer short cuts and methods to make this process not just bearable but enjoyable and allow the student to go beyond their potential.
Students should not be disheartened by any critique given by tutors or other critics as they are merely trying to push you into developing better ideas. Some students end up destroying work because of this. No work should be destroyed. It should be worked upon further and developed. Always stick to your guns - but never disregard any criticism received, merely put it away and apply it when you are ready.
Regardless of the quality of the design, be it of the worst kind I believe any student can achieve a first class or distinction purely by the quality of the presentation. Those struggling students in the later stages of the final projects should not look to change their ideas and start from scratch but with guidance try work and improve with what they have produced already regardless of the critique received.
Ramesh Depala
