After completing the “Experimentation and Innovation” project, the class was tasked with building an exhibit for our drawings in only three weeks. This was a vertical studio, meaning it was a collaboration of both third and fourth year students. The studio was split into three teams: the structure team, the exhibition team, and the production team. I assumed the role of leader of the structure team. We were in charge of building all 26 modules, each consisting of a seat, a platform for our models, and a display system for our drawings and images. There was one module for every student in the studio. Positioning the modules in an 8ft high circle allowed for an immersive experience for the visitors coming to look at our projects and provided an intimate space for meaningful discussion. Being leader of the structure team, I learned how to effectively delegate tasks and manage time, as time was of the essence. Working with cheap, 2x1 pieces of wood also taught me a great deal about problem solving in situations where the wood hardly cooperated. The purpose of using this type of wood was to reiterate the whole point of the “Experimentation and Innovation” project, which was to design in a cheap and repurposeful way.
