Dissertation Ideas

[Guest calumreid]

Hi Everyone,

 

Im a student at RGU in Aberdeen studying Architectural Technology, im in my 3rd year and am currently on placement at a local visualisation company. I found a passion for modelling and visualisation initially through using revit in university, thus i applied to a visualisation company for my placement rather than a architectural studio. After the summer in 4th year we have to do a dissertation (about 10,000 words) and i want to do mine on visualisation. The topic does have to be refined further, so i was wondering if any of you have any ideas or thoughts as to what i could write about? For example the outsourcing to Chinese studios etc

 

Cheers.

[ffranca]

Hi there!

In my humble opinion you could talk about the "revolution" in architecture, nowadays we can see that the big majority of the projects are created using a software, mainly from Autodesk. We build our world virtually..... we can model "matter and time" and the cost of it; OUR IMAGINATION .

All of them help us, but we can only improve if we use the software and not the other way..... .

This is just a sketch, but i think it´s a good theme ( i don´t know )

Hope it helped

[Scott Schroeder]

You could do an extensive paper on outsourcing and how, in the long run, it rarely saves you money. Many companies won't invest in proper training for the outsource, then have to fix or remodel the model or image in house anyways.

 

This is your paper, it should be your idea. What are your interests? What do you want to do in the real world? Where can you see improvement? What do you think are roadblocks to creative flow? And so on. You really need to come up with the idea yourself, you won't be passionate enough about someone else's idea to be able to write 10,000 words.

[Guest calumreid]

Thanks for your input guys but I have already come up with my own topic, as Scott rightly stated I should. Going to do something on the psychological aspects of visualisation, go into stuff like 'why we need to visualise' at all and how important an issue it is. I have always had an interest in psychology so that coupled with my passion for arch viz should be a good topic for my dissertation. Still need to iron out the exact research question but its a start. Again thanks for your input, I was just after some ideas that may have inspired me to look into something.

[Speaker]

I'd suggest you to see the film "Visual acoustics". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkyldYlHPUs Its about Julius Shulman - one of the most famous architectural photographers of all time. Its a wonderful and inspiring piece that I consider a must see for those working in the field of arch viz as well. I think a good thought to take from it is how much architectural photography has impacted the careers of architects and the rise in new styles and trends not only in design, but change in lifestyles as well. So I think good themes could be- what exactly has arch viz done to change the world, and what kind of parallels could be drawn with architectural photography?;

 

You could also try to look into how the whole art of architectural illustration has evolved over time -what methods have been historically used to convey the creative design ideas into understandable messages;

 

The development of visual styles and trends in arch viz;

 

The technology behind it all, or you may say- from a napkin sketch, to augmented reality and beyond;

 

Arch viz role in design development.

 

I guess that many themes could turn out to be very tricky to write about, as the industry can still be considered very young and hard to follow along, unless you actively hang around the circles of arch viz guys who have a good enough insight in this market. But have no fear, because if you browse this forum, then you'll definitely find many great discussions that will help you.

 

Can you tell more on what exactly you wanted write about on your chosen subject? I just feel that for a subject like that, you would drift too far in the realm of science and psychology, and too far from arch viz itself.

[Ernest Burden III]

...Going to do something on the psychological aspects of visualisation, go into stuff like 'why we need to visualise' at all and how important an issue it is...

 

I doubt you'll find a copy of this book at your school library, though they SHOULD have it:

http://shop.cgarchitect.com/books-and-magazines/3ds-max-2010-architectural-visualization-advanced-to-expert.html

 

My chapter on Composition goes into some depth about some of what you're going to address. And the other chapters are full of high-quality advice, too.

[Guest calumreid]

Cheers for the link Charles, will definitely give it a watch, seems very insightful. I like the idea of drawing parallels with arch photography, I will bring some of these ideas up with my tutor. Im not entirely sure yet, maybe how important arch viz is to the industry, whether it be a full blown 3d render with all the bells and whistles or a simple sketch, but the need for viz is there. Could go into spatial visualisation ability and how viz compensates for the age and gender differences in cognitive ability (visualisation ability being one of the few clear areas where differences appear). Yeah i did think about that problem of drifting too far from my own degree and going off on tangents about psychology, but it was my tutor who brought this subject area up, so I shall speak with him and try to come up with a refined topic. There have been plenty off studies on environmental psychology and how buildings affect our health (mental and physical) so I could delve into that if viz proved to be too challenging to write about, because as you said it is very young and hard to follow, especially for a newcomer like me. Can any of recommend any good books about visualisation? if there are any that is. (i have plenty of guide books etc but not found anything discussing the actual subject)

[Guest calumreid]

Just noticed your reply Ernest, cheers I will give it a look.

[eagle_ear]

'The Architectural Illustration'

Indigo on papyrus to the digital age and beyond.

[Scott Schroeder]

Look into how people perceive that they are in an experience. Research how people feel presence. Such as people remember things that they experience rather than just read or see, this may be a lead in to emersive technology or augmented reality.

 

I wrote my masters thesis on real time rendering and dove head first into how people feel presence in different forms (viewing an image, viewing a movie, real time navigation, and finally walking through the actual structure). I can give you a whole crap-ton of links to many scholarly articles on the such. Given you have access to the SIGGRAPH white paper archives. Most universities do have access through their libraries. I can also give you some papers to search for on Google Scholar.

[Guest calumreid]

Yeah that sounds roughly like what i was thinking about Scott, links roughly with mental imagery. Some links and names of papers would be ideal, sounds like exactly what im looking for! Just post them on here or private message me or whatever. Thanks in advance, this will really help me.

[thurazaw]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the share, I am in the similar boat with Calum actually. I am just starting to do my Dissertation synopsis. I want to explore in Architecture Visualisation field as it is my MA aim. I am now in the 3rd semester of my MA Interior Design. I didn't do Interior Design or Architecture related course previously. I got my bachelor degree in Web and Multimedia. I am a web designer and aiming to be an Arch Visualiser. I have just been collecting some information for my Dissertation starting point and those above information has been very useful. I have been trying to get some books to do some research about visualisation but most of them are technical books. I am struggling to get my starting point such as what kind of research will be helpful in order to go to the visualisation route than designer, what kind of knowledge should be gained,etc. If you guys can help me out with some good sources to research about Architectural visualisation for my dissertation starting point, that will be great and much appreciated. I have created a Blog for my MA and any suggestion/discussion are welcome. http://thura.tonyandthura.co.uk/Blog/

 

Many thanks..

[thurazaw]

Hi Calum,

How is your Dissertation going mate? I am just starting my Dissertation Synopsis and have been doing some research about Architectural Visualisation. I am stuck to start to be honest. If you can give me some suggestion how and what to explore in the Architectural Visualisation fields, that will be great.

Thanks

[Guest calumreid]

Hi Thura,

 

I haven't done too much tbh, been pretty busy on placement (getting my first taste of crap clients with crap projects, but experience is experience so cant complain haha). Im not meant to start writing my dissertation right now anyway, just have to do research and find good references i can use, then when i go back for my 4th year in September i start my dissertation. Earlier in this thread Charles suggested i watch Visual Acoustics, a documetry about Juluis Shulman, and i suggest you watch it as well. I watched it last week and found it pretty interesting, also very inspiring. How refined does your dissertation topic have to be? Because my one has to have a specific topic and cant be too broad, so i cant just do mine on visualisation in general. Im probably as stuck as you are as for exploring the field, as you said there arent any books 'about' the field, just technical books teaching you software etc. My lecturer is visiting my work place this lunch time, so i will ask him for some advice.

[thurazaw]

Hey Calum, thanks for the reply.

yea I watched trailer on the other day and thought it gonna be an inspirational film for us. I will watch it at some point. Our topic should connect to my third semester project which is going be a visualisation of a shoe club both interior and exterior but the topic can't be too broad as they want to see deep research of a few specific points within the field. I am just thinking to investigate about 'Light' for example:Consideration about light on a few aspects regarding atmosphere, influences of light on our feelings, and Rendering to create photorealistic visualisations. Just some thoughts. Please! that will be great if you can do me that favour.

Cheers

[Guest calumreid]

Yeah lighting could be a good topic, i will probably write about aspects of it as well. There is a lot of info and some phd papers on environmental psychology, and how light affect us. The secret life of buildings http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-secret-life-of-buildings is all about that sort of stuff, you will benefit a lot by watching the series. You could also look into why we need to visualise at all (i think this shall be my topic roughly), it is a very new field (in terms of photo realism) but has foundations in sketches and physical model making. You can draw countless parallels with architectural photography. In Visual Acoustics they make the statement that "Only a handful of people may experience a piece of architecture first hand, but thousands will experience it through the photos taken of that piece of architecture" Hence why photography is so important and why visualisation in so important, or more important in certain areas, because if the building hasn't been built yet, then the best way to experience it is through visualisations. But remember i am only a student and nowhere near the professional level of understating of this subject, so my thoughts, opinions and arguments change all the time haha All these areas i have mentioned are possible topic for my dissertation, and will probably write about aspects on all of them. Plus if anyone else reads this who has a professional understanding and works in the field then feel free to correct me or build upon the rather inarticulate points i have made haha

[YOHKOH]

Hi Calum / Thura

 

I developed my dissertation around architecture and film which can draw many parallels with visualisation, which is now my field. You may find more research opportunities regarding the development of narratives and story telling within architecture and how this is represented through visual media.

The Bartlett has run a film unit within the architecture department for a few years.

Start looking at Nigel Coates as well as Architecture and Film I and II by Maggie Toy.

Camera Lucida is also a great book by Roland Barthes, not strictly architectural but beautifully written and delves into the philosophy of the image and photography.

 

I taught a studio skills unit last year at BIAD and touched upon psychology in image making on a practical level, I could send you some headlines if you are interested. I think for your dissertation, simply trying to write about psychology and visualisation is too broad a topic. I would try to drill down into one single aspect or offshoot.

 

Off top of the head thoughts:

 

- Sexing it up - The portrayal of architecture through visual media for public consumption. i.e. Press and planning

 

- Influence of the method and techniques used to visualise on the actual design of buildings. Could be a comparative study of built objects and how they have been represented since their inception

 

- Telling stories - Direct parallels between visual methods of story telling and the design of architecture. Could be comparing techniques such as composition, rhythm, colour, light and shade. What is deemed to be beautiful in architecture and in visual media and compare and contrast to reach a conclusion which says something about the way humans perceive beauty.

 

 

Drop me a message if you want.

[thurazaw]

Could anyone help with my Questionnaire please? http://tonyandthura.co.uk/SurveyQuestions.php

Thanks