What can you do when you have a presentation that is an important opportunity to get client, review board or public approval, and your project is still in the formative stages? There is a delicate balance between the desire to present a preliminary scheme that will win approval and the impulse to commit to too much, when showing your hand too early can greatly affect the outcome.

Recently, AC Martin came to us with a proposal for a masterplan of new student facilities at Cal State Dominguez. They needed something that would show how the new additions to the campus might look, but were not ready to make a commitment to a final design.

The client sent us very simple massing models, a selection of “architectural looks” and a tree palette. We reviewed the information and got to work.

The first step was to establish the view angles from the model that would best present the key points of interest.  We created a series of small, quick concept sketches to insert architectural context and to get a sense of how the landscape elements and entourage would impact the views.  These fast, little studies communicate information very clearly to the client, so they can adjust and approve. That done, we were able to move onto the next stage.

With the view selection finalized, we created formal block-outs where we establish the look of the architecture, foliage placement and entourage.

From there we go on to formal line art, adding people and cars to enliven the scene,

and then to the final colored pencil sketches, where we included all color information for the scene.  The result was a series of sketch drawings that give the viewer enough of an idea of how these places might look to get them fully on board.

Having the experience of close interaction with our architectural clients over many years and the ability to design on the fly has proven to be a great asset to our clients.  This process of picture development has been used with success on several large projects and aided in them getting quickly passed through review and into the next stage of development.

Here is feedback received from the client about the finished work:

“First let me say that the renderings are beautiful–and exciting because they make the projects seem so real and so appealing.  I particularly appreciate your contribution to the architecture and design of the new buildings.” – S.P.

Filling in the blanks is just one of the many extra services we can offer.  Contact us for information on how we help your next Master-planning project come to life.

I am very honored to have been selected by UCSB to give a presentation on the years I spent working with my step-father, Carlos Diniz, in his studio.

Carlos was one of the great architectural illustrators to emerge in the mid Twentieth Century. His work is a catalogue of prominent architecture of the period, and includes commissions from SOM, HOK, Gruen, Welton Beckett, Minoro Yamasaki, Cesar Pelli, I M Pei, Frank Gehry and virtually every major architect and architecture firm of the period on projects that spanned the globe.

As a life-long student of art and illustration, with the added perspective of being his step-son and recipient of his personal mentoring, this event is a rare delight to share some of the true hidden gems of the archive and expand appreciation of this masterful work.

In the lecture, I will also be discussing some of the distinctive techniques and processes used to create the works and some of the memories I have of Carlos and my experience of working in this vital and exciting time for architectural illustration.

In 2015, my family chose the UCSB Museum of Art, Architecture and Design as the recipient of a large portion of the Carlos Diniz archive. It is a vast treasure trove of significant 20^th Century building and talented design, drawn and painted with sublime expertise.

There is so much incredible work in the 45 year span of Carlos Diniz Associates.  I am sure it will provide delight and inspiration for generations to come.  In this lecture, I hope to bring insight to those familiar with the works as well as open new thoughts about architectural presentation to the emerging generation of student architects.

The lecture is at the UCSB Art Design & Architecture Museum on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 6:00PM with a brief reception prior at 5:15PM.  If you are convenient to the area, I invite you to join me to celebrate the man and his work.