JoUrNAL

Uni has started again ! God Help me !!  Day after day ! 





Weekend 



Friday 2nd March




Thursday 8 March




Wednesday 7th March





Tuesday 6th March





Monday 5th March








Weekend 



Friday 2nd March



Thursday 1rst March




Wednesday 29th February




Tuesday 28th February




Monday 27th February








Weekend 






Friday 24th February




Thursday 23rd February


Wednesday 22nd February


Tuesday 21th February




Monday 20th February














Weekend 





Friday 17th February




Thursday 16th February


Wednesday 15th February


Tuesday 14th February




Monday 13th February














Weekend 





Friday 10th February




Thursday 9th February


Wednesday 8th February


Tuesday 7th February A trip to Local history Library at the Salford art museum was necessary as I now knew the bridge belonged that Salford District. It was fun to go through old books, pictures and maps.To handle with care. I spent hours in there! Also had a meeting with the program leader for the masters course i'm interested in: Design Management. 
















Monday 6th February Went for a walk alongside the Irwell. Passed the Blackfrias,Albert, Trinity, Irwell street bridge. Got a few measurement of the bridge. with my very bright blue ruler ! Was cols and windy but necessary. 








Weekend  Was a guide tour of the Northern Quarter this weekend for a group of 4 people. Showed them around the art shops and street art from this vibrant part of town.





Hidden creature :) 







Then we went to The Museum of Science and Industry. 














Friday 3rd February  Looking at what I need to produce for the Building analysis of this project. From area and history to materials and structural grids



Thursday 2nd February  Looking at the structure of the bridge and the way bridges in general are orthographically drawn and presented. 








Wednesday 1rst February   Contacted councils and companies all day in relation to the access of Irwell Street Bridge. 








Tuesday 31th January   Tutorial with John Novak. Was a bit brutal in the sense that I was faced with questions I did not have answers to. Made me realise I had only a concept brief but not a design brief. I was too abstract in my ideas and needed to " set out strict and clear intentions " This was very helpful in terms of setting objectives. 
I was also told that this is my chance to prove how great of an Interior designer I am. This is very true and I intend to do my best !!




Monday 30th January  Negotioated/ FInal Major Project (FMP)launch with Matt, Trevor and Margaret. We went through the brief and looked at each stages of submission and development for the next 15 weeks.
Still uncertain on my design option. Talked to Matt and Trev. The conclusion was that I chose a challenging site with many opportunities. Trying to find the potential of the location and laying down all the options will help me decide on a design.
I did a to do list of my next moves on FMP as well as a bit of reasearch following info from Advanced Research Strategies. 


Weekend    Miniroad trip down to Telford. Saw the Iron Gorge Bridge, the world first iron bridge constructed in 1779.This is now a world heritage site ! :D Feel privilege to have been able to see it as it is soooo relevant to my FMP and the last project I just handed in. 







Friday 27th January  I watched a movie called Drive with Ryan Gosling. Check it out ! Intense, retro, good acting and filming !









Thursday 26th January Today I am in Leeds ! Visited the Cathedral, Leeds city Museum and Leeds art Museum. I also got to see The famous corner Exchange and the Leeds market ! I am enjoying this city. The arcades and the streets are interesting and simple. 






hehehe ! make me want to travel even more !!




Wednesday 25th January So this week is our reading week. We usually travel at this time. First year was Copenhaghen, last year Berlin. This year no trip. I wish there was one but then again we have a lot on ! 


Tuesday 24th January  Draft printed and sudmitted !!!!!!!!!!! feels sooo good ! Now I need the feedback to figure out how much more  I can improve my work. Hope Nick will enjoy it. 




Monday 23th January I have now gone over my set word count, it feels good ! I need to focus on referencing and bibliography now.

Weekend  So only a few days left until submitting my dissertation draft. I have more to add. Wrote a lot this weekend. 


Friday 20th January  Discovered a part of the Brazilian and English culture ! tasted delicious meat at Bem brazil followed by an Ale festival !! hehehe Fun evening and new experiences










Thursday 19th January Watched other classmates presentations! 
Some did it using a tool called Prezi. I like the way it scrolls through the slide pages in a very interactive way! 


Here's a link http://prezi.com/.


Wednesday 18th January Word count is going up and it needs to go that way til draft submission.


Tuesday 17th January  It is now time to refocus on my dissertation. 
My question is : 

"How can developing countries benefit from being "behind" in architecture and infrastructure?  "



Monday 16th January  Was suppose to present my work tuesday but decided to do it today !! The title of my presentation is Connecting the Dots ! I talked about being in two places at once, transitional and interstitial spaces, bridges and especially inhabited ones.I also explained my findings and analysis of survey as well as what I hope to achieve for my FMP.
It went well ! I'm glad I got it over with. Even thought I have no clear idea of what I want to design I hope to have been clear in how I presented it. 









Weekend   Trip to the Withworth Gallery ! Exhibition called DARK MATTERS !!! I enjoyed it !





Friday 13th January  Submission !!!!!!!!!! First time I use a black background ! Last time I try to print it at home ! Black is hard to print with quality. 


Thursday 12th January    Working like a maniac !! 


http://www.wix.com/create/website

Cool website to post my portfolio :)


Wednesday 11th January   Working on ARS non stop ! This is what my presentation seems to be looking like ! 


   


Tuesday 10rd January  Working on ARS.  




Monday 9th January  Back in Manchester and at Uni. Got docs from Paul for my project. My presentation layout seems to be well laid out. But I need to do more slides. 



Weekend   Last weekend at home ! A lot more to do before I submit ARS. 


Friday 6th January   More sketchbook work and research on bridges. 


Thursday 5th January   Baking ginger bread buiscuits ! Went a bit crazy and even did some in the shape of bridges ! 







Wednesday 4th January Rediscovering Oslo's harbour.






  



Tuesday 3rd January  Creating my survey. This will be very useful.







Monday 2nd January  I have been designing my report graphics and appearance. Having different section to this report.  




Weekend    HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! Fireworks everywhere !!!! Champagne and snow at midnight exactly ! :) 


Friday 30th December  I spent the day adding to a CAD visual of the area between Salford and Manchester.


Thursday 29th December   More portfolio !


Wednesday 28th December  Researching Non-Places by Marc Auge. 


Tuesday 27th December  Redesigning my portfolio. 


Monday 26th December Planning my last few weeks for this project. Need to do moodboards, narrow down the research and define my brief. ARGH !! 






Weekend   Merry  Chritmas! Joyeux Noel!  God Jul! Feliz Navidad!






Friday 23rd December  Packing gifts and getting ready to celebrate. 


Thursday 22nd December Meeting up with friends and catching up :D



Wednesday 21st December Time for food shopping and decorating the house!


Tuesday 20th December  I'm relaxing ! Got my new camera back ! need to learn how to use it. 




Monday 19th December I am back home in Oslo !!! Happy ! it's Family time! 


Weekend I am focused on xmas shopping ! sooo much to do. The ARS project and wedding took over my time. 


Friday 16th December  I went to Salford art museum and gallery for the Zine exhibition. Zines are small booklets, handouts filled with what ever u want to share. Was fun and inspiring for portfolio design. Especially the one that is red, white black and brown ! 


Check these out.

















contacted several letting agencies but it is not working properly. I need plans for a building or at least the bridge. 


Thursday 15th December Tutorial with Matt. Last one before the holidays. He talked to use about the content of our research file that is to be submitted in just 4 weeks. 




Wednesday 14th December Having a mini break down. Really feel like this project is confusing me. After talking to Matt I realised I needed to FOCUS and embrace the possibilities of my research. Choices are not a bad thing. I just need to narrow it down. I visited the bridge properly. Took loads of pictures and looked at possible buildings to use all surrounding the bridge. Ushered for Carols by candle light at church. 











Tuesday 13th December  I've got more ideas as to what type of function I want my building to have. This project has gotten soo abstract I need to start focusing of practical stuff. What is it gonna be, who is it for, what will it be used for ??? 




Monday 12th December  Tutorial with Trev and Margaret. I was told to be more practical in my research. Define a bridge. But i'm still lost and confused, just like the subject of this project. 


Weekend   What to do this weekend ? Dissertation again ! 





Friday 9th December  I was meant with the team to be present our Age Concern project in front of staff and service users but I have a weeding to attend !!! My first wedding !! :) Gutted I missed such an important part of a live project though. 






Thursday 8th December  Tutorial with Matt. Keys words: Where am I in the world ? Interstitial vs Transitional . 




Wednesday 7th December  Research for ARS. Transitional spaces, borders, quantum physics, 




Tuesday 6th December  Should I do a questionnaire for my research ? We have a Christmas dinner to host. Cooking for 13 people. 





Monday 5th December  Tutorial with Trevor !Key words: gateway, bridge, crossover, culture, lost in transit ... Interesting proposition but worrying prospects. Then it was adoration time.   


Weekend  It was time to write and read a bit more on my dissertation. Also spent time with friends.  


Friday 2nd December  Lecture with Matt, we all expressed our ARS question, starting point . It was interesting to see how everyone had a different intrest and approach. I managed to raise more question out of my main one. There will be a lot to do... I also did a bit of blogging. Then picked up a book I ordered from the Library for my dissertation  :)  


Thursday 1rst December  This has been a productive day. With the help of Matt's lecture I managed to find a question for ARS, one that will guide me for this research project. Can two spaces be at the same place at once ? 


Wednesday 30th November  I've been cooking today. There was also the national strike on Oxford road. Buses blocked and police everywhere. I did a bit of research on ARS. 







Tuesday 29th November  Tutorial with Nick. He was very pleased with my progress. He read my small intro and advised me to keep writing in the same style. I also discussed my future as a designer with him, master, experience, projects ... It was very helpful. 




Monday 28th November    Tutorial with Trevor about the new project, Advanced Research Strategies (ARS). I explained my 2 ideas. One has more potential than the other. Then it was dissertation reading and writing. 





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Weekend   Quiet few days I guess. 





Friday 25th November  Lecture with Matt in the morning. Thinking about the way we think ! We went down the philosophical route...


Are creative people good thinkers ? 


Yes we think out of the box 


but 


No we just jump into another box ! 




Cv's : Flash card, booklet
Infographics 
Metacognition 


Thursday 24th November  I have been posting on my blog all day. A lot happened in the past few weeks that I wanted to share.  


Wednesday 23th November  Simple today. Lecture with Matt, submission of SSLA :) Was shown this link as well. This is gonna be sooo useful for my dissertation.


http://www.longwayhomeinc.org/en/index.php

Tuesday 22th November I attended a Team building session. After doing a Belbin test I now know that I am a team-worker first, a resource investigator second and then a coordinator. This means that I will do my best to keep a good working environment, avoid conflict. I am apparently the social pull in a team, resourceful and ready to organize tasks :) 




Oh and check this out. One of my classmate showed me this amazing video ! I wish I was travelling more now. 

                                       http://vimeo.com/terjes/themountain#






Monday 21th November Time to snap back to reality !!! I have been sending emails out for this new project , in hopes of obtaining information for my Final Major Project (FMP). We need to provide a research file, plans, a brief and do a presentation. I have 3 projects in mind . I did a bit of research on each. One is an airport design, the other a gallery , the 3rd a "transitional space" reflecting culture ... I really need to choose and this depends on accessibility/resources/time management/ effectiveness ... 
I might also appear in the background of a video to promote my course :)





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Weekend  Visited the Christmas market in Albert square! Love that place. Got my mini dutch pancake like I do every year. Twilight Breaking dawn part 1. International evening at chaplaincy.World buffet ...  Can't believe reading week is over!!


Friday 18th November  Went to uni today. Did a timetable to be better organized. I didn't do any proper uni work this week. Went to see my friend perform Gospel music. She is soooo good. Music is something I which I could do. 


Thursday 17th November  I worked a little bit on my Dissertation. Scanned through a book . 


Wednesday 16th November I chose to submit a CV and cover letter instead of a business plan for SSLA. Also had to do a presentation of my volunteering in front of 2 staff members today. This went really well. I'm really getting more comfortable standing and talking about my work or myself. 
This award allows me to be more aware of my activities, to understand my achievements and also to be better at presenting who I am to the world.  


Tuesday 15th November  Had a " How to survive in business ? ". I am doing a program called the SALFORD STUDENT LIFE AWARD (SSLA).We have 3 requirements to achieve in a year : attend skills sessions, volunteer and most importantly reflect on our personal development as a student and an individual. I will finish the program next week.


Monday 14th November  So for the first time in my Uni studies I get a reading week !!!! Let's hope I get the most out of it. The week is starting well. Went to Holy Name. Rediscovered Northern Quarter. Enjoyed Chinese food. 




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Weekend   Worked as a student ambassador at the BELIEVE event in Media city UK. Couting visitors, handing out leaflets, taking part of the adventure. There were sooo many interactive activites. Lowry to Life, Dinosaurs, Live picnic ... 




The university's new building is sleek. I love the use of colour and shape and zoning !!! Wish we could be located there :)






Friday 11th November   I am tired ! But came to uni for personal Tutorial with Matt. Shared my session with Agatha. We had a good talk. I feel a bit more confident but also a little overwhelmed by the future ... Did a bit of work on PDF3 in the PC room. But my mind is somewhere else. 


Thursday 10th November  Launch of new project: Advanced Research Strategies. Trevor introduced the brief and gave us an example of a research file from a client. He also showed us his portfolio, his careers path as well as a restaurant project he is currently working on. This was a really good session as I got good insight into who my tutor is as a designer and not just a lecturer. I think all staff should at some point share their experience and knowledge of their times as designers.




In the evening , I had drinks with fellow classmates as we celebrated the end of one project and the beginning of another . heheh . Bonding time !!!! 


Wednesday 9th November Today I have a body paint session. It was a sort of collaboration with Pete Obsolete. I did not know it toook that long to cover someone with paint. I also got to draw on the artist. It if very different to have the body as a canvas. It is 3D, bones and flesh and shades of skin tones ... Very uneven but that's part of the challenge and the fun.  








Tuesday 8th November  I slept well !! Today was very relaxed. Did a bit of research on my dissertation as I had a tutorial in the morning. My tutor Nick was very helpful, think I might have found my question for my topic. We even had a small lecture with him in the after noon. 


Monday 7th November Submission !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Finally done !!! Take my advice and don't do more than 35 hrs awake. hehehe. I did not do my best for this project. I was tooo distracted personally.But this means that I will be more focused hopefully for the rest of the year. 







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Weekend   Ok so My deadline is MONDAY !!!!!!!!!! So working like a maniac. And it was my b-day ! Was surrounded by a lot of the people I love. Had the best time in a long time :)Thank you to everyone that was present for me on this special day. 


Friday 4th November  We had a PDF session with Matt where we looked at rendering techniques. Videos from the net and a mini tutorial on how to draw with typography. 


Thursday 3rd November  Today I will try to do visuals on Photoshop !! Check this out. Progress !!







Wednesday 2nd November Worked on my model a bit more and planned my submission docs. I am almost finished with the 3D model. 


Tuesday 1st November  Went to uni and stayed in the computer suite all day. Asked Paul advice for rendering on Photoshop. I will be exporting images from Sketch Up and transforming the visuals by adding light effects, shadows and textures. 


These images show a before and after . 




Monday 31st October  Today I stayed home and worked on my restaurant design a bit more. This was not a very productive day.  



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Weekend   I spent my weekend working on my project, building up the sketch up model for my restaurant as well a making the proposal pages. Sketch up and Photoshop it was !! All Saturday.



 This is my location plan in progress


Friday 28th October  Today I presented my research for PDF3. It went quite well as I talked through images on my blog. I now need to understand my fascination for RED, BLACK and WHITE !!!!!!!! and see how I can use it in my work, my presentations.



Thursday 27th October  Spent the day working on my restaurant Sketch up model. It really need to go faster and I need to plan the board I want to accomplish so that I can start on the visuals as soon as possible. I also did a bit of PDF3. 





Wednesday 26th October Worked on the science festival at University. Got to see the ThinkLAB and the Energy House. Two project that are very interesting in terms of design and architecture. 
At the ThinkLAB they are developing sensory virtual technology that can be used to experience buildings even before their construction. The room had sensors and we had to wear 3D glasses to visual the space. Some of the kids got to "fly" through the space with a command system.






The Energy House is a real house build indoors for laboratory testing. Staff can control the outdoor conditions. They can make it rain, cold,hot... The house was build according too all regulations, it has all the utilities and can be used for research on energy consumption, insulation techniques, weather resistance. 





Tuesday 25th October I gathered images  for PDF3.  



Monday 24th October   Today I went to Salford quays.Visited the Lowry center and the Lowry Outlet mall. There is also an acoustic wind pavillion outdoors: AEOLUS by Luke Jerram. It is exhibited until the 13th of November. 



I spent the afternoon doing dissertation research. Looked into Design for the other 90%, Open Network Architecture and The United nations. Found information about Guinea and Norway :) 





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Weekend   Not very productive weekend. I worked on PDF 3 most of the time. I also improved my design for the restaurant. I just really need start to incorporate all these ideas in the model. Get them out of my head and make them come alive. :) 



Friday 21th October  PDF 3 session with Matt. We got handout that will help us determine what we like, what we want out of our designs, and possibly what we can do for our Final project. I also did a bit more work on PDF visual communication. I have finally started the sketch up for the restaurant. I have build up the 2 areas I will be using for by design. It was very useful to look at the space in a 3D model. 




Thursday 20th October  Paul drove use to Eccles where we had to present our scheme to 2 lovely ladies from Age Concern. We had a power point ready to be projected on a wall. Each of use spoke about our schemes. We decided to give them a options and made sure we stayed on budget whiles tackling the issues of storage, lighting,atmosphere and circulation. I am over all very happy to be part of this live project. I enjoyed going into shops, asking about fabrics, paint, wallpaper samples. My scheme for the home was bright, fresh, organic, colourful and of course practical.


Had an other tutorial with Trevor. I showed him my detailed plan. I had apparently tried tooo hard. The space was too full and was at risk of lack of identity. I had to rethink it AGAIN !   


Wednesday 19th October  Since May I have volunteered to refurbish  The Humprey Booth Day Care Center for Age Concern. This project has been halted and slowed down by the summer holidays. We are a group of 5 students(Shaun,Pam,LeAnne,Becky,me) and a tutor(Paul), all 3rd years and as the time goes by, the pressure is building up. We asked Paul if we could be more efficent in moving the project forward. We spent time yesterday and today putting together the presentation for the Age concern team. 
For the restaurant project I traced to scale the plans of the space I will be using.I then photocopied then and started experiment with table arrangements. Very useful to get a sense of space and dimensions.


Tuesday 18th October  I had my first tutorial for Business Practice: DISSERTATION. I managed to show Nick my research, a loose plan and explain my area of interest. He advised me to look into certain subjects I had not thought of and told me that I needed to expand my bibliography. This will then allow me to be confident to write about it and so create a plan and choose a question. I also decided to have the Uni Library order books for me after attending a very useful advanced  research session. 

Book by Architecture for Humanity.




Monday 17th October   I spent part of the day researching Victorian times, objects, their habits, events and more.  Looked at upper class Victorian style as well as modest. Did a few sketches. Had a tutorial where I developed the mezzanine idea further as well as the lighting concept. I want to incorporate the same atmosphere candles create, just like in Victorian rooms.






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Weekend   I developed my restaurant scheme by drawing views from the top level, trying to understand the section views. I wanted to get inspired by Lark Hill, the atmosphere it has. Bring it alive and create an experience. I would like to create transition space between Lark Hill and the restaurant. So recreating a Victorian kitchen was the perfect solution. I also realised that the client would like to incorporate part of the exhibition in the dining space so why not do a feature wall with old objects and artefacts from Victorian times. 





Friday 14th October   I talked to Matt about my board. I did put effort in it and thought about spacing, typography and sizes of images.We agreed that there was too much on my board. I should have put less location images, made the plans bigger, and the branding image smaller. I also did research for PDF 3. I looked in to the TV series I love to watch.

Thursday 13th October  was Presentation day. We all pinned up our boards and presented them to Cari from the Salford MAG, Trevor and Andrew. I really think I could have explained my scheme better. I should have planned what I was going to say in advance.
Would have made me more confident. Cari was very helpful in answering my question. Her presence let us understand the client needs better.




Talking to Trevor about it, he would have liked to see a section and he is right. Because I have a 2 leveled design, with a "balcony", it would have been easier and better communication to show the context and give the feel of the space. I focused to much on the building as a whole and on the experience of the visitor then on the restaurant. 





Wednesday 12th October  Since I have chosen the space I want to reconvert into a restaurant I started ANALYSING the plans in detail. Understanding the space, the dimensions, the features ( beams, sills, hatches, plinths). 
I also finished the presentation board. I incorporated zoning and circulation plans, a collage of my scheme, inspirational images, location views and branding poster.


Tuesday 11th October I visited the Salford MAG again and got to talk to the receptionist(Amy). She was very helpful as she answered most of my questions about the basement and the running of the museum. 
I also had a muffin at the current Lark cafe which I would like to reconvert into a open storage archive gallery. Did a few sketches and took more pictures.
I started on the presentation board for Thursday. Collecting all my research and organising it. 





Monday 10th October  was tutorial time with Trevor. I showed him my whole scheme.  Got good feed back. The tutorial also opened my eyes to more opportunities with the design of the restaurant ( two levels). I did historic research on Victorian times to improve my knowledge. 




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Weekend  was time for my research on inspiring fields and the way they communicate visually. I looked at Fashion (colours, accessories, hair). I also looked at the branding of the Salford MAG and decided to design posters and graphics. This is to improve the museum's identity.I also rearranged the whole building to create a flow so visitors are guided through the exhibitions and get to experience the Salford MAG at is best. I chose to place the restaurant in the basement to create a better connection with Peel park.




Friday 7th October was PDF3, we got shown many power points about visual communication. How to do layouts, end of show display, how to document research and development. So I redesigned my blog's Title image, with rulles in mind. I also did research on restaurant and museum regulation in the AJ metric handbook. I then spent time on redesigning the logo and signage of the Salford Art Gallery. 


Thursday 6th October was Research day on Food,menus,restaurant design and Victorian times. I also went to the premiere of " THE RETREAT " at AMC cinemas. Director and Producer were answering questions at the end of the seance and there was a ruffle. The winner got a selection of DVDs.






Wednesday 5th October was research day on Food and restaurants.




Tuesday 4th October was NTBP lecture with Nick : How to survive NT ? We were given advice and examples of how to move forward with this module.



Monday 3rd October was Tutorial time with Trevor. I did research on Chapel regeneration.





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Weekend : Working on Negotiated Theory Business Practice(NTBP Determining what subject to do my dissertation on.I decided on looking into the importance of design in developing countries, especially Guinea. 



Friday 30th September was introduction to Professional Design Frameworks 3 (PDF3) with Matt. This module is a continuous one that is part of our personal developement process. We are to find our style, improve our CV and display our work at Free Range.




Thursday 29th September was the Site Visit to the Salford Art Gallery with Trevor and Andrew. Our guide and link with the gallery is Ceri. We got to see archive and offices which are usually  closed to the general public. 



Wednesday 28th September was Research day. I started looking into museums cafe designs. Got a few books out of the library.






Tuesday 27th September was the launch of Negotiated Theory meaning Disseration !! This module is continuous.
I also went on a site visit at the Salford Art gallery. Did primary research, quick sketches, photographs and asked questions to staff.Went on to look at other museums, John Rylands Library and People's history Museum.


Here is an image of the Salford Art Gallery I took.
I love the reflection on the windows of the opposite building Peel, hence the contrasting choice of editing.  


This is a picture I took of  the back of the Civil Court of Justice and the People History museum. Love the Contrast of material and architectural era. 


Monday 26th of September was the brief launch of our first project. Designing a Cafe/ Restaurant for the Salford Art Gallery.

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