Experience

Experience in Architecture:

University of Washington Architectural Studies Program 2022: This program was held virtually in early 2022, in the middle of my junior year of high school. This program taught me how to design buildings in a 3D Design software (SketchUp), and how to present my ideas using architectural vocabulary to my peers. There were also weekly presentations where I had to present my ideas for an assigned design brief to my peers. These were particularly beneficial to understanding the design process, by learning how to create designs in SketchUp and then present it to my peers in a professional manner. Even though this program was held virtually, it was still chiefly informational for me, and I was able to learn a lot from my professors and peers.

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Summer Program 2021: This program was held virtually in the summer of 2021, between my sophomore and junior years of high school. In this program, I learned how to design architectural solutions to various situations I am presented with. I also communicated my design ideas through drawings, text, models, and verbally. Furthermore, I learned how to read architectural drawings and document my work in 2D form. This program was very instructive, as it taught me foundational architecture skills and helped me understand the design process in modeling architectural solutions to different presented situations.

IB Visual Arts Portfolio 2021: As part of my IB Visual Arts Portfolio, I did an exploration of the skills, processes, and techniques I utilized in my works that I included in the Portfolio. In my work, I specifically focused on the elements and principles of design. I intentionally chose to omit or include color in certain places in my art, each of which had the purpose of adding to my subtheme of isolation and loneliness. There is also strong line work and texture in my pieces, such as with the strands of hair on the Food is Life piece and with the background of the Cereal on Instagram Post piece (refer to images above). Additionally, I made sure to add shapes and forms that were both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional so that there is variety in my work. I also experimented with the space, choosing to leave some areas completely blank or filling up the space to make it look fuller. Value was also implemented in the different shades and variants of color that I used in each of my pieces. In addition to this, there is also strong usage of the principles of design. I made sure to include contrasting elements with color such as with the strong orange pasta in the center of the Food is Life piece, which brought emphasis to the subtheme of isolation. There is repetition and pattern with the intricately designed backgrounds, with nice rhythm and movement. There is also variety in the media of my pieces since I have both pencil and digital works. Overall, there is a strong balance and unity in my pieces since they chronically move from loneliness and isolation to a more positive and self-reflective tone.

All of these programs were largely helpful in understanding architectural concepts such as views, light, and topography. I loved working with the professors who taught me, and enjoyed learning about different facets of architecture as a whole. Additionally, I valued the practical experience I gained from working with a real client in the Boston Architectural College Summer Program 2022. I was able to understand the client process and discuss my ideas regarding their project with them. This experience gave me valuable real-world experience, so this was the highlight of the programs I have done.