Vanessa Borg -Interior designer 5#

Vanessa Borg -Local Interior Designer


The concept of the project I am going to deliver is about lighting design, which Vanessa Borg has proposed. The designated area she worked on, was an installation inside Xi'an international airport of China.

When she worked abroad from her experience working within different companies, when meeting the clients, most often she either had meetings in the company's office, other times the client asks to meet at a particular place or on site, and if the distance was an issue, they usually will have an initial meeting and for the rest of the duration of the project they will communicate by email or phone.

Although this designer is Maltese, from her past experiences and studies that she has from abroad, especially on approaches on how to communicate with the clients, this made me realise and understand that for certain circumstances, such as long distances, you have to find ways on how to communicate. Luckily nowadays it is not such a problem.

After meetings or discussions that will be held, first she gathers all the information about the project. Points out the understanding of any limitations of what the clients wants.

When it comes on the site analyses, she will either have a detailed site survey and a photographic survey, together with natural light analysis and building orientation.

After studying everything about the specific project including the areas intended to be changed or designed, she starts coming out with typical and ideal processes followed by the clients requirements. this depends on the type of the client, project and time frame.

After brainstorming some ideas she starts working on the initial concept using technical drawings packages, such as Auto Cad.


      Lighting concept

Further design development including extra technical information and details of the chandelier design and lighting, as 3D artistic visuals she used the photoshop and In Design programs. 

   Technical Information and details -Chandelier Design

For modelling and visualisation she used 3Ds Max and vray softwares.



    Chandelier Colour Lighting Proposal

The 3D scenes are modeled in 3Ds Max and then visualised in the same software. Vray is used as a plugin for materials, lighting and rendering and photoshop is used for post production work.


Analysing the CAD programs used by all designers, the majority use the 3Ds Max and the Vray plugin, aswell as the photoshop. This is because the effectiveness of the digital media softwares have a good finishing quality work and more realistic visualisation on the presentation, that would be more compelling to the client.

What this designer has used in addition while working, was the Indesign software. This aided her to create and include typographic layout.

Neil Pace O'Shea -Interior Designer 4#

Neil Pace O'Shea -Interior Designer

Neil Pace O'Shea is a local designer whom I interviewed, where he mastered his studies based on Interior Design.

The way this designer communicates with the client is either through email or meeting them in person (if there's the need), in cases where there will be the necessity to discuss certain 'important' circumstances like; measurements, design elements, spaces, suggestions, etc.  

The work revolves around architectural visualisation and on occasions interior design.

The technical use for his designated work are the 3Ds MAX using the v-ray plugin within and photoshop used for post production.

The picture below is one of the final concept designs he had created for a special enterprise.


3Ds MAX with VRAY plugin and Photoshop

When a client comes to ask what he/she desires, they will already have a plan on how and what they want, they will be quite decisive. Therefore at this stage you have to follow and create the design as much as possible closely to what they're asking for, and then it would be much easier when it comes to selling the proposal design.


After the client will give the thoughts and project details, he starts by selecting the required plans and elevations, and starts cleaning them from unnecessary technical details and import them into CAD software. Then he goes through the process of modelling various shapes in 3D, by attaching, materials and lighting and rendering.

After the drafts will be rendered, he will send it to the client and waits for the clients feedback to know whether he needs to produce another level of quality, until the client will be satisfied with the result. This may take to 2 or 3 times drafting, depending on how complex their designs are.

From the result of the softwares Neil Pace O'Shea used, makes the finishing look and the quality, professional. It's clean, simple and effective in the way of how the visualising result can give you quite a good and clear idea of what you want.

Alex Hogrefe 2#

Alex Hogrefe -Master of Architecture

Alex Hogrefe is an Architecture where he mastered his studies in the university of Miami. I will be showing some of his working process in using different cads and other finalised work, which was found in his portfolio. What fascinates me, is his visual aspect and vogue that he has based on, modern architecture style.


This is one finalised work of Hogrefe's, where he put the emphases on 3D model texture and render settings.

Boston Culture Center Daytime Perspective





This is where more or less, started out his working process:


The program he's working with is Photoshop and which first he begun with several images exported from Sketchup and a render engine such as V-Ray. As we can see at the image above he started by doing the layer management, where possibly and preferably you can organise the files into groups, tagged with names or titles and keep everything in order. This is to avoid a lot of mix-up filings and get into more complicity.

  Further more using the images he included the base rendering, a reflection export, refraction export, line work, ambient occlusion pass, z-depth, Alpha, etc. These were all used for the base of the image. After those layers will be compiled, then he applied the mask to remove the sky and background elements using the Alpha layer.

After he compiled the base files he started setting the sky tone, impacting the colouring and mood that gives the image a good motion. After that he brings in the background elements that include the surrounding site of the buildings and landscapes. Then he added the ground plane group which represents the road textures, sidewalk textures and green areas like grass.



What's left of the image is the detail of the light, cars, people and trees. In the image there's a lot of detail of the building interior such as the glass and interior information, furniture and lights.

After having the base, sky and ground plane done, you'll be able to insert the trees, cars and people along with the shadows controlled. At the end you add a layer of palette that contains colours overlay, sun glare, fog and overall adjustments. The last step is something important to do because it gives an illustrated character and atmosphere.

At the final illustration he used filters/plugins, added or arranged some details and refined the colouring. All this is to have an efficient workflow and to produce a cleaner work.




The Atpmosphere:


This is another illustrated work where again he used the photoshop to range all of the editing exposed features  using these techniques; started by playing with the colour overlay, created an atmospheric Fog, adjusted the levels, and made an image softening which is clearly shown in the picture.



As 3D Rendering is based to bounce the light around them and generate more realistic lighting conditions. Kerkythea is a free rendering software, which Hogrefe suggested in his opinion, he said that he found the kerkythea software work very well with Sketchup.



These are other works of Alex Hogrefe illustrations using other methods and techniques to create a splendid fine interior and other abstract work.


Visitor Center Interior Perspective





Urban Abstract Perspective








Web search:
Hogrefe, Alex. 'Train Pavilion Interior Study | Visualizing Architecture'. Visualizingarchitecture.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Dylan Mallia -Interior Designer 3#

 Mallia Dylan -Local Interior Designer

This is a designer whom I interviewed and has specialised on interior design. From his current experience gently, he explained me what and how he proceeds at his work. 

Directly the designer visits the client at the place (apartment/maisonette/studio etc.) so he will start having a detailed survey and a clearer idea of how the place is. The survey includes; detailed dimensions and several photographs so that he will be able to gather all the information to be produced into a 2D drawing using the AutoCAD software.

His next step is to produce each room or area, both indoors or outdoors in 3D, which for this purpose, it is important that a detailed survey would be taken. Such as; ceiling heights, window heights, beams etc. Until then the areas would be in 3D and each room would be empty with wall paints, floor tiles etc.  

    Landscape design of an interior project

After proceeding the beginning steps, then he proceeds to the part where he needs to start designing its interiors.

For the scenario to be more realistic and appropriate as 3D models, from several different websites he downloads them in order to insert appliances, sofas, ornaments etc.

In the making he draws several sketches that will be produced in scale, so that the planning can be done realistic and proportioned as possible. This aids him to understand and apply changes at early stages before finalising.

    The Plan of the same interior project

After he completes the interior using the AutoCAD, then he exported the file to photoshop so he could manipulate the elements like; materials and lighting. That is how visualisation will be much more realistic and appealing to the eye of the client.

The artist provides several drawings to the client, such as; furniture dimensions and placings, soffits, beams, lights etc. Several furniture elevations are made for the clients to know what dimensions to look for when buying their furniture in order to achieve the most accurate/ similar finish or function. Regarding electrical work, the client will be given another drawing to know the electrical connections regarding air conditioners, wall lights, wall switches and sockets, internet and tv connections etc.

The software packages that he uses are; Autodesk AutoCAD and Relux. What he mostly uses to create and enhance details, such as mapping etc. is Adobe Photoshop. He believes that it is an asset in today’s design world, as it’s used in several stages of the design process.

 Regarding the quality of the actual final visualisation, the designer prefers using Autodesk 3Dsmax, as it’s far more detailed than the other software’s, but sometimes he will be needing to make use of easier and more time efficiency software’s in order for him to use the time wiser, as it takes so much detail that he has to present his work in 3D and 2D.

From his experience at work he learned that it’s not all about 3D and the visualisation but one should know how to present his drawings in detail for workers to be able to work from your drawings without having to question anything as the drawing will explain themselves easily.    

Research & Analysis 1#

AUTODESK AUTOCAD

This is the AUTOCAD programme, that a wide range of different industries and professionals use for their specialised field of work, like; architects, graphic designers, interior designers and much more.
AUTOCAD is one of the best easy use softwares recommended to be used for virtual designs, it applies for 2D, 3D and Drafting. It gives you the facility to create plates and projects, on the other hand when it comes to using the programme,


Living Room -AUTOCAD Software

you find all these Advantages; simplifies the drawings, be able to show you different areas of the model, easy to control drawing scale, different drawing orientations, there's also the sheet set manager as an advantage to manage the drawings in a project.

As Disadvantages; expensive equipment is required,  registered software is expensive to buy, you need special computer skills otherwise would be difficult to learn, models created in Autocad are not possible to read in other programs. If there will be a computer problem all data will be lost.


Seeing how the technology developed itself by time, if we go back, before giving an example with a draftsman work, to create a floor plan of a place they had to master their knowledge on the technical drawing by hand using their professional instruments (drawing board, T-square, 4 different kinds of compasses, protectors, etc).




Made by CAD -Floor Plan Design





Made manually with Technical Drawing









AUTODESK 3DS MAX DESIGN

This software makes use of creating 3D models, animation and images. It is frequently used by architectural and Interior Design studios for rendering, simulation and visualisation. 3DS MAX allows you to create 3D model objects that you will use. For example from a simple box, it can be molded into a cup board and that will give a visualisation of a furniture design.


Dining Room -3DS MAX DESIGN Software

The Advantages found in this software are; high standard of  2D and 3D on data exchange, easy to learn, large variety of tools and plugins like; manipulating with point clouds, able to use the object paint, can open the subdiv, have the f-curve tangent, can use the UV mapping, have a view port canvas, have the slate material editor, can procedural materials and so much more. You find a lot of helpful information in the internet like; tutorials, books, courses, etc.

The Disadvantages are; it is quite slow, can not integrate with other modeling software's, there are lots of available functions that makes it difficult through out while learning the program.


While doing my research I was looking at what artists or designers specified on the industry of product/ interior/ architecture use as program to work with. I found out that there was a major number of artists use the SketchUp software.
So, then I wanted to know the different use between 3DS MAX and SketchUp


Chair Design -3DS MAX

-3DS MAX is expensive to buy
-More complex to use
-For modelling and rendering this program gives the model more accuracy and it's much more photorealistic
-You have lots of rendering options





Chair Design -SketchUp

-SketchUp is available free limited version
-Much quicker to learn and much easier to use in the long run
-As modeling, textures, scenes and lighting are difficult with 3D visualisation
-Easy way to model
-It is basic to render, for making photo-realistic renderings, the program has to be compatible with special programs -''render'' plug-ins









Rhinoceros 3D modeling

Rhinoceros is a 3D modeling software that uses "NURBS" to let users create more complex and original 3D shape designs. Designers, architects and other professionals in industrial or jewelry design, find it useful for 3D modeling tools.
Students find it easier to explore and build their ideas quicker, because it provides accurate models and can document the designs for rendering, creating animations, drafting, analyses and manufacture or construct.  


Camera Design -Rhinoceros Software


Advantages using this CAD program: allows you to focus on specific details, allows you to see from different viewpoints and angles. can export it in more than 30 different file formats. Easy to learn and use. The program run on Windows and Mac operating system. Has special student offers.

Disadvantages: after you get done from using the program and it comes to exporting, you have to pay for the extra additional plugins.


Considering which software to choose to work with, personally I still would prefer choosing the 3DS MAX software, for several reasons.

-One of the main points is that I'd rather take a longer time to learn the program and learn it well.

-Two, the 3DS MAX is mostly advised to learn and easier to render just from one plugin that is v-ray rather stay finding so much to choose from .

-Three, I see no big special technical functionality since the 3DS MAX also allows you to see from different viewpoints and angles. What could be added on this software are some special 3D shapes, that will be designed by it's company.



Bibliography:

Visualarq.com,. 'What Is Rhino? - Information - Visualarq - 3D Architecture For Rhino - Software Architecture'. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.

→, View. 'Rhino 3D Review'. 3D Printer. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.

Rhino3d.com,. 'Rhinoceros - NURBS'. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.

Forums.cgarchitect.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.







NANOCAD Software

This cad is specifically designed for 2D technical drawing, as in industry it is specialised for drafters
(draftsman), engineers or architects. It has a professional grade in design tools and powerful in drafting. It is a total free program to use, including an extensive range of tools to manipulate with, it is simple to use and has an intuitive interface productivity.




Floor plan -nanoCAD


Advantages: Free of charge installation program, fully functional, easy and ideal for project collaboration between partners and teams around the world, supports different versions of .dwg formats, it's all featured and fast, it's light for older laptops with lower specs will still run smoothly.

Disadvantages: one should have a good equipped computer -specially in Ram, since the program requires large files.


In view of the nanoCAD program and the AutoCAD, one can tell that these two competitor software's, provide a similar requisition.



nanoCAD Software


AutoCAD Software


It's a bit difficult to tell all the essential differences in terms of the user interface and the basic technologies. But I still can judge from the two example images presented above.

Observing the two different CADS, the elements given in AutoCAD look quite stiff and messy and do not always play well together.

when..

Looking at nanoCAD it's much more controlled and clean. You can manipulate more at ease and faster. It's reliable for commercial, educational, and individual users.



(CAD) Computer Aided Drafting and Traditional drawing methods;

The traditional 2D drawing in AutoCAD is replacing the approach of the pencils and T-squares with the computer. When using CAD you are saving much more of your time, rather having a migraine drawing with accuracy and stay calculating all the measurements that you need, draw and erase repeatedly to the end result that must be replicated over again to another drawing and all this is to create a tremendous project.


Bibliography:

Nanocad.com,. 'Free CAD Software With *.Dwg Support - Nanocad'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Thecadproject.blogspot.com.mt,. 'The Cad Project: Nanocad The Good And Bad'. N.p., 2015. Blog. 25 Oct. 2015.

Nanocad.com,. '5+1 Reasons To Choose Nanocad'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Wikipedia,. 'Nanocad'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Nanocad.com,. 'Why Nanocad?'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Download.com,. 'Nanocad'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Nanocad.com,. 'Nanocad Vs Autocad'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

AUTODESK INVENTOR

This software is a 3D digital mechanical application for prototyping and modeling designs, using specialised visualisation engineering tools. First you start with sketching or drafting in 2D and then you extrude it to a 3D solid form. From there you can start by inserting measures, shaping and forming the model you desire. The program provides you a simple workflow, if you get to know the short keys and all the easy possible ways well on how to get the tools you need, you will have the no absolute problem to design what you have in mind.

Creating bronze bushings into an engine core -Autodesk Inventor 2014


Advantages: has a satisfying interface design, good identification tools and well organised in terms of the better detailed help files, easy to set up the interface with different views representation and can easily hide the parts to take a clearer print screen shot.
Autodesk Inventor is very powerful and flexible with parametric and you can freely form the modelling tool set, can maximize from virtual data of any 3D file format, can generate drawings and modelings instinctively.

Disadvantages: the software is a bit complex to use, when designing paradigm it forces you into another design.


When comparing a software over another, you will always find one software that has more features then the other and sometimes vise versa you will find something missing from a software then the other.

The program I will put in comparison of the AutoDesk Inventor is the SolidWorks CAD Software, since they provide similar action pack features.




-SolidWorks


The effectiveness that the program of SolidWorks have; is the freedom to design, does better and simpler in assembly mates, in context part editing, you can dimension and constrain to model geometry without it projecting extra geometry sketch to a sketch plane, increase productivity and deliver innovative products to market faster.

On Solid works you can't intend to use it for architectural field of work, rather in the industry this program is used quite a lot, like; for construction use, aerospace, manufacturing, medical, technology, consumer products, energy, automotive and so many other faculties.




Bibliography:
Autodesk.com,. 'Inventor Video'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Landeros, Jonathan, and View profile. 'Showing And Fixing Sick Constraints In Autodesk Inventor 2014 ~ Inventor Tales'. Inventortales.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Cad.softwareinsider.com,. 'Solidworks Vs Inventor Professional - CAD Software Comparison'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Solidworks.com,. 'Home'. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Solidworks.com,. 'Products'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.










ARCHICAD

This software was mainly created for architects, mostly it focuses on their needs. It creates architectural plans, elevations and sections. It's quite easy to learn this software, since the program is straightforward and easy to customise the tools, graphics and to embellish the design.




Architecture Building -ArchiCAD


Advantages: quick and easy to use, can be used on MAC and Windows, satisfying to use for the specific need on creating architecture/ technical drawings, excellent on exporting files (.DWG, .DWF, DXF, etc.), you have the 2D and 3D integration, you have a large library of BIM components for interior design objects,


Disadvantages: the CAD is expensive to buy and requires a lot of key commands.




Bibliography:
Forums.augi.com,. 'Archicad Pros And Cons'. N.p., 2003. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

L' Essenziale,. 'Top CAD Software For Interior Designers: Review'. N.p., 2013. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Easy, great for beginner drafter and designers, Perfect projects, and From Archicad. 'Archicad Reviews | G2 Crowd'. G2 Crowd. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Graphisoft.com,. 'ARCHICAD Feature Comparison'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.





Photoshop

Nowadays Adobe Photoshop has become one of the most acknowledged software. In the sector of the art and design concept, the majority of the industries that use it mostly are; photographers, graphic and web designers, videographers, and 3D artists.

They will be able to enhance and manipulate photos. On Photoshop one can adjust the exposure, crop and align, fix perspective errors, can rotate and retouch images, combine multiple composites, can create textures and backgrounds that will make it look realistic, create special effects like; blurs and lighting effects, mask with colour range, can remove unwanted objects from the image itself, for the 3D artists there's the facility to use 3D shapes, can create 3D environments and backdrops, and so many other tools to let you create or change what you desire.


3D manipulation -Photoshop


Advantages about Photoshop: let's you manipulate the image by adding or removing the elements you want. The software has a big number of different kind of tools that will utilize you to different effects and different uses (eg. blur/ adjust/ flipping backgrounds, etc.). One can create 3 dimensional shapes or texts with shadows. Can create a realistic background scenario, can choose any colour you want to match or just choose your favourite. one can interpret the form desired to create what he/she want to do.

Disadvantages: it is a bit difficult to learn for beginners, takes a lot of space in ram memory (so it requires a well- good equipped computer), to use this program you have to pay additional charges, it is expensive, some tools are inefficient and time consuming, it is more suitable for detailed work with a minimum number of pictures. When you manipulate on photoshop the image will effectively destroy the original, so one must take care to create a copy of the original photograph or picture.


Bibliography:

Photoshoptutorial.tv,. 'Photoshop For Professionals And Industries'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Vikisecrets.com,. 'To Photoshop Or Not To Photoshop?'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Adobe.com,. 'Photo Editing Software | Download Free Photoshop CC Trial'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Photoshop, 9. '9 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In Photoshop | Photoshop | Creative Bloq'. Creativebloq.com. N.p., 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

TechBolt,. 'What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Adobe Photoshop?'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Ask.brothersoft.com,. 'Disadvantages Of Using Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop Q&A'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.







Adobe Illustrator

This software is mostly used for artists and graphic designers to create scalable vector illustrated artwork. After creating these images then they can be used for company logos or promotions like; flyers, magazines or business cards, in print or digital form. With illustrator you can create illustrations, diagrams, cartoons, charts and logos.


Logo reflection in vector format -Illustrator


Advantages: Can create clean visual compositions, can scale infinitely without loosing quality, can create free hand drawings in illustrations, tracing and re-colouring scanned in artwork, can create wireframes to create digital paintings, have a wide range of different complex shapes, can create website mockups in graphics and so many other creations that one can create with all the variety tools provided by illustrator.

Disadvantages: takes a bit of time to know how to use the software well, time consuming, you have additional charges to use the program - not cost effective, vector only accepts images and not photographs -it must be drawn by the artist and must be edited in software's like adobe illustrator .


Bibliography:

Rowan, Kiri. 'What Is Adobe Illustrator Used For? Understanding Vector Images'. Blog.udemy.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Adobe.com,. 'Graphic Design Software | Download Free Adobe Illustrator CC Trial'. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.

Warmfire31,. 'Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vector Graphics'. N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.