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Supporting Formal Design Reviews
Since the Ecole des Beaux Arts was established as the first formal educational system to teach architecture, the review system has been seminal to student learning within the design studio context. As the program at Cal Poly has grown in size, the number of students in each year has caused an increase in the use of exhibitions of student work with only punctual traditional critiques. In response to this, in 2007 the Third Year studios joined together to revive the traditional review process. Students were selected from each Third Year studio to join together in a review by all Third Year faculty. Invited faculty, alumni and guests joined in reviewing the cross-section of student work leading to an important final discussion about the assessment and the nature of Third Year. Three prizes were awarded in recognition of the students’ efforts and design ability.
The benefits of a traditional review with invited guest jurors are numerous. Students are given the opportunity to exhibit their work to a panel of outside experts, in itself a valuable experience in verbal, written and graphic presentation skills. In addition, they emerge with a better understanding of the nature of critique having participated in a broader discussion about architecture. For faculty the opportunity to discuss philosophical positions that mediate between theory and practice are invaluable. In addition, for a department as large as Cal Poly’s Architecture Department, the ability to view the breadth of student work is an invaluable aid to understanding curricular issues. In addition, the alumni guest jurors return to campus, revitalize friendships, and lend important outside perspectives.
The success of the 2007 Third Year jury was such that we hope to continue and expand the system to encompass a large portion of our 850 students through the generous contributions of friends of the Architecture Department. An important part of the jury system is the inclusion of outside critics. Your gift would enable the Department to invite sufficient guest jurors (providing a modest stipend and assistance with travel expenses) to support traditional formal juries.