All grades  Project 2 weeks

Design Dash: From Concept to CAD!

Kendra Bonnell
VA:Cr2.3
VA:Cr2.3.6a
CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A.3
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

This learning experience aims to equip interior design students with practical skills in spatial awareness, measurement, and technical drawing, enabling them to transform conceptual ideas into functional, buildable plans. Through hands-on activities and peer collaboration, students will explore real-world design challenges, enhance their critical thinking, and refine their ability to communicate design ideas effectively. By engaging with CAD software and participating in design critiques, students will develop a deeper understanding of how to create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and meet the diverse needs of users.

Learning goals

Students will develop spatial awareness by engaging in hands-on activities that require them to rearrange and analyze different spatial arrangements for improved flow and usability. They will enhance their technical drawing skills through practice with CAD software and drafting tools, focusing on the transition from conceptual designs to practical, buildable plans. Learners will apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to redesign a classroom space, considering client needs, building codes, and design principles. Through reflection and critique sessions, students will refine their designs based on peer and professional feedback, fostering self-directed learning and academic mindset.
Standards
  • [National Core Arts Standards] VA:Cr2.3 - People create and interact with objects, places, and design that define, shape, enhance, and empower their lives.
  • [National Core Arts Standards] VA:Cr2.3.6a - Design or redesign objects, places, or systems that meet the identified needs of diverse users.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-MG.A.3 - Apply geometric methods to solve design problems (e.g., designing an object or structure to satisfy physical constraints or minimize cost; working with typographic grid systems based on ratios).
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will create a comprehensive portfolio that includes initial concept sketches, scale drawings, and final CAD renderings of their redesigned classroom space. They will produce annotated technical drawings that clearly communicate their design ideas using architectural symbols and drafting techniques. Additionally, students will develop a presentation for the 'Interior Design Expo' showcasing their iterative design process and the solutions they devised to improve spatial efficiency and usability.

Launch

Kick off the learning experience with a 'Spatial Awareness Workshop' where students actively rearrange furniture in a classroom setting to explore different spatial arrangements and their effects on flow and usability. This hands-on activity will set the stage for understanding spatial relationships and measurement, providing a tangible connection to the concepts they will apply in their interior design projects. Encourage students to reflect on their observations and discuss how these insights can inform their design choices moving forward.

Exhibition

Students will participate in an 'Interior Design Expo,' showcasing their projects through interactive stations where they demonstrate their design process from initial sketches to final CAD renderings. They will also present their work to a 'Design Critique Panel' composed of local interior designers and architects, receiving professional insights and engaging in reflective dialogue. Additionally, a 'Virtual Design Tour' will be organized, allowing guests to explore student-created spaces using VR headsets or online platforms, providing an immersive experience of the designs.