About A2D
A stands for Arts
D stands for Design
2 stands for “to”
A2D logo creation was inspired about how art becomes design as well as how design is art for me, and not just a nerdy engineering calculation. You might be wondering how an engineering design can be even considered art.
Every design – should say every good design – should start with a vision. Without vision, there is no concept. Vision is i.e.: how a building takes shape to express the client’s philosophy, what work will be carried out in there, how it can blend into the neighborhood, and so on. Similarly, for engineering, it should start with a vision of how a building infrastructure design can be blended into the building without compromising on the operational requirements or i.e.: the client’s vision of achieving certain sustainable goals such as GreenMark Platinum (in Singapore) or LEED (in the UK).
Why is vision important?
The big picture. Vision is not about the details but to set clear directions where the design is headed. If we don’t have the right concept, no matter how good the detailed design phase might be (final calculation, production), not even the best design team can flip the design direction around for the better if it has been locked in…
Get the concept right and thank later. The right concept will ease the detailed work later. Location and space planning, i.e.: if the cooling towers are relatively near to the chiller plant room, will help to achieve the sustainability goals, but if the concept stage missed it out in the planning, the later design stage will face significant challenges to fix it.
This is the correlation between concept and detailed works.
It’s easier said than done
When a building is done, it is often expressed “it should’ve been this or that way”. Well, it is also easier to judge when something is right in front of our eyes than when it is nonexistent.
Vision is of the utmost importance. Vision is when there is no building, not even a sketch yet. Perhaps just talks. However, the designer has the ability like an artist to picture in their mind how this new design should take shape. That’s art… (in my humble view)
Taking shape
Start sketching up any ideas and transform that idea into visual. The more visual the better it is for the broader contributors to imagine the design and hence the opportunity to provide their feedback.
Art becomes design
As the more detailed works are taking place in collaboration with the client, architect, and other consultants on board the initial ideas require calculations, detailed drawings, etc.
Finally
For me, design is an art. After all, not only at the initial phase but later down the road at the nitty gritty nerdy details, all have their own beauty. Be it some tiny drawing details or a fracture of a large calculation.