Architectural Animation?
6 messages in this thread
Hi Ted,
>>A whole new way of approaching a project is necessary and architects today
are caught in the transition.<<
I want that to come too, but I think it is a ways off before the whole
process is automated and integrated. We still do business with
successful firms here that don't even have one computer in their
office, not even the secretary.
Regards,
Brandon
DesignTec
Hi, Brandon – I am jumping in really late here – just got the thread yesterday,
and I really wanted to respond. I am a licensed architect working in a
medium-sized AE firm (120+). I, too, wear several hats: CAD support, training,
and trying to get an in-house 3D/Visualization effort off of the ground. We
have a very strong design department, but despite having some "younger" people,
they tend to be quite "stuck in their ways", especially regarding the
integration and use of 3D graphics.
I have successfully used 3DS to provide a designer with iterations during
design development that allowed him to communicate intent and options more
clearly to one of the principals and the client on one project, and we have
done some conceptual work, but there is still a strong tendency toward the hand
sketches and traditional renderings. They ooh and aah over some animation, get
all fired up about it, and go right back to what they are used to doing.
I have made some inroads, but it is a real struggle. There is the reality vs.
"loose and sketchy" issue that some of you have related, training issues, etc.
We eventually had one client request and pay for an animation, which was great,
but even that didn't seem to get things going.
It is actually encouraging in a way to hear that others are facing some of the
same problems. Maybe there will be some evolution (_revolution_?)! I would
really like to continue some dialog in more detail with whoever is interested,
even if you want to email me privately to avoid clogging the forum. I
appreciate the opportunity to throw in my bit!
Bob Keefer
Hi Bob,
>>It is actually encouraging in a way to hear that others are facing some of
the same problems. Maybe there will be some evolution (_revolution_?)! I would
really like to continue some dialog in more detail with whoever is interested,
even if you want to email me privately to avoid clogging the forum. I
appreciate the opportunity to throw in my bit!<<
I know its encouraging, sort of, as I said earlier in the thread, to know we're
not by ourselves or stupid (at least we don't think we're stupid<g>).
Lets all keep up the dialog, and more detail is great. Personally, I would
like to maintain the discussion here on the forum, so everyone interested can
benefit.
And thanks for your input!
Regards,
Brandon
DesignTec
Brandon,
You said:
< Personally, I would like to maintain the discussion here on the forum, >
< so everyone interested can benefit. >
And then you said:
< I know I'm learning a lot and I hope some of y'all are too! >
To which I would like to add: AMEN!
I'm not an architect, but I've worked with a few.
This thread is giving me insight and therein lies value.
Thanks to ALL involved.
The issues are real and they deserve to be explored.
Kevin Gibson
Animation Nation <tm>
P.S. I'm trying to confirm something whispered in my ear yesterday.
Does anyone know if AIA is coming to New Orleans in '95?
If so, do you plan to be in that number?
Also, are you located in Montgomery?
Hi Kevin,
>>Does anyone know if AIA is coming to New Orleans in '95?
If so, do you plan to be in that number?
Also, are you located in Montgomery?<<
No, I sure don't, I'm not a member of the AIA because I'm not an architect,
just a designer/draftsman. Are you referring to an AIA conventing in New
Orleans in '95?
No, we're not located in Montgomery, but we do business with a couple
architects there. We're located in Boaz, the 'outlet capital'<g>, which is
roughly half-way between Huntsville and Birmingham, in case you don't already
know.
>>This thread is giving me insight and therein lies value.
Thanks to ALL involved.
The issues are real and they deserve to be explored.<<
I couldn't have said it better!! I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone for sharing their insights on this thread, and hope it continues
a while!
Regards,
Brandon
DesignTec
Bob,
I am in much the same situation you are. I brought 3DS into our company 3
years ago, and we *have* done some nice work with it, but only on 4-5 projects.
(no animation, only stills).
The problem seems to be training; we don't have the time or money for training,
and so it has often gone unused. The problem seems (to me) to be that the
software is too difficult to use (all new learning curve) and does not easily
(transparently) intereact with our other software (ACAD, ASG, etc).
Recently, though, we started picking it up more, and actually *are* using it on
a number of projects. Yea! But it took three years of nearly constant work to
get individuals interested in learning it (personal motivation is important)
and others interested in supporing some of the cost.
Good luck!
-Mike.