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melcal230
Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: FORMER SAIC STUDENTS???? |
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hey all,
this fall i am about to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I loved everything about it while doing research, but i havn't learned much about the Bachelors degree in Interior Architecture, at least not from anyone who has done it. It sounds great from the outside, but all the information i have is directly from the school. I would just like to know from anyone who has done the program with any advice, thanks
Melissa |
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teamjdc
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 319
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| If you plan on becoming a licensed architect, you'll need a different degree in most states. |
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KryFreeman
Joined: 17 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm about to enter my final year at SAIC in the Interior Architecture program, and the most important thing to know is that you will teach yourself more than you will be taught. SAIC is all about the thought process and the "concept," but not so much about teaching you the "execution."
In other words, you will have to teach yourself how to use CAD software because they don't really care WHAT you use for your design visualizations, as long as it's presented clearly. So, if you want to use AutoCAD, fine. ArchiCAD? Fine. SketchUp? Vectorworks? Home Architect? All fine. But you have to figure it out on your own really fast because they won't teach you. And it's a Mac school, so if you want to use a PC, you are literally on your own - no support (I fall into that camp). But you do get to choose (regardless of the pressure the IT department gives you - you just have to sign a waiver) as long as you can supply your own software and your laptop hardware is above average.
Same thing for drawing and model making - there are required drawing classes, but they are simply for practice time, not so much for instruction. The classes are small, so the teachers really do pay attention to you (and some of them are the nicest people you'll ever meet), but it can be frustrating if you expect to be "taught" - they'd rather you find your own way instead of simply designing/drawing the way someone teaches you. Although you are shown lots of examples of various Starchitect's work, the instructors tend not to show their own stuff for fear of influencing your work. At the end of my Junior year, FINALLY an instructor brought in his own work to show so that we got an idea of what the final presentation format should resemble.
The second thing to know is that because grading is CR/NC, you can skate through your classes if you want to and come out after 4 years with a BIA degree (not NAAB accredited), but have no better understanding of Architecture/Interior Architecture than when you entered. But if you push yourself, the instructors encourage you to take the projects beyond the scope of what was asked for, and you can come out with a fantastic portfolio and a deep understanding of the materiality of a space as well as the user's relationship to that space.
Many of the instructors have open ended design problems so that you can take the assigned space in whatever direction you want (based on your area of interest) and make it your own. My interest is in sustainability, so I injected almost all of my projects with some aspect of "green" building so that I could research materials and technology on my own. I have construction experience, so my presentations tend to be realistic and more ready-to-build than necessary (If I can't figure out exactly how to build it or how it works, it doesn't go into my plan), but that helps keep my focus. One classmate tends to incorporate curves into her design where it makes sense because she likes the sensual nature of personal space. Another classmate loves high tech materials and electronics, so he researches that stuff and shoehorns it in where he can because he gets excited about that stuff. You don't have to go that far, but you do have the freedom to make the SAIC program richer than it is for other people who just go through the motions, which is quite easy to do. The school understands that this is YOUR education, so you should take from it what YOU want. If you are a self starter, learn quickly, and can do a lot of research, you will probably be happier in the long run.
Thirdly, the school tries to be interdisciplinary (although it fails a lot), so try to take advantage if you can of the resources and classes offered by other departments, and I REALLY recommend taking some of the adult education courses offered at night in the painting and drawing departments - THEY will teach you the fundamentals of color, shape, composition, line, etc that is essential for your designs. Even if you already know that stuff, the SAIC painting dept is first rate, and you might be surprised what you learn. I transferred in, so I didn't take the First Year classes, but from what I hear, they are all about exploring other disciplines and "playing" before you get into the more intensive BIA program.
Fourth, most of the instructors are working professionals with their own practices, so they probably know what they are talking about (as far as dealing with clients), but like any school, you shouldn't take any one instructor's word as gospel. I just had an instructor who designs high end homes with classical influences, so he likes symmetry and lots of molding, while one of my first instructors had us use human motion to design the form of a dance theater (obviously more modern and asymmetrical). So, regardless of the "client" that the design brief is telling you to design for, you really are designing for the instructor, and their taste may clash with yours. But I assume that the real world is like that as well, so that's a good thing.
Finally, the classes incorporate a lot of field trips to Chicago landmarks, and you can't beat having The Merchandise Mart so close to campus. The city of Chicago is an amazing place for architecture, and if you walk to class looking up at the buildings instead of looking at the sidewalk, you'll see something different each day.
Good luck! |
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