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The Committee on Design (COD) was founded to promote design excellence among members of the AIA, the broader design community, and the public at large, both nationally and internationally.

2024 COD Conferences

Arkansas

April 3-7 | 21c Hotel | Bentonville and Eureka Springs - Registration is sold out.

Brazil

Thu, Oct 17 - Sat, Oct 26, 2024
Sao Paulo > Brasilia > Rio de Janerio.  Registration will open in late April.

2024 Sponsorships

Download the prospectus for Arkansas and Brazil opportunities.


2023 COD Conferences

Last year, COD held two domestic design conferences investigating The Authenticity of Place.  The first conference was held in New Orleans, LA.  View the short video of the venue tours and download the conference program book. The second conference was held in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, September 21-24, 2023. Download the Minneapolis guidebook and view the conference video

  • 1.  What is Architecture .. Ghazala Miftah, Assoc. AIA

    Posted 04-26-2017 07:22 PM


     

    While studying architecture for five years, I improved in drawing, sketching and creative thinking skills to become a successful Architect. I learned that architecture is an art of enclosing space, where form follows function or function follows form.

     

    In practical world, I learned that architecture involves lot of mathematics, calculations, codes and analysis. This is true that if we do not build a strong and firm building with strong foundation, architecture cannot exist. We have to follow certain rules and bylaws to build a successful piece of architecture.

     

    My personal opinion about architecture changes with time. I believe that creativity has no boundaries. I am an advocate of innovation. Giving myself a break from architecture profession for few years lets me think beyond the existing ways of doing things. Although I was out of profession but my inner architect never dies. I joined media arts and animation program for another five years learning new technologies updating myself in this dynamic world of technology.

     

    After so many years of learning, I realize that we can change the ways things are done in the profession of architecture. Architecture is not just about enclosing space, creating forms or functions. It's about experience. It's about emotions and feelings. If watching a building from a distance creates an emotion of actually going inside the building, the architect has done an amazing job.

     

    I come up with a concept of "Think in 3D "where architect can visualize the experience of his or her design close to real life. He or she could think in another world known as the world of 3D. Think design, think create, think innovate. The fact is that technology has given us so much power over our thinking and we can bring our ideas into virtual reality first and then into real world.

     

     Good design to me is not just form or function, its lot more than that. How you feel and experience the form and space defines the success of architect and architecture. It could be form, function, materials, colors, textures or style. Fortunately, "Think in 3D" concept assist in our design thinking and creating experience.

     

     


    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 2.  RE: What is Architecture .. Ghazala Miftah, Assoc. AIA

    Posted 05-03-2017 09:38 PM
    Ghazala
    Thank you for your thoughtful response.  I agree with the utility of your Think 3-d idea.  My question is, once you have mastered the ability to Think 3-d, what do you use it to do?  We all strive to be better at predicting how our designs will behave (if you will).  But what do we want our designs to accomplish?  Are we trying to impress the public with the beauty of our work?  Are we trying to impress the public with the uniqueness of our work?  Are we trying to make sure that our work is supportive of the human activities that occur within and around it?  Or, the worst answer in my opinion, are we trying to make sure that our peers will award our work?  I guess there are two separate questions.  What is architecture?  But also, what is your goal as an architect?

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    Mike Mense FAIA
    mmenseArchitect
    New York NY
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 3.  RE: What is Architecture .. Ghazala Miftah, Assoc. AIA

    Posted 05-26-2017 11:32 AM
    Ghazala
    Thank you for your thoughtful response.  I agree with the utility of your Think 3-d idea.  My question is, once you have mastered the ability to Think 3-d, what do you use it to do?  We all strive to be better at predicting how our designs will behave (if you will).  But what do we want our designs to accomplish?  Are we trying to impress the public with the beauty of our work?  Are we trying to impress the public with the uniqueness of our work?  Are we trying to make sure that our work is supportive of the human activities that occur within and around it?  Or, the worst answer in my opinion, are we trying to make sure that our peers will award our work?  I guess there are two separate questions.  What is architecture?  But also, what is your goal as an architect?  Mike 



     Thank you Mike for your reply. I am glad you have pointed out all aspects that could be possible in incorporating " Think in 3D " concept in our design process as you perceive. " Think in 3D " concept as I perceive is a collaboration of technology, design and creativity. It adds to our
    design thinking and creating skills. We are not trying to impress anyone neither looking for awards to present our designs in close to reality format. 3D technology gives us the benefit of actually thinking in 3D just as we think in other ways. It is a support to our design process cuz it provides tools and environment where we can visualize our thinking in close to real world experience. We always create 3D physical models for projects to see the actual view of site and design to analyze the scale and perception of design. My question is if technology is simplifying the design process so why not use it. In this dynamic world of technology, we are moving forward as you can see from older phones to smart phones, from smaller structures to big high rise buildings. This is all the transformation we are going through and accepting it fully.
    If an architect is getting a chance to think in 3D and create his or her designs in real world experience with realistic materials and textures, real scale comparison to the whole site and real view of the design and ability to create unique forms with ease and can judge the design at an initial stage by incorporating 3D technology in its design process, why not give it a try. Not to impress anyone but for our own convenience and 
    judgement which will assist us in making better design decisions.

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    Ghazala Miftah Assoc. AIA
    Owner / Principal Designer
    Dexign 3D
    Irvine CA
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West