WEEK 2: THE EXPERIENCE CONTINUES

The week started off slow; Monday I mainly organized the materials library. Tuesday, however, I started by selecting samples for a designer for an apartment. I then made a materials board with the samples and lighting the designer approved. Wednesday was busy. I started the day off with making a materials board for a designer and then delivery the board to the client. Another designer had me pull new samples for a small, colorful space. I also delivered a set of drawings to a client. Thursday I helped a designer reorganize the existing finish system for a large client, HCA. This took most of the day. IDS also had a pizza party for all the employees for lunch. This was fun and allowed me to see most of the employees all together. Friday I assisted a designer by scanning files into the computer so all of them are easily accessible.

Design Phases

Because IDS does not typically work on projects ground-up, projects differ on where they start within the design phases. Even though the projects are not completely new, many projects still follow the typical order of the design phases.

• Programming
• Schematic design
• Design development
• Contract documents
• Contract administration

IDS follows all design phases no matter the size of the project. Some projects involve only one designer, but some larger projects will involve several designers. Most of the time projects do not overlap based on which group receives the projects.

Information is communicated between designers through face-to-face communication, e-mail, and phone. The same methods are also used to communicate between clients and designers. Similar to at UT, there is a server that can be accessed on all computers that has all of the projects that the company has completed and is currently working on. Each project has a project number with different phases within the project, such as space planning and contract documents. At the beginning of each project a contract is drawn up between the client and IDS that determines the time schedule and order of the phases. Time sheets are also kept by each designer and submitted each week to a manager to be approved.

IDS is involved in all phases of design, programming through contract administration. Typically IDS does not take part in ground-up construction. There are several steps that a designer will complete while in the contract administration phase, such as walk-throughs, punch lists, site visits, and construction supervision.

Name: Sarina Walker

Position: Project Designer

Interesting Fact: Nominated as the Woman of the Year 2012

Responsibilities: Part of the Design Studio; takes part in all design phases. Works with other designers and clients. Sarina is also my boss; this means she gives me projects to work on and will give me feedback on my work.

I also included an organizational chart from last week to include a visual in addition to the descriptions found in Week 1.

Comments

[MBR]

Great work this week. Hope you are having a nice vacation - enjoy yourself! Love the image of your supervisor. I think you captured her personality as well as give us a peak at the office interior. When you post images, be sure and create a thumbnail of the image. I did this for the organizational chart -- by the way, nice chart. When you click on the image, it opens up in another window and you can see the detail. I noticed that there are no positions under any of the areas listed across the bottom. You may want to add who works in these departments. Nice description of how projects are organized and the phases. I hope your supervisor can share a contract with you sometime to see how the phases break down in terms of scope of work and reimbursement. Look forward to your post in a couple of weeks.