A summer revival

After a long hiatus, an unfortunate outcome of needing to prioritize, I've come out the other side with fresh perspective. In the 8 months since I've posted, I have earned my architectural license, quit the position I've held for over 17 years to take on a role of project architect at a much smaller firm and have committed to following my curiosity without overthinking.

At the start of the year, I was struggling with what I perceived to be a lack of rigor and a weak point of view.  Around this same time I started interviewing people for the blog Portland Architecture and was really intrigued with the variety of processes people employed. What they used as starting points and inspiration and how their experiences shaped the way they designed.  The fact that there is always more to learn is really both a virtue and a curse in this profession, but the only way to progress is to embrace that dynamic. So let's learn a little every day, follow our instincts, share our knowledge, look for solutions, enjoy the journey and celebrate the whimsy that design provides. I'm looking forward to meeting more people willing to share their evolution and, as well, growing this virtual community. If you're interested in the ride, subscribe to be notified of each new post or just send me a note here. Thanks! 

Images courtesy of: toi art gallery, society6, archdaily, heath ceramics, dwell, minted, designlovefest

Paola Navone & whimsy in the service of design

First, I was struck by those gorgeous hexagon tiles randomly draped over that dark wood paneled floor, like an archeological dig that struck gold. Then I was taken in by that 39' long kauri wood table with a mishmash of chairs, perhaps mirroring their occupants personalities, and I had to know more. Charged by long chats about the pros and cons between living a life of abundance and that of simplicity, this seemed to land somewhere in my likeminded middle. 

Italian interior designer and architect, Paola Navone has a natural ability to marry modern design with traditional handicrafts. Her career has spanned the globe, allowing her to work with the industrial luminaries in Italy to artisan crafters in Southeast Asia. The mix of history and character brings a cosmopolitan feel to her spaces, but they are never devoid of whimsy. Not taking herself too seriously is the core of her philosophy, as this interview for Surface Magazine can attest. 

Paola is the epitome of a person following their curiosity, being open to unusual collaborations for the sheer enjoyment of their chance outcomes. In her interview she describes her career as a series of treasure hunts, which for a self professed nomad is carried out at an international scale. What resonates with me the most about Paola's work and how she describes her process, is that she is not interested in defining herself within a particular niche or style but rather the accidental design victories that are stumbled upon while problem solving. 

Paola Navone has a particular talent for rediscovering design from the past and bringing it to life in new, contemporary forms. She strives to create hybrids of design and handicraft, placing greater value on design that comes about “by mistake” than that which is created for mass production. Paola Navone is not just a fervent advocate of handicrafts, she also believes that you can learn a lot from industry and its technical processes. She is interested in the unique, the unusual, that which is not banal, and she always endeavours to develop and process it in her own personal way. She likes to work with colours and light that provide warmth and awaken memories of previous experiences. Paola Navone does not want to define herself within a particular niche or style.  - Stylepark

Image sources : trendland,  jennifer cederstam, jonnymetbird

Took a break to tackle some imposing projects and now am coming back with a bit of motivation. Not that everything went swimmingly, I didn't pass the last ARE test I took this past month and I heard that I wasn't awarded a fellowship I had submitted for. One positive, though, was a successful launch of a full day's worth of discussion on equity in the profession. The AIA committee that I co-chair, ForWARD (Forum for Women in Architecture & Related Design), had been planning this event all year and it was exhausting. I had no idea. The meetings, the e-mails, the to-do lists, the research, the plan B's, the group consensus. All in all I was really proud that we pulled it off and from the look of things, people really went away with more knowledge than they had come with. I had planned to write about the event, but after it was done I needed a break. Thankfully Taz Loomans, whom I mentioned in my last post, wrote a fantastic piece for the Portland Architecture blog. 

Preparing for this equity event, as well as attending the Women in Leadership Summit, have exposed me to so much information about not only underrepresented groups, but leadership, mentorship, unconscious bias, etc. I'm torn between information overload and feeling like I need to plow forward and avenge all these inadequacies.  I'm empowered to make a difference, but keep looking for the right fit for my talents, my temperament, my capacity (I'm looking at you final ARE tests). I know keeping myself open to opportunities and being engaged in this dialogue will lead me somewhere (my unhealthy obsession with self help podcasts taught me this much). I would love your two cents - how do you intentionally align your professional goals with your values or your priorities?

Artwork sourced from Nate Williams  

Recently Taz Loomans, a local architect who writes a blog at a site named Blooming Rock asked if I would contribute to a post she was writing about building confidence as an architect. Of course I jumped at the chance to contribute, but it also forced me to do some soul searching of my own as to what to advise. I thought I would share with you the three tips that I felt resonated for me and which may help you as well....

Don’t judge

Curiosity cultivates your creativity. It may not appear that what you’re interested in relates to anything relevant or useful, but follow your curiosity without judgement. All those disparate points will align to create a holistic creative self that brings a unique quality to your projects. It’s important to remember what or who inspires you when things are tough.

Spread out

I take on opportunities outside of work that utilize and strengthen the skills I need to be a successful project manager. For instance, one of the reasons I joined the AIA’s  ForWARD Committee was because I hated networking and I knew that this would force me into meeting new people. Having a common topic around the committee's efforts made meeting and speaking to new people much easier. As the years progressed and my confidence grew;  I volunteered to coordinate programs, speak at events & eventually was asked to lead the committee. 

Another example, was joining my children's school PTA Board as the Volunteer Coordinator. I knew this position would require ample delegation and organizational strategies, two skills that directly relate to my day job. The qualities that I see as most valuable to an architect are a willingness to listen, a passion for problem solving, patience towards the process of design and an ability to communicate well.  These qualities can be gained through succeeding in your daily work, but for me there's a more profound sense of confidence that grows from utilizing your skills to give value to organizations and groups. 

 Trust you gut

When you are overwhelmed or stumped, just dump all that you know out on the page or the drawing. You typically know more than you think, it just needs to get out and be sifted through. From that point you can find the gaps and find meaningful ways to deal with them. Most people are happy to answer your questions, but are more inclined if you come to them with your own assumptions and efforts first. Carve out time to be a lifelong learner of your craft by reading books, magazines, going to lectures or events. All these pieces of information will inform what you do and help you feel more confident when facing a challenge or a blank page.

Image sourced from Tiffany Han, herself an excellent source of positive motivating advice.

welcome fall

With October right around the corner and a definite chill in the air, I'm taking the opportunity to share some hearths worthy of a visit. On a background of weathered wood or warm brick; colorful blankets, shearling throws and vintage pieces lend a timeless appeal. This melding of old and new always makes me feel at home!

images sourced from dwell.com, my domain.com, houzz.com, pendleton.com, urban outfitters.com, kathleenprobst.com