Small Project Design

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Custom Residential Architects Network .
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I generally meet with clients in their homes, rolling out a set of drawings for discussion. I would like to move to a digital system to do this. What do other practitioners do? iPad (seems too small), laptop and projector (fussy), or . . . ? I work from a home studio so receiving clients there is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your input and ideas.

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Alan Kanter AIA
Alan Kanter Architect
Aptos CA
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Alan

Meeting clients at their home is not practical always for me which is why we have the 'design presentation day' where the client will be much prior invited to the design studio. Inviting clients to design studios make presentation much concise and a kind of confidence because the architect knows his studio much better than anywhere else. We use projector in the design studio for presentation after which we move in to the meeting room to discuss (with the help of drawings and specifications if you must) on various things  that was addressed in the presentation. To conclude, i'm sure you will have a much better presentation to offer if in your own design studio by what ever means you use (laptop, i pad, projector etc)

Thanks,

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Jasson Johny, Assoc. AIA
Design Projects Manager
First & Best Constructions
P. O. Box 2399
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain

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On residential work, I always meet at least once in a client's home. I also let them know ahead of time that I want to see the entire compound when we meet there! This give me a great opportunity to see what has been the "standard of living" for them up to the present, and it gives me an opportunity to have them comment on what works and what drives them nuts! I respond to their comments by noting opportunities for the enhancement of their living condition.

As far as presentation - Sketchup. I am just now getting into the software, but I love what I can do with it so far, and I continue to be positively intimidated by what I don't yet know how to do, that I know it can do!!

It travels well on a "large" laptop so there is no need for a screen or any other equipment. And once you are really very confident with it, you can change interior and exterior finish materials and colors "right there in the home."
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George Jennings AIA
G Booker 3
Tappahannock VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-23-2013 14:29
From: Jasson Johny
Subject: Client presentations

Alan

Meeting clients at their home is not practical always for me which is why we have the 'design presentation day' where the client will be much prior invited to the design studio. Inviting clients to design studios make presentation much concise and a kind of confidence because the architect knows his studio much better than anywhere else. We use projector in the design studio for presentation after which we move in to the meeting room to discuss (with the help of drawings and specifications if you must) on various things  that was addressed in the presentation. To conclude, i'm sure you will have a much better presentation to offer if in your own design studio by what ever means you use (laptop, i pad, projector etc)

Thanks,

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Jasson Johny, Assoc. AIA
Design Projects Manager
First & Best Constructions
P. O. Box 2399
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain

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You can connect a projector to an iPad with an adapter - both 30-pin and Lightning to VGA, HDMI, or component video (30-pin only).  With iOS6, you can mirror anything that is on the iPad's screen.  With a small projector, this can be a pretty slick presentation setup that is easily controlled.

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Thomas Bank AIA
Owner/Architect
Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
Lemoyne PA
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Epson makes a lightweight wireless projector that communicates with an iPad or iPhone via a free app. The projector is full sized but very light. Others make small projectors that fit in the palm of your hand but don't except a very bright image and they are not wireless. They are good for a presentation in a small room. ------------------------------------------- David Del Vecchio AIA Architect David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC Cranford NJ -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 02-25-2013 17:29 From: Thomas Bank Subject: Client presentations You can connect a projector to an iPad with an adapter <http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/ipad_accessories/cables_docks> - both 30-pin and Lightning to VGA, HDMI, or component video (30-pin only). With iOS6, you can mirror anything that is on the iPad's screen. With a small projector, this can be a pretty slick presentation setup that is easily controlled. ------------------------------------------- Thomas Bank AIA Owner/Architect Simply Stated Architecture, P.C. Lemoyne PA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 02-23-2013 00:15 From: Alan Kanter Subject: Client presentations This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Custom Residential Architects Network . ------------------------------------------- I generally meet with clients in their homes, rolling out a set of drawings for discussion. I would like to move to a digital system to do this. What do other practitioners do? iPad (seems too small), laptop and projector (fussy), or . . . ? I work from a home studio so receiving clients there is not an option. Thanks in advance for your input and ideas. ------------------------------------------- Alan Kanter AIA Alan Kanter Architect Aptos CA -------------------------------------------

Hi Alan,

Although I have a beautiful downtown office with an ocean view I very seldom meet clients there. Since I only design residential projects, my meetings are either at the client's home (which I find very helpful) or a nearby business club for lunch/dinner get togethers. For my west coast projects I usually stay in small hotels without a business center. So mobile presentations are a must.

At one time I would also bring along a roll of drawings. However, over the past couple of years I have discovered the wonders of the iPad. Yes it is small, but it's so easy to zoom in on images or details. Color renderings and 3D models look great. My clients even enjoy flipping through the images, it's very interactive. The largest drawings that I now bring are 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. 

On my long west coast flights and in the hotel rooms I work on a laptop. I'll then use DropBox to transfer the drawings and renderings to the iPad. The iPad is also what I carry around on the job site.

There are a number of good sketch applications that you can use during meetings (Bamboo Paper, Morpholio Trace, Noteshelf). ArchiCAD, the program I use, is developing a mobile app to view a model as a fly thru. I also download product spec sheets and catalogs for review, plus I can access the internet for other ideas during meetings.

It is a big step down from 24 x 36 sheets to an iPad. But you may discover, as I have, that it is a truly wonderful tool. And I must say, it is so much fun to be an architect in the digital age.




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John Black AIA
Partner
Lapis Design Partners LLC
Honolulu HI
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I plug my laptop into my clients HD TV with an HD cable and give presentations that way. I use Revit so its very 3 dimensional interactive. Clients love it. I don't even have to leave a handout for them to study. They get it right away.

Thad Broom, AIA

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Thad Broom AIA
Architect
Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
Virginia Beach VA
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