Project Logs

Project logs are essentially a digital sketchbook that are used to document and follow your project from start to finish. A project log is a clear and professional way of presenting your work.
A project log should document your design process from brief to final outcome, they do not need to include info on processes (how you made models etc.) unless this is essential to your design process/design story. The project log can be A4 or A3 and will need to be collated in an A4 or A3 portfolio (plastic sleeves) so that the pages can be removed and changed freely and with ease. The project log will need to be developed continuously throughout your design process and will need to be printed in black and white and shown to your lecturers every lesson. The final log will need to be printed and presented in colour. The overall structure of the project log should include (in order): Front Cover project title Title Page project title, student name, student number, DSGN logo, Chi logo Project Brief overview of project (what is the project starting point dont put in your actual project brief word for word Project Background this should focus on the purpose of the project, brief analysis, requirements of the brief, site info, initial planning, initial history + info, info on client Initial Ideas brainstorm + visual storm (factors to be considered), concept creation, defining purpose, user requirements Initial (concept) Research images + info based on initial brainstorm + concept ideas, background concept research Evaluate clarify concept + project direction Initial (design) Research Case studies research into designers + design work of a similar nature, design work that is inspiring More Initial Ideas brainstorm + visual storm (ideas based on research discovers) Site Analysis photos, sketch up, info etc analysing site what is there, layout, area etc. Space Program the journey, use of space, ideas for space and how it will be used, how users can journey/be directed through the space. Clarification of Concept using what you have learnt, decided or discovered so far, to clarify your concept where you will go from here. Design Development design sketches (relating designs to concept + further research/inspiration design sketches should link to concept + research clearly, use images etc. Sketch up + sketch models can be used at this point (though keep your models + CAD work quite loose and simple at this stage) annotation is also very important. Design Drawings (vectorworks) plans + elevations floor plans, front/rear/side elevations, sections 3D CAD perspectives (exterior / interior), 3D CAD representations (looking like the real thing as much, and as accurately as possible) Presentation Model images of final scale model or full-size prototype, giving as accurate a representation to the real thing as possible Design Board presentation board that represents the overall design process on 1 or 2 sheets this is used in conjunction with models and presentations to really sell your design it should include some of the following elements: background, concept, inspiration or theme info, site analysis, plans, elevations, 3D CAD representations (exterior/interior), model images, sketches etc (the design

board does not have to include all of these elements but the ones that are most relevant to explaining your design process) Evaluation project evaluation.

A few tips for producing project logs The project log is open to personalisation to some extent (as long as your design process is clear and easily understood), however the overall structure and flow of the project must be as on the previous page. Simplicity keep your project log simple; make sure that both the design process and your own though process is clear, superfluous detail is unnecessary (pics of fairies all over the page, or over the top borders will detract from the project)

Page layout should be considered placement of images and text is important to the flow of the work. Spend time playing around with the layout and getting the page to work.

Design development work (sketches especially) can be presented either digitally or traditionally. If sketches are inserted digitally they must be scanned (not photographed) and the levels must be adjusted; this will ensure that the image is clear and crisp. If sketches are put in traditionally they should be drawn up on pages and then inserted directly into your project log; they can be drawn on sketchbook pages and inserted into your log or an A3 template page could be produced (with border etc.) and sketches made directly onto these sheets and then inserted into your project log. The design sketches must relate to your research and concept development, it is therefore sometimes useful to include a small inspirational image along with your sketches to give clarity to your intentions.