frontstepdesign

Focusing on fixing the broken

(Edit: No, I don't mean that the disabled are broken.  But the economy, various design systems, and our expectations of ourselves clearly are.  Fortunately, we have gifts such as listening, compassion, and imagination to address the lack.) 

Compelling confluence of data from the blogosphere today:

Obama apparently thinks there's economic opportunity in the US' medical innovations and knowledge, such that the disabled community can show us levers to improve the world.  This makes sense, given the significant population numbers of disabled worldwide (some say 10%, or 600 million).  The White House had a bit of a confab about it.

The very funny Seth Godin posted an older (three years) video presentation of "This Is Broken", making the same point: look at the broken systems to show you how to be more competitive, how to appeal more, how to win.  That part about "not my job", how some design jobs fall through the cracks...I found myself wincing, because several of his examples are the building designer's job.  The movie concession stand.  The trashcan.  (His hint: The signs will show the way.)

(Edit) Pete Wendel recommends "Inclusive Design, Part 1", about design for all of us, when sooner or later we join the ranks of the disabled - I've been there, I blew out my knee ten years ago, and then had to have it reconstructed.  I particularly like the notion of the "episodic disabled" - from weekend partying!

And "Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords" is very eloquent today about the need to consider special education as a civil right, for that's where the 'fixing' of society begins.

(Edit 2) More on how powerful focusing on the 'broken': Zen Habits recommends a Home Organizing Audit, for its power to clear life's obstacles...slowing down, listening, looking, and relinquishing the drive for more, more...gives time, energy and priority to properly caring for the systems at home.

All of this seems a logical outgrowth from the trial-and-error process sometimes called "science"...that we should iterate, and then try the results...see what doesn't work, and then try to fix it.

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In FSD blog news, I'm doing the same, "fixing the broken".  FSD doesn't serve me in its current form and voice any longer, so I'm redesigning.  You'll see more "beginner's mind", far less advice, more research.  I hope you'll accompany me on this very interesting course correction...sometimes the next "front step" is the one behind you.

On committing and learning from prototypes

1. Prototype as if you are right.
2. Listen as if you are wrong.

"never attend a meeting without a new prototype"

This serves to both push and pull.  It pushes you to prototype earlier and with more frequency, because you want to (and have to) meet with other people in the course of life.  And it pulls you toward a more productive state, because you can't have a meeting without having a new prototype, which means that you spend less time talking in pointless meetings and more time doing productive explorations.  Doing is very important.

"you only learn when things start breaking"

The goal of a prototype is not to be right, but to get an answer.  That answer is what allows you move forward with wisdom.

~from http://metacool.typepad.com/metacool/2009/04/4-prototype-as-if-you-are-right-listen-as-if-you-are-wrong.html

and

http://metacool.typepad.com/metacool/2009/04/yet-another-thought-on-prototyping.html

And more from metacool:

Instead of spending sixty minutes talking about what might be done, they build four 15-minute prototypes to immediately jump to the lessons that only come when you start breaking things.  At the Stanford d.school, we hold "Iron Chef" prototyping sessions where small teams receive a problem statement from the audience (show me a way to run fast on the Moon!), and then they prototype the hell out of it for five minutes.  And invariably they get somewhere interesting that would have been unreachable via conversation and hand waving.

Design Juries

I'm doing a bit of volunteering, sitting on design juries, and learning a lot.  I hope the students are learning, too...

Today were some older 'second-year' equivalents, and they reminded me of several archetypes that I noticed in my own architectural education.

• There's the one who has a good idea for a design theme, but is a bit afraid of it, so it doesn't get pushed far enough to be noticeable as a theme.  (I had trouble with this.)
• The one who has a good idea and understands pushing it, but goes too far, such that the building has 'artistic' areas that aren't sellable, and may not be buildable.  Balance with the program is part of the game!  (I made this mistake, too, but got lucky with instructors who didn't think program was all that necessary, really...fortunately I'm a practical soul, so it hasn't harmed me.)
• The one who has a good idea, but doesn't recognize it as good, and out of insecurity throws more good ideas at the space, so then the whole thing becomes cluttered with unrelated design moves, and there is no theme.  Seems like there's always one of these in every class.

I've been invited back next week, to a first-year class of young students, a fifth-year class, and the second project, a more intensive one, from today's group.  I'm jazzed about seeing all the work!

New LEED accreditation timeline

I heard last fall that the LEED AP accreditation system was changing, and decided to wait until the new system was in place to get on board, to have maximum corroboration with new expectations.  USGBC has issued the following timeline and description of how the new standards will work:
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MARCH 2009
LEED AP+ Homes Exam - Beta Test (application is now closed)
LEED AP New Construction v2.2 – Registration Deadline
LEED AP Commercial Interiors v2.0 – Registration Deadline

SPRING 2009
LEED Green Associate Exam – Launch (May)
LEED AP+ Operations & Maintenance Exam – Launch (May)
LEED AP+ Building Design & Construction Exam – Beta Test
LEED AP+ Interior Design & Construction Exam - Beta Test
New Candidate Application Available

SUMMER 2009
LEED AP+ Homes Exam - Launch
LEED AP+ Building Design & Construction - Launch
LEED AP+ Interior Design & Construction - Launch
New Credentialing Maintenance Program – Launch

2010
LEED AP+ Neighborhood Development

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Q: What are the three tiers of LEED Credentialing under the new tiered system?
A: Tier I
LEED Green Associate: As the first step in the LEED professional’s career pathway, the Green Associate credential attests to the candidate’s knowledge of good environmental practice and skill, and reflects understanding and support of green design, construction, and operations. There are no specialties within the LEED Green Associate tier.

Tier II
LEED AP+: The LEED AP+ credential signifies an advanced depth of knowledge of green building practices.  LEED AP+s will earn their credentials in one (or more) of the following five specialties:

1. Building Design & Construction (BD&C)
2. Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
3. Interior Design & Construction (ID&C)
4. Homes
5. Neighborhood Development (ND)

Tier III
LEED AP Fellow: Although the application process is currently under development, this tier will distinguish an elite class of leading professionals. Fellows contribute to the standards of practice and body of knowledge for achieving continuous improvement in the green building field.

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I'm job hunting right now, as I've decided that I'd like to pursue larger and more complex projects...I hope that I can find prep material for Tier 1 immediately...but the cost ($250 for non-member, for Associate level, application + exam, $175 for the prep material) is a consideration, until I find an employer.  REVIT training may take precedence.

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Q: What are the costs associated with becoming a LEED AP+?
A: Credential Fees: $100 application fee; $300 USGBC National Member fee per exam appointment or $450 non-member fee per exam appointment; $50 maintenance fee every 2 years. Any additional specialty exam is $150 for USGBC National Members per exam appointment and $250 for non-members per exam appointment, plus the application fee.

Q: What are the Credential Maintenance Requirements for a LEED AP+?
A: Participate in 30 hours of continuing education required every 2 years, with 6 hours obtained from an approved program specific to the LEED Rating System, credit categories, and LEED updates.

The information on Credentialing Maintenance will be available in the first quarter of 2009. The tiered system will be flexible to allow credit for other than taking a class or attending a workshop. Please visit www.gbci.org for more information in the first quarter of 2009.