Architecture Juries, without any doubt, are the most vital yet terrifying part of the Architecture School. They are the foundation of our training that gets us ready for professional practice. The only difference between both architecture school and professional practice juries is that the former one has jurors, and the latter has clients.
Furthermore, presenting the work that you have given all your efforts can sometimes be daunting, and we often tend to brood over the approval from everyone. The primary thoughts most of us have regarding the juries narrow down to be the fright of looking bad, or not looking smart and capable enough.
No doubt, juries are unpredictable, and even the most confident person gets trapped in its nerves. But we have jotted down 10 things you didn’t know about Architecture Juries to make your life a little easier.
1. Talking about the ‘Concept’ is unavoidable
Many students just hop forward to technologies and construction by skipping the foundation of any design concept. It is sometimes difficult for students to speak about the conceptual and theoretical aspects of a project. This is partly because several architecture students start a project from the planning stage without giving much thought about the base.
Besides, the concept is the protagonist you cannot ignore, and your entire design will grow around it. Every single one of the great projects has got a concept and if you do not recognize yours, keep on working. Talking about the concept is unavoidable in architecture juries, so don’t try to avoid it, instead, face it with your big idea.
2. Whatever on display qualifies for discussion, fair enough!
As much the sheets are pinned as good a student you are, do you have this thinking too? Architecture students produce a lot of sheets having drawings, elevations, sketches, and models too during a project. When the jury day comes closer, there comes a temptation along to display them all. Since pinning it all up represents a legit proof that you have put in a lot of effort and time into this design process. Well, not really.
Everything on display qualifies for a discussion, and you will agree that not everything is worth discussing. So resist yourself from putting every single thing on the board. Instead, work on your main concept and present limited important data to support it that you and the juror can discuss.
3. Juror need not be right always
An undeniable fact about any project is that the student is the one who knows the process and the design associated with it more than anyone. The same goes for the fact that one single design problem will have ten different takes if given to ten architects. Moreover, explaining your work to the juror can be intimidating, who does not know the parameters and problems you had for the project.
So take architectural juries as an opportunity to listen and learn from the criticism, and make them as improvements in your skill. Along with that, you should make sure you do not get lost after a jury (sometimes a harsh one) and walk away with your dignity still in you, because jurors need not be right always.
4. Pinned work does not define YOU
Often we have seen a large number of students put their hearts and undefined time to a project. In addition to this, they tend to spend their exorbitant amount of energy in producing drawings, developing a concept, and fashioning a model. What they forget, amongst these tasks, is themselves. And most of the time, they confuse their personalities by relating the work they have pinned on the board with the person they are in reality. A juror stays in the zone of being a juror for that hour solely and would not think about it once they leave.
So what does it leave us? Great learning is to stop defining yourself with the work on display. Have a life outside that studio, engage yourself in hobbies and friends so that you can have a personality that you can relate to, which will always keep you inspired too.
5. A structured presentation
You should always structure the design of the presentation like you have designed your project. A juror should be guided throughout your work to be able to understand your hard work. Furthermore, do not stroll unnecessarily, get to the main points, and be passionate to explain what ideas you had while developing the project. Walk with them from one inch of your sheet to the other to make them familiar. A well-structured presentation will keep your mind in sync too.
6. Logic vs Argument
You must have heard that every line in the architecture sheet has a meaning. That implies that everything you put in your design should be backed by logic. And this always comes handy while giving a jury. The whole point behind architecture juries is to review the process you have been following and collect some critics. And there will be times when fellow jurors would not agree with your approach.
So instead of getting argumentative, you should always present your points with your logic to make them aware of why you did what you did. Rather than being all defensive, you have to listen to the feedback, grasp and move forward.
7. Give mock juries to your friends
There is a known fact that we all know, everyone has a distinct approach to a certain thing, which might or might not be as yours. Discussing your work with your colleagues opens up your mind and might offer you a different perspective to what you had earlier. Besides, discussing in these mock juries, bring your attention to the hidden issues that you might have missed. It also helps you in building your confidence with the work you have created before the actual jury.
8. Get a good sleep before the big day
Most of the students spend their days as well nights in developing the drawings and renders for the jury. But it is experienced by many that collecting a quantity of work counteracts on the quality of work along with jeopardizing focus and mindfulness needed for the jury. Even if a drawing is left to be rendered, you should always sleep before the architecture jury to keep intact your productivity, which is more necessary than that drawing.
9. Thorough weighs more than completion
What will happen if you have a lot of work in hand, and a juror asks you a question, but you do not know what to say exactly? This will assure the juror that though you have a complete set of drawings, you are not aware or thorough with the work you have displayed.
So instead of throwing in your time to create dozens of sheets, try to be thorough of what you have done throughout the process. Above and beyond, the juror will be more interested in your strength being your diligence rather than the person who has twenty models for each process stage.
10. Never rush
Try to be calm in your presentation, and have confidence in the work you have put in so many efforts in. It is always advised not to rush in any section of the jury. Explain every stage within a definitive time while giving enough time to conclude your ideas. Additionally, guide jurors throughout the building in a system and then listen if they have a point to it. Rushing over a presentation often confuses the jury members, collecting only negative feedback for you.
More often than not, juries have always been different for different students but aim to make the students confident. It pushes them to broaden the boundaries they have made for themselves and look beyond. So next time when you give your jury, remember these things and make the most out of it. Don’t be terrified, instead, have fun!
