DescriptionUniversity landscape architecture program studios can harbor unethical studio environments. Current accreditation standards and antiquated views on the value of models in representation can lead to a focus on the technical requirements of curriculum, rather than the effect of studio culture on a student’s design process. Models can play a unique role in the design process yet are often used simply as representational tools. In this thesis, I argue for the benefits of foregrounding a making-based approach in landscape architecture pedagogy. This can allow for new forms of creativity, design, and visualization to emerge in the classroom and professional studio environment. The goal of this thesis is to offer an approach to creating a studio culture that enables students to bring their own skills, histories, cultures, and interests into the design studio.
A making-based approach can allow students to achieve the technical goals set forth in formal university accreditation processes, while also encouraging compassion in the design process for students. This proposal is supported by existing scholarly research, professional design approaches, student and educator interviews, personal making reflections, and making experiments conducted in studio classes. Results from collective student feedback illustrate that modeling and making bring to light many lessons for design students that allow for a more personalized, comfortable, and ethical studio environment that still achieves class objectives.
By providing additional resources for encouraging a making-based approach, students and educators can start to change the standard of studio culture, which in turn may inform professional practice as well. The Making Design website (http://makingdesign.xyz/) and Creativity Zine were created through a making-based process, for use by educators and students. These resources serve as catalysts for creativity. As the making-based approach emphasizes process over product, resources and ideas surrounding the making-based approach will continue to develop and adapt to new environments.