johnny

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  1. johnny
    As I said in my previous comment, I agree with you guys this thread should be moved - but in the OP comment, this question is what spurred the discussion: "We are at a point we need to partner with a professional to finish the plan (for sure the roof needs work), ensure the structure is safe and meets local regulations, etc. My thinking is that an architect currently using Chief would make this process much more effiencient due to the software compatability. Is this a proven approach?" We are seeing just how open-ended that question can be. ...but yes, please move this thread.
  2. johnny
    (to start, i too agree this thread should be moved) I 100% concur with this (and what Joey said). Taste and good design are completely separate things. Something can be to one's taste, but be poorly designed. Flip side, something can be well designed but not per one's taste. As most probably know, Architects (and good designers) of the world have been using golden proportions for millenniums: Though I dont whip out a calculator to calculate the placement of everything, I often to overlay a "golden rectangle" over sections of my work for good mass proportion - but with practice you actually start to be able to eye-ball these proportions. In Vectorworks we have a Golden ratio tool-tip that is very nice. Here at practice in a simple home (found on internet): Again, this isn't an architect vs designer argument IMO. However, with an architect you know to some degree they have had schooling/training in design principles. I bet many here already know about golden proportions, but I run into lots of designers who dont. A good designer can learn the same things, and put them into practice, but i've found that to be an exception over the rule.
  3. johnny
    This is a very true statement - and i'll add they probably get at least 30% (maybe more) less for their home when they sell it. These kinds of prints are an unethical builders dream. Heck, even ethical builders need to be called to task here and there on issues.
  4. johnny
    Yeah, its an odd mix to have CA be selling to non-professionals trying to save a buck - but in the long run its hurting those customers. If that wasn't bad enough, I agree they try to sell builders into becoming design/build firms which just propagates the notion if you can use a CAD package you are a "designer". Good "designers" and architects should equally be frustrated with that notion IMO. Does anyone suggest a design professional should take a client's idea, which they know not to be good, and implement it without some amount of protest? I've had great relationships with my clients to where if they suggest something off-the-wall, I will just tell them "no, i can't let you do that" (in a semi-humorous way) ...and we chuckle and come up with a workable solution. There is one more aspect to that, and its how much the client respects the designer/architect. If you have no respect by your client, then they probably dont think much of your opinion - and that a circular problem to have. In which case I call that being a draftsman not a designer.
  5. johnny
    Hold the phone.... "DIY Designer"? Perhaps we are talking two different things and this is causing some confusion. I relate DIY as someone that has a different profession outside design or architecture - with no (or virtually no) background and/or schooling in design - thinking they can buy "Home Designer" and draw up their house or remodel project. I am not relating DIY as a "designer" or anyone actually within the design world. I wouldn't place anyone that has a background in design (training/schooling) or other in the "DIY" category.
  6. johnny
    I mean the classic definition of a layman who undertakes a project themselves. In this instance we are talking about DIY home/remodel design.
  7. johnny
    I believe most DIY projects are led by taste without knowing what good design is about. The most common thing i see in a DIY project is too much taste meant to compensate for lack of design understanding. The project can take a turn to "funky-town" about this point. Composition of mixing good design (and everything related), the clients taste, and the "program" (architectural brief) are the elements to make a successful project.
  8. johnny
    I agree - its an odd perception. DIY projects nearly always appear exactly that. Graphic Arts as gone this way too, but at least there you are talking about a small monetary investment in an ad or printed materials. It amazes me that people can't seem to view a good designer/architect as an investment into what many people would consider the single largest asset they may own. Often good design pays for itself even in the construction costs, let alone appreciation equity.
  9. johnny
    I wholly and utterly disagree with that statement - since good design isn't what one person might think it is (taste might be diff, but I can tell "good design" even from things I dont find tasteful). The client (more often than not) doesn't have a professional background, and a client that asks their designer/architect: Is my "idea" workable - from a cost, practicality, or even aesthetic point of view?...is going to come out way ahead listening in part to the professional they hired. I dont go to a Dr. only to have him listen to what I think might be wrong with me, and what I believe I should be prescribed. Even though I might cite some article I read online about my symptoms, I want him to use his education, experience, and common sense to help me help myself. It wasn't my intent to make this an architect vs designer discussion. I have a lot of respect and faith in certain designers.
  10. johnny
    I dont disagree with this, but I will say in my personal experience I've never seen an architect hand me a plan set like the one above. Not saying it hasn't happened to other people, its just i've never see it - and yet I get this sort of "designer" work sent to me a lot to re-do.
  11. johnny
    There is actually a lot of things I would personally do different - ie master bath, but this was specifically requested. I had the door to the sewing room going from hallway to provide 2 full walls for bed/etc, but they asked for it to be placed there since she wanted to access from room....they planned to put bed on the west wall (right). Not what I would have done...so I agree there as well. If you look at the original design - its even more than bad design, as the entry clerestory windows (they dont match pitch) are directly interfered with by the den wall. To top it all off, my plans were cheaper to build (bid by builder selected) as the "designer" placed ridiculous steel beams in the drawings which weren't necessary.
  12. johnny
    Here is an example I am actually working on right now. Past clients of mine had friends who were developing plans by a "designer" - and when these people shared the plans with my former clients, they were advised to have me look at the design and offer an opinion. Its a slopping lot, but the clients wanted single-level living - however, the designer said it was impossible to get a 2-car garage on the main floor entry level, so he had to place the garages all in the basement (stairs). These people are elderly, yet they assumed what their designer was saying is correct and so planned to walk up and down stairs each time they accessed the garage. Further, this is a seaboard town and they wanted the house to look "beachy" (their word) - yet they didn't have the budget for full cedar shingles together with what they wanted inside. Their "designer" permit approved these drawings: Floor Plan Elevations Following their request, these were my concepts: Floor Plan Concept Elevation Concept My example isn't a architect vs designer issue - since I feel many designers are awesome. Its about people going down a path they dont know they dont know. Had these clients not heard from their friends they should come talk with me, they would be building this other plan right now that didn't meet the objectives they wanted.
  13. johnny
    I've seen bad design by both architect and designer - no question. Yet, even in something I felt was "bad design" (which is subjective), there tends to be organized thought (program) coming through an architects work that I simply dont see with "bad" design by a "designer". Id rather have a good designer than a bad architect (again subjective)....but I would rather have a bad architect than a bad designer. Hiring an architect does give you some quality threshold which a designer (good or bad) doesn't have to even have to consider.
  14. johnny
    - "building design can be done by anyone" - "Architect's always try to scare everyone" Those are some interesting absolutes you state. Needless to say, I fully disagree. I'll state again, I have NEVER seen a DIY project I thought was well done and didn't look DIY. I won't be as bold to state an absolute and say: "There are NO DIY homes that look good to ANYONE".
  15. johnny
    Well, keep in mind that unlike Windows, there are very few "application" installations outside their dedicated "packages" - which means viruses are harder to get, and less invasive than Windows machines which have app components in the system folders. Im not saying its impossible, but with Apple viruses have few places to "hide" where they aren't easy to find/delete. Windows viruses are terrible due to the shortcomings of "VB scripts" and their effect. Win 8 has been a big step forward to start to curb this, but Apple has never given an application that much control over system folders - so much less damage a virus/malware can do secretly.
  16. johnny
    Scott, there is something called AdBlock you can also manage your extensions safari to turn off. Thru Apple.com - https://extensions.apple.com/ What you have is probably an installed extension you didn't want - here is a video to uninstall extensions manually. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oxD7jfnepw If its not an extension, then its something much more invasive, but i've found most adware in Apple is simply installing an extension I dont want.
  17. johnny
    This is true. Also, Julie - I know a lot of people think you can DIY for residential design, but I've NEVER in my career seen a home done by DIY that didn't look DIY. Its like proposing to Microsoft they allow you to handle their marketing campaign since you have MS Publisher. The money you will spend on a professional to take your ideas and floor plan and put finishing touches everywhere is money well spent when you go to sell your home, not to mention livability factors. Would you be willing to post your plan so far?
  18. johnny
    Not the window I am talking about - since you have to click or press to activate which auto-closes the window each time. Seeing this layer video I now better understand Doug's comment that Chief is going to be more able to be modeless in future releases.
  19. johnny
    I have to admit.... watching your video made it look easy. However, I think you would have to admit [hyperbole] even by the response to this thread the solution wasn't as well known or understood as it should be. In Vectorworks, the focus is first on making shapes - then turning shapes into useable and definable objects. Therefore, finding the path to completing something like a simple A-Board is well known to nearly any regular Vectorworks user because the path is similar to other paths. I still get confused about selecting what multifaceted linear path is needed for the creation of certain things in CA. Though yusuf's suggestion to use ceiling planes was ingenious, its far from intuitively obvious. I dont want to beat a dead horse on this matter, as i know i've made my opinion known - I 100% agree your video showed creation of the A-Board was simple to do in Chief. In fact, your video was VERY helpful thank you. As to if Vectorworks has high control on walls - YES. Here is a video on that subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZecfP1DUnrg here is a good foundation framing video (you will be impressed with level of detail) in VW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvQSopJJBfU For those curious, here is a cool video showing power of walls/glass in Vectorworks (commercial use primarily): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCkcnQ3bmN4 One neat thing handy about Vectorworks (and lots of other apps) is that if you needed to model like this, you can import into Chief easily. I do find good power between the 2 tools.
  20. johnny
    OK, now this is what I am talking about....way to go Chief! Would love to see the info DBX in this area as well always open...but a step in the right direction for sure.
  21. johnny
    Im not sure I fully understand the primitive tool-set in CA. The name of these tools doesn't inspire confidence...lol. There are quick things I can do in Vectorworks to add to this A-board like chamfer the edges slightly and add brackets to the top edges at the existing slop angle....which to me seems next to impossible in Chief. I am curious about this, and whether or not its just my lack of knowledge of this app. Even just creating shapes that say include a rounded inside corner to the legs seem a task...but maybe i am wrong.
  22. johnny
    Yes, there is no question other apps can do similar things - but how many specific Architectural apps can do this? I guess its the variety of what can be done, with powerful specific tools for architecture and landscape architecture. That said, Vectorworks doesn't have the residential specific tools anywhere on the scale what Chief has....which is why I use CA as well. If I specialized in modern homes I might use Vectorworks exclusively, but for transitional styles of homes i've not found anything like Chief. What I really wish is if CA would get simple 3D tools at the same level of Sketchup at least. Not sure if I understand what you mean by "cover Chief surfaces into solids".... meaning export from Chief into Vectorworks with data?
  23. johnny
    If you've mainly been used to modeling objects in CA, then what Vectorworks can do in this regard would probably blow your mind. Vectorworks is designed to be able to model ANYTHING. Some people use Vectorworks for Mechanical 3D work as well. Here is a quick video showing all these interactive tools for nearly anything you can think of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2XBcaVBmb0 Not only that, but there is something call "smart objects" where you can custom create objects and parameters that change....so virtually limitless options.
  24. johnny
    Honestly, if you mostly do residential Chief is your best bet - no matter what issues you are having with the rendering. I own Archicad (an older version), Vectorworks (new), and Chief. Even though Chief can be frustrating at times, and has limitations for basic modeling, i've yet to find something that comes close to its "tool-sets". I wish badly that Vectorworks could do more of what Chief does for residential....and I wish Chief would do more what Vectorworks/Archicad does in general modeling and BIM data/docs....not to mention concept work. In the end I find that Chief edges out the others for what I do most, but I also end up using Vectorworks for lots of concept and small modeling - so you will need another 3D app (Sketchup works too). My draftsmen don't like Chief due to the fact they haven't mastered its LARGE learning curve. Clients though LOVE the presentations I create on Chief though. Its a mixed bag, but if you do a lot of large-scale Commercial then Chief isn't the best solution.
  25. johnny
    In Vectorworks I can set a "Working Plane" to match any angle/plane I want on the fly (or even save those plane views) to then place graphics or text (or anything else, including continuing modeling from that plane) in a snap. Here is a quick example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXtZ6mUN5DM Im not trying to sell people on Vectorworks, but just trying to show how behind CA is in these types of tools IMO.