One of the classes we are required to take this semester is called Project Programming. It is the scheduled process of discovering what we will study for our final graduate school project. It is 1 credit, but as our professor Vince told us the first class meeting, it will require about 4 credits worth of work. Standard design school principles.
I have pasted the class description and what we will end up creating below. This "capstone" blog will essentially follow my progress in this class as well as my Research Methods course.
The Capstone Process
LA8554, Project Programming, is one of two fall courses preparing students for the spring semester Capstone Studio. The Research Methods and the Project Programming courses are essential to the definition and development of the Capstone Project. In Project Programming the coursework focuses on defining the research and design scope of the project, and gathering and developing site materials for the Capstone Studio. Ideally, after a semester of preparation in LA8554, you have been defined and developed your project to the point that design vwork can begin immediately at start of the Spring Semester.In preparation for Capstone Studio, this semester will emphasize the development of a comprehensive Capstone Proposal in the form of a book. Faculty committee’s will use the Proposal Book to become familiar with, review, and approve the Capstone project.
The final Proposal Book will contain the following:
1. A clear and concise introduction to the capstone book with a table of contents.
2. A clear and concise description of the concept or concepts (technical, biological, political, cultural, etc.) influencing the project, and the limits of your investigation of the concepts (scope of work). These concepts may be either theoretical and/or technical (biotic or other processes, economic theory, social theory, political theory, etc.).
3. A clear description of the site (material, social, political, economic, and cultural qualities) and relationship of the site to concepts to be explored. This description must include a visual record of the site from different time periods (sketches, photographs, maps, etc.). Depending on the project, an analysis of the site’s history may also be needed. You must explicitly link the site’s history to the concepts to be explored.
4. The existing and proposed land use(s) and/or site programs for the project and the relationship of the programs or land use(s) to the concepts under exploration. This section must include a detailed description of the proposed activities/uses and the spatial requirements for each.
5. A complete inventory of the site materials for the project (list of materials required, sources, format of materials, availability, and materials procured).
6. Annotated bibliography (list of references and relationship of the reference to the project). The bibliography must also include significant visual assets (maps, video, film, photography, or paintings) that are important to the project (for example, references to Thomas Cole’s work if exploring the American picturesque).
7. Process schedule and scope of work (scope of work, timeline to achieve scope, and process used to achieve scope).