PART 2 OF THE TRICKS AND HACKS SERIES
Any architecture, actually any student for that matter would have faced at least a couple of redo's in their coursework, knowing how to deal with negative criticism and rejection will make you work harder rather than give up.
In my life as an architecture student, getting redo's and having to start all over again is a regular part of the design growth. Initially, yes, I was dejected and the fact that the effort I had put, had gone to waste, affected me. It held me back from really imbibing what the jury/mentor was trying to say. But, overtime, I came to realize that sometimes we tend to get immersed in the words that the person utters than try to understand what they are conveying, and once I started paying attention to the mistakes that were being pointed out, it really did make a big improvement in my project.
It is definitely not easy to digest, imagine working throughout the night only to have your progress jump back two steps behind. So here are a few things that help you cope with rejection and deal with criticism the right way:
1. KNOWING WHEN TO DEFEND AND WHEN TO ACCEPT
Design is very relative, so what is smart to you might sound stupid to someone else. When under review, it is natural to defend your work, especially when told to make certain changes that you think might not help, but constructive rebuttal and trying to convince the other person is two different things. The best way to deal with this is to make multiple iterations, one with the changes and without, comparing this will lead to an arguable solution. Always remember self satisfaction and project improvement is the goal intended.
2. MOCK REVIEWS
An early prep to what you can expect in the jury can be rehearsed with your peers. You can get your friends to review your project and maybe incorporate changes before even sitting for jury. This way you get rid of any silly mistake that might have crept in without you noticing as well as prepare yourself for what's to come. Criticism is directly proportional to growth, so never fear what they are going to say rather on how you can integrate it in a positive manner. The more number of people who review your project, the more clarity you will get on the reality of the work.
3. DEALING WITH BRIEF CREATIVE BLOCK
Supposing you have completed 50% of your project and suddenly you have to start from scratch, you definitely cannot come up with something quickly. It is natural to face a temporary creative block due to the frustration and time constraints. Now dealing with creative blocks is a different ball game altogether but to put it precisely, the only solution would be to take some time off. It might be tricky especially with some big presentation looming ahead, but, taking even two days off completely away from the project can give you much needed respite and clarity. Looking at things from afar might even give you a new perspective to the problem that you are dealing with.
Keep in mind that this is a hiatus and be careful to not stray too much into your comfort one as you tend to get lazy and end up procrastinating. Creativity comes different to each, and you know best how to kick start your brain.
4. DON'T BE RIGID
Design is fluidic. There is no right or wrong way to do design, so don't force yourself to stick to one particular methodology or standard, rather explore different possibilities and be open to new ideas. Being rigid right at the beginning could make you fixate on a certain element without even considering other factors. When you start something new, yes you might be dealing with many changes all at ones but clarity is born out of chaos, so be brave and experiment and gladly take in suggestions as they come.
5. STAND YOUR GROUND
Always remember that your design is yours and yours only. Any change or iteration that you make must be a decision made by you in order to improve the project context or concept. So defend and exploit your work to its maximum before making a change, only then will you understand the need of all the elements. When you do realize that there is a better way to utilize an element, then make an iteration.
Giving up on an element without fully knowing its use and extent of impact would make a waste. So stand your ground and defend what you do until you get something better to replace it. This need not only be with the context of two people, you can question your own progress and think about how you would defend it, if it is easy then you are making a mistake, if it is hard then you are truly making progress!
What all this basically means is that don't fear reviews rather embrace them, sometimes even with a pinch of salt. Keep your focus on the goal at hand and you will eventually handle criticisms like a pro! If you have any interesting jury experiences leave them below!
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