A case of bad news, good news.
Bad news: We've had a few challenges this semester. A number of projects didn't come off as smoothly as I'd like. Of course, I'm never completely happy.
Good news: Nothing catastrophic. And there were a lot of lessons learned that will make me a better designer.
It brings to mind a book I read several years ago, Why Buildings Fall Down, by structural engineers Matthys Levy and Mario Salvadori. While the subject of the book is architecture, engineering and disaster ... the lessons really can be applied to almost anything. The authors touch on the fatal collapse of a hotel catwalk in Kansas City (illustrated very clearly at the blog After Corbu) ... a reminder that seemingly small differences can be essential. Written pre-911, the concept of redundancy is brought home in the example of an aircraft that hits a skyscraper without toppling it. The book is accessible without being condescending, and the lessons can an easily extend from engineering structures to editing and design work flows.
Bad news: We've had a few challenges this semester. A number of projects didn't come off as smoothly as I'd like. Of course, I'm never completely happy.
Good news: Nothing catastrophic. And there were a lot of lessons learned that will make me a better designer.
It brings to mind a book I read several years ago, Why Buildings Fall Down, by structural engineers Matthys Levy and Mario Salvadori. While the subject of the book is architecture, engineering and disaster ... the lessons really can be applied to almost anything. The authors touch on the fatal collapse of a hotel catwalk in Kansas City (illustrated very clearly at the blog After Corbu) ... a reminder that seemingly small differences can be essential. Written pre-911, the concept of redundancy is brought home in the example of an aircraft that hits a skyscraper without toppling it. The book is accessible without being condescending, and the lessons can an easily extend from engineering structures to editing and design work flows.
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