Google Sketch-Up

Oh my goodness! This is such a cool program, but it took me forever to make such a simple room. I built the room one plain at a time and found that it was difficult to be sure everything lined up. You have to use the tricks taught in the tutorials and check to make sure you actually do what you think you are doing. Objects are easier or more difficult to move and size depending on what angle and position you are in. The orbit tool is essential to making sure everything as it appears.

The main focus of this design was to create a floor layout. This a project I would give to my advanced Interior Design students. To make it easier on them, I would create a few empty rooms for them to choose from and then they could find the furniture. In addition to furniture assignments, I could have them mess around with the colors they pick for the room and the materials they choose for the flooring. Each of these projects would lend well to a short write-up explaining why they picked what they did in terms of the elements and principles of design. By the end of the year students would have a really nice portfolio, perhaps of their dream home.

Here are the standards it would fill:

Objective 4: Discuss how interiors are affected by furniture arrangements and traffic patterns.

1.      Using a floor plan and templates, arrange furniture for an apartment or home
2.   .    Discuss the traffic patterns developed by furniture arrangement

Objective 2: Discuss the basic elements and principles of design.

1.      Describe the effect of color on shape, size, feelings, and moods
2.      Identify color preferences and combine color combinations to form color schemes