Typically displayed at events leading up to ground breaking of a new project, there is a “conceptual drawing” of what the finished product is to look like. Who creates these concpetual drawings? Architects? Artists? If artists, does this field have a name? Does it fall under graphic arts, or what?
Thanks
Renderings of this type are usually done by someone who specializes in architectural art.
On a smaller scale if the architect is artistic he can, and often does, do them himself.
Some architects at work employ graphic artists with little to no architecture or engineering training to make batches of conceptual drawings, then they either modify or weed out the ones which are clearly impossible/unsafe/just plain nuts. According to the ones I know, good graphic designers have an amazing talent for making good designs just by going with what “looks right”, and often only minor changes are needed.
Having been a graphic artist for most of my life, and having worked for literally hundreds of architects, I can state this is not my experience. Far from it. Of course a reckless architect wouldn’t need me with a GA on salary.
Architects are basically engineers. I took 3 years of architecture an didn’t take one class of ‘Design’. This is not meant to be a slight. The point is that a good architect should be able to engineer almost any design. A conceptual drawing (by a seasoned architectural graphic artist) can not be impossible/unsafe/nuts without the accompanying engineering specs to show that.
The architects I have worked with have their practice and reputation at stake with every project and would never leave a design to a graphic artist. This is not to say Ms. Persson’s experience is any less valid, I would wager however it is far from the norm.
Whether on staff or freelance an architectural artist (renderer) generally has to follow the very strict parameters of the architect’s design.
OK, I guess I have a different understanding of the definition of “conceptual drawing”. The people who do conceptual drawings for us generally are doing them of power plants, transformer substations, wastewater treatment plants, etc. They’re somewhat idealized artwork. They’re not to the level of showing fuzzy snuggleducks leading fuzzier snuggleducklings in the coal pile runoff reservoir, but they often portray the plants in impossibly sylvan settings that make them look like you’d feel good building a home next to one.
There isn’t really much in exact dimensions or engineering in them, they’re drawings to show to prospective clients, or for public relations use by clients who have a project underway. So in the sort of conceptual drawings we do, no one could do any sort of design work based on them, they’re intended to be for show.
I reckon you’re talking about a different sort of conceptual drawing…? Perhaps the OP was as well, in which case, just ignore my posts.
The two architecture firms I have worked with each had an architect who specialized in design. The other architects on staff focused on the engineering and construction aspects, but the design architect oversaw the overall design of the project. One firm had an architect who specialized in detailing; engineering the exact detailed way this beam would be interacting with that column, or whatever, and exactly what the mechanism of the connection might be, for example. Or exactly how this lighting fixture would be attached at this particual spot.
Both firms worked very collaboratively, so eveyrone had input into the design. But the main “vision” was sheperded through by one architect. I worked as a graphic designer and helped with some of the drawings, but they were always dictated by the design architect. Even I had substantial input into some of the architecture; design elements that occurred to me in the process of rendering the drawings. But that was not my purpose; just, they liked my ideas and used them.
I’m sure it’s the same field. I’m guessing those power plants are designed by an architect.
When I get a project it’s scope is decided by it’s ultimate purpose. Usually the architects want an accurate portrayal not wanting any liability issues. Yes, there are way to measure a perspective drawing and yes, it is not all that uncommon for someone to get touchy about “promotion” drawings that misrepresent the project. If someone is buying a condo based on them that is understandable. If however a company is building an eyesore but wants to set it in tranquil settings to appease the city council, say, well no harm no foul. FTR, I have done a plant for Monsanto on the TX coast (no sylvan settings however, just flat TX bayous).
I have been asked to do unreasonably accurate renderings and some just want “eye-wash”. It’s all up to the client and the needs of the project. I think the difference is that you work with one set of architects over and over (with the same parameters) and I work for many with many different needs.
There are other fields which employ conceptual drawings, and the term differs from field to field. For movies (CGI and life action) there’s storyboarding, where you attempt to do a “rough sketch” of the camera movement and what’s going on each frame.
Also, character design (movies, games and etc.) usually have such concept art too. They will draw the character in various costumes, poses and with various props. This is usually done in games, comics and movies.
Game design also employs concept art to get ideas and impression over. Those are also a good aid for 3d-rendering.
Software development also has the concept of interface mock-ups, which show where does each interface component goes.
Both actually. In my office it is typically the Architects such as myself–but most of us have graphic backgrounds anyways. But we also have Graphic Artists who do much of this work. Today so much of this work is done on very graphic intensive programs such as SketchUp, Photoshop, InDesign, etc–so a computer based background is helpful.
However an innate sense of design and image is important to be successful in the field. Conceptual drawings are intended to convey the sense of the design, but they are not final designs by any stretch. They are often used to convey the spirit of the design.
As the design goes further along, often additional sketches are made which will be more reflective of the final design.
As pointed out before it is a very collaborative endeavor between several people.