It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no wait… it’s MR. IT to the rescue

26 Jun It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no wait… it’s MR. IT to the rescue

Architecture, like many professions, relies heavily on the computer.  We draw, we photomontage, we build, and we render in the digital rather than in our physical environment (this statement is perhaps a debate for another day… the architect’s hand versus the architect’s mouse…).  However, it is not just the individual computer that controls our work, but rather the illusive, often unidentifiable world of information clouds, servers and ftp sites.  These are the “safeguards” for our intricate designs, project files, client correspondence, and design inspirations. 

What happens when these “safes” fail?  What happens when you cannot access those files to revise, compile, or print?  We, the designer, must try to re-start our computer, then we must try to re-boot the server, then we must admit defeat and call MR. IT (“I pity the fool…”).  

As we wait patiently (ok ok, impatiently) for MR. IT to swoop in to the rescue, we must still be productive… because sitting still for extended periods of time will surely kill us…

Perhaps this is an opportunity, an opportunity for the office to actually complete those pesky tasks that get pushed towards the wayside as we zoom (quite literally) into our computer environment … Let’s organize the materials library; we have all of those new lightblocks samples to put away.  Let’s clean out our ever-growing office inbox; no, I don’t need a livingsocial deal for an interior design consolation.  Let’s organize the work desks with their layers upon layers of trace paper and print-outs stacked in “pretend” organized piles; maybe we can actually get a clear work surface. Let’s restock the snack drawer with peanut butter, pretzels and chocolate; ok, mostly chocolate.  Let’s …

Ok, that’s enough…  Please MR. IT!  Throw us our life raft so that we can get lost in our design universe again…

-hlj