(Part 3) Best architecture and design books according to redditors

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We found 3,226 Reddit comments discussing the best architecture and design books. We ranked the 1,481 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.

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Subcategories:

Architecture criticism books
Individual architects & firms books
Regional architecture books
Landscape architecture books
Architectural planning books
Architectural presentation books
Building architecture books
Urban & land use planning books
Historic architecture preservation books
Architecture history books
Architecture decoration & ornament books
Interior design books
Sustainability & green design books
Security design books
Vernacular architecture books

Top Reddit comments about Architecture:

u/zilong · 49 pointsr/AskHistorians

The History of Hell, by Alice Turner, was a great read for me. However, it goes into interpretations and evolution of our perceptions of Hell from every religion, not just the Abrahamic religions.

u/jbabrams2 · 37 pointsr/UXDesign

Sure!

​

I think two classic books to start with is

  1. Design of Everyday Things (https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00E257T6C/) and
  2. Don't Make Me Think (https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability-ebook/dp/B00HJUBRPG).

    ​

    Then I would move onto IDEO's Creative Confidence (https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Confidence-Unleashing-Potential-Within-ebook/dp/B00CGI3DWQ), which documents tons of different UX methods. Also, I haven't read it, but I've heard that Lean UX is a great book (https://www.amazon.com/Lean-UX-Designing-Great-Products-ebook/dp/B01LYGQ6CH).

    ​

    Oh and to learn HTML, CSS, and JS (if you don't know them already), these are AMAZING reads: https://www.amazon.com/Web-Design-HTML-JavaScript-jQuery/dp/1118907442/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1QXNLBZ2V6GL8&keywords=learn+html+css+javascript&qid=1558328362&s=gateway&sprefix=learn+html+css+ja%2Caps%2C-1&sr=8-3

    ​

    With that said, I know books are a big commitment so here's a random assortment of UX articles I've bookmarked over the years to get you started (some may be a little old but should still hold up from a process standpoint):

  3. https://uxplanet.org/user-experience-design-process-d91df1a45916
  4. https://uxplanet.org/ux-is-process-actionable-user-insight-9c17107887bd
  5. https://uxplanet.org/ux-is-process-designing-from-a-creative-brief-62f8588cb6f2
  6. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/task-analysis-a-ux-designer-s-best-friend
  7. https://uxmastery.com/how-to-write-screeners-for-better-ux-research-results/
  8. https://library.gv.com/get-better-data-from-user-studies-16-interviewing-tips-328d305c3e37?gi=82762a521a6
  9. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/diary-studies/
  10. https://uxdesign.cc/6-storytelling-principles-to-improve-your-ux-737f0fc34261
  11. https://www.usertesting.com/blog/storytelling-in-ux/
  12. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/interviewing-users/
  13. https://medium.com/user-research/never-ask-what-they-want-3-better-questions-to-ask-in-user-interviews-aeddd2a2101e
  14. https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/better-user-experience-using-storytelling-part-one/
  15. https://www.bitovi.com/blog/10-best-practices-usability-testing-within-agile-teams
  16. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/microsoft-desirability-toolkit/
  17. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/desirability-reaction-words/
  18. https://lean-product-design.18f.gov/3-identify-assumptions/
  19. https://lean-product-design.18f.gov/index.html
  20. https://www.justinmind.com/blog/interaction-design-frameworks-do-you-need-one/
  21. https://medium.com/ruxers/building-block-design-a-modular-design-strategy-for-uxers-927f63eec90c

    ​

    There's a lot more where that came from, so let me know if you get through that and are craving more material.

    ​

    Here are a couple videos as well:

  22. https://vimeo.com/7099570?utm_source=gdev-yt&utm_medium=video&utm_term=&utm_content=conductingresearch&utm_campaign=firstthingsfirst
  23. This is a youtuber I follow who can teach you everything you need to know to get started in the design space (though she heavily focuses on digital design): https://www.youtube.com/user/charlimarieTV

    ​

    Finally, here's a very very short article I wrote myself that provides a quick intro into human centered design: http://www.jdktech.com/human-centered-design/

    ​

    As you dive into this, note that user interface design and user experience design are different things--although they overlap and rely on each other in various ways. You can be a user interface designer (in which case I would recommend different reads), a user experience designer, or both. I'm a full stack designer, which means I specialize in all sides of the product life cycle, including research, validation, design, product management and development.

    ​

    Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
u/BigBankHank · 34 pointsr/DIY

Correct.

For those with any interest in getting architectural details right when you're DIY'ing, I cannot recommend this book enough. I bought 10 years ago and it's hands down my favorite/ most recommended reference ever.

Source:
I'm a contractor, the product of an interior designer mom and a lumber/building supplies wholesaler dad. Grew up with Arch Digest, Fine Homebuilding, JLC, and a million other design & home improvement publications littering the house.

u/Rage_Blackout · 34 pointsr/funny

I'm not a Christian but I used to be and I still like to read Christian/Jewish history, I'm not sure why. Here's some interesting stuff regarding Christian eschatology.

Judaism had very little to say about any afterlife before the influence of the Greeks. Judaism was a religion for the here-and-now. It helped people deal with the vicissitudes of life in a harsh world. Under the Hasmonian Kings, following Alexander's conquering of the Babylonians that allowed Jews to return to their homeland, Greek ideas influenced Judaism. Prior to that, it was only really good people (like Elijah) who ascended to Heaven and really bad people (like the rich man who wouldn't let the beggar eat scraps from his table) that went to the lake of fire. Also, there was nothing to indicate that it was eternal. Everybody else remained dead until the Messiah would come and bring the Kingdom of God to the Earth. Source

Hell plays a much more central role in Christianity, obviously, since by that time it had been well established. But even in Christianity, Hell didn't always play the role it does today. Part of the reason that Hell became so big in Christianity is that it played well with poor people. Poor communities did not always have access to ordained priests (in early to mid second millennium). So local holy men, for lack of a better phrase, would adopt the role. They relied, however, on their charisma and ability to draw a crowd. Instead of a usual sermon, there were often "morality plays," which are just what you might imagine: a play with a Christian moral. Well the ones about Satan and Hell were a massive draw. Costumes for the Devil were often very scary (employing bear skins, horns, etc). It was basically an early horror film. Some of these would travel as well. The result was that fire and brimstone preaching got an early and strong foothold in the popular imagination, particularly among that of poor people. Source

u/MrAristo · 26 pointsr/realsocialengineering

Wow, 24 hours and no replies?!

Fine, you know what? FUCK IT!

Alright, first off - While you can concentrate on physical, understanding the basics of the digital side of things will make you more valuable, and arguably more effective. I'll take this opportunity to point you at Metasploit and tell you to atleast spend an hour or so each week working to understand it. I'm not saying you have to know it backwards or inside-out, just get a basic understanding.

But you said you want to go down the physical path, so fuck all that bullshit I said before, ignore it if you want, I don't care. It's just a suggestion.

Do you pick locks? Why not? Come on over to /r/Lockpicking and read the stickied post at the top. Buy a lockpick set. You're just starting so you can go a little crazy, or be conservative. Get some locks (Don't pick locks you rely on!) at a store, and learn the basics of how to pick.

Your fingers will get sore. Time to put down the picks and start reading:

u/Bajakar · 21 pointsr/askscience

There is a book called One Good Turn, about the invention and development of screws, screwdrivers and their various types. It's only sort and is quite an interesting read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Good-Turn-Natural-Screwdriver/dp/0684867303

u/mnewberg · 17 pointsr/minimalism

If you want to dive in deeper in to correct housing elements I would suggest finding a copy of Get Your House Right. Once you read that book you realize how poorly some houses are designed, and how easy it would be to fix.

https://www.amazon.com/Get-Your-House-Right-Architectural/dp/1402791038

Much of the stuff the book highlights is visually wrong, but it goes into detail why it is wrong, and how to correct.

u/flexosgoatee · 15 pointsr/washingtondc

http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Society-Subway-Washington/dp/080188246X is the book most often mentioned.

Edit: fixed link

u/cinemabaroque · 15 pointsr/urbanplanning

Jarret Walker is awesome, he has an excellent semi-lay introduction to transit theory called Human Transit that I highly recommend.

u/rarely_beagle · 14 pointsr/mealtimevideos

I love reading and hearing about model cities. Here's some other media if you like this sort of stuff.

[Book]

One of the most engrossing biographies I've ever read, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York is the story of a power hungry paperclip maximizer but instead of prioritizing paperclips over everything, Moses prioritizes wildly expensive highways. His fall, around the late 60s, lead to renewed interest in public transit and a counter-revolution articulated in Jane Jacobs' The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

Seeing Like a State A condemnation on the central planners infatuation with the top-down and observable over the bottom-up and functional.

[Article]

Reports of the death of China's vacant cities may be [greatly exaggerated.](
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-16/china-s-manhattan-sheds-ghost-town-image-as-towers-begin-to-fill)

Seeing Like A State: Book Review A fun review of the book mentioned above.

[Podcast]

Every city planner has a plan until they get doused with a squatter's bucket of piss.

For those further interested in charter cities, see recently-ousted world bank chief economist Paul Romer's conversation on charter cities.

On Usonia, Flank Lloyd Wright's stab at an affordable model US town.

u/armarshall1 · 14 pointsr/washingtondc

I spent my senior year of high school studying gentrification and demographic patterns in the District for my senior thesis and used these three sources extensively, they're superb books that are great reads for anyone even remotely interested in the District. They're pretty pricey to buy, but DCPL has each book, and the last one is available for Kindle.

City of Magnificent Intentions is an amazing book. It's the DCPS textbook for D.C. History (mandatory to graduate high school) and is filled with great facts, photos and drawings. Although it's formatted like a textbook, it is still a fantastic history of the city. It does a great job addressing planning and general demographics. It's probably one of the best books on D.C.

Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C. is a fascinating read on the politics and racial history of the District, and it's co-authored by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood! It has a great section on the riots, how they affected the District, and the rise (and I believe also the fall) of Marion Barry.

The Great Society Subway is an incredibly detailed history of Metro, but might also interest you based on the way it details the impact it made on various sections of the city and suburbs (For instance, it goes in depth about how the green line was the last line built and how that impacted the neighborhoods it passed through, often the poorest in the city).

u/poirotoro · 11 pointsr/RoomPorn

Also, the majority of America (and the world) is untrained in the rules of classical architecture. Including me! But I ended up working in historic preservation/documentation, so that's given me enough on-the-job experience to understand what is "correct" and what isn't.

One of my favorite books in this vein is Get Your House Right by Marianne Cusato. She went through (what I understand to be) the near-fanatically Classicist architecture program at Notre Dame, and it really shows. It has some spot-on illustrations, if a bit rigid in philosophy.

u/FadeIntoReal · 11 pointsr/audioengineering

Frequency dependent treatments generally are for situations where a particular room mode is very problematic. Broadband absorbers are most often the best price/performance ratio by far.

As for references, it’s true that few other books cover the topics involved well, and generally they’re very expensive. This work by Cox and D’Antonio is one of the best, albeit not inexpensive. Also, the work of Helmut Fuchs has fundamentally changed room acoustics almost from the ground up. I still hear consultants claim that the 1/4 wave rule is immutable while Fuch destroyed that quite a few years back. His VPN devices are amazing.

u/InspiredRichard · 11 pointsr/graphic_design

The most useful thing I learned about colour was written in "The Elements of Color" by Johannes Itten (page 45).

In the book he wrote that a study was conducted to try to work out whether colour has any physical effect on a person.

It was found that in a room painted entirely blue-green, the occupants felt that 59 degrees F was cold, and in a room that was painted entirely red-orange, they did not feel the cold until 52-54 degrees F.

This means that blue-green slows down the circulation, and red-orange speeds it up.

As a designer we can use these physical effects to our benefit - use red-orange (or colours in that range) if you want to stimulate your user, and blue-green (or colours in their range) if you want to relax them.

Read all of these culture based meanings with a pinch of salt, but go look at the science of it and use it to your advantage.

u/chengjih · 11 pointsr/AskNYC

Look at the American Institute of Architecture Guide to New York City. That should cover, actually, all of them, except for anything built in the past few years.

u/cirrus42 · 10 pointsr/transit
  1. To learn about what US transit systems look like on the ground today, read Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit by Christof Spieler.

  2. To learn about how bus planning works and what makes good bus planning, read Human Transit by Jarrett Walker.
u/turbo · 9 pointsr/Design

Highly recommend Geometry of Design by Kimberly Elam.

u/DrHeinzGruber · 9 pointsr/Atlanta

No problem at all. If you want a much better breakdown of it I HIGHLY suggest: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Life-Great-American-Cities/dp/0679644334/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501702472&sr=8-1&keywords=jane+jacobs+the+death+and+life+of+great+american+cities

A remarkable read that will never ever be outdated... it's pretty much the bible for us City Planners/Transportation Planners

u/vitingo · 8 pointsr/transit

If you have the technical skills, make maps. I'm a programmer, so I made a transit app for my local system. Get in touch with other transit advocates in your area. Perhaps you can agree on some low hanging fixes and lobby for them. Deepen your understanding of the problem, I suggest Human Transit and The High Cost of Free Parking

u/lemskroob · 8 pointsr/nyc
u/stupidgit · 8 pointsr/washingtondc

If you wanna know why it happened the way it happened, I highly recommend reading The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro.

u/baerStil · 8 pointsr/architecture

If you're going all out nothing will be as useful as graphic standards. http://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Graphic-Standards-11th-Edition/dp/0471700916

u/Rabirius · 7 pointsr/architecture

For identifying the elements and composing with them:

Classical Architecture by Robert Adam is really great.

Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid by Marianne Cusato is also very useful.

Regarding the second point, it comes from a reading of Vitruvius and his principle of decorum. For a good overview, I recommend Architecture, Liberty and Civic Order by Carroll William Westfall.

u/datagram_locks · 6 pointsr/lockpicking

There's some older stuff, too!

Shoes and I gave a talk in 2010 that focused specifically on ways to attacks locks just with key blanks and non-working keys. The first 20 minutes focuses on features of keys, photography, molding, casting, and other related topics.

Deviant's second book Keys to the Kingdom (2012) focused on procedures for many key/blank-based attacks, as well.

u/ATL_PLA · 6 pointsr/LandscapeArchitecture

My reference at the time

Francis D.K. Ching's books are another reference, though more architecturally inclined.

u/Parivill501 · 6 pointsr/Christianity

The early church didn't "make up" the idea of hell, it was already present in Judaism and the nascent Christian sect. What they did was define it more narrowly under Augustine. Look into reading The History of Hell by Alice Turner.

u/Wayne_Enterprises_ · 6 pointsr/userexperience

This should get you started :)

Books:

u/bejouled · 5 pointsr/Themepark

I miss the old Test Track too! I'm reading a book about Theme Park design and every so often it'll say "The original Test Track did such-and-such..." to show how a design principle was used well on the original.... it has never once used the new Test Track in that way.

Edit: Just saw your flair! I grew up on LI and went to Adventureland all the time!

u/PolemicFox · 5 pointsr/urbanplanning

> The biggest difference is that I would be prouder of an architectural degree since it's harder to acquire and is viewed as more ambitious.

Put that thought aside for a while and try to figure out what type of career you're are interested in. I'm mainly thinking job functions and project types here. Then trace back from that to figure out which of the two are better suited for bringing you on that path (knowing that they probably both can if you change your mind later). Is it the specific site layout or the strategic planning vision that has your main interest?

Also, try to figure out what your primary interest in planning is. Real estate? Public spaces? Transportation? Fostering livable cities through mobility planning, promoting bicycling, converting surface parking into greenspaces or squares, etc. is a rising agenda in many cities for example. If that has your interest you can mold either of the two in a way that takes you in that direction (and reading Cities for People will be a good place to start).

In my experience people don't care too much about your educational background once you've landed your first job. From there on its all about what you've worked with.

edit: words and stuff

u/loverollercoaster · 5 pointsr/washingtondc

If you're interested, there's a great history of the metro that goes into detail about how much those design decisions were originally fought over.

Great Society Subway

u/RedLauren · 5 pointsr/Permaculture

Earthbag Building and The Hand-Sculpted House are both on my shelf. They contain enough information to get you started.

u/SmallTrick · 5 pointsr/SeattleWA

Many cities in this area do have the core of walkable infrastructure in them and just require a bit of change to make them better. There is an entire sub-genre of urban development books related to the very concept of turning sprawl into dense walkable neighborhoods (e.g. Sprawl Repair Manual, Retrofitting Suburbia, Walkable City).

Puget Sound Regional Council takes these kinds of issues into consideration with regional planning. City planners also take these kinds of things into consideration. There is very high interest in building more urban walkable neighborhoods even in suburbs. The problem is it takes time and money for cities to implement these rules, and construction projects to correct deficiencies, and the building stock to turn over.

u/Piiras · 5 pointsr/Suomi

Tanskalainen arkkitehti Jan Gehl on kirjoittanut kirjoja "ihmismittakaavasta" jonka mukaan kaupungit jotka suunnitellaan ihmisen perspektiivin mukaan ovat helpommin lähestyttäviä eikä ihminen tunne itseään liian pieneksi rakennusten juurella.

http://architectureau.com/articles/cities-for-people/

https://www.amazon.com/Cities-People-Jan-Gehl/dp/159726573X

Tässä kanssa hyvää yhteenvetoa Gehlin toisesta kirjasta:

http://bloomingrock.com/2014/06/19/how-the-built-environment-can-help-build-or-destroy-social-capital/

"One of the problems with high-rises is that people on the upper floors won’t spontaneously go outside as much, just because going outside is not as easy as stepping out the front door. "

On muuten totta tuo, huomasin tuon asuessani San Franciscossa 28. kerroksessa, matka kadulle olohuoneen sohvalta kestää yllättävän pitkään jolloin on mukavampi vaikka tilata kotiin ruokaa kuin lähteä ulos. Omasta laiskuudesta varmasti kyse mutta huomaan Helsingissä kahlaavani katuja paljon enemmän kuin SF:ssä.

Koitin google scholarista hakea jotain tiedettä taustalle mutta huomasin että alkoi työpäivä humahtaa taas uuden kiinnostuksenaiheen tutkimiseen :D

u/pierretong · 5 pointsr/raleigh

First of all - if Durham doesn't pay for the Durham County part, the project is dead. The plan says that Garner to RTP is not feasible and the project would have to go from Garner to Durham so that it can connect all the urban centers in the area. You don't think there is enough density in downtown Raleigh, downtown Durham to support the plan? Don't count out rail as well for driving dense developments near stations as well since it'll be a convenience to live near the stations. As for the airport, well they're using existing track and the closest it gets to the airport is Morrisville so there will be shuttles from there to the airport. We're talking about a low budget rail option here and a spur to the airport would be expensive (not to mention the airport has been resistant to expanded public transportation options due to parking revenues)

I think that some off-road aspect of a transit plan is necessary - yes, it is expensive but it is far less expensive than building a light rail option from scratch like Durham/Chapel Hill. If traffic is the driving point to build out our transit system, why force all the options to use the roads that are going to be congested even further in a few years? That just doesn't make sense to me.

The consultant who worked on the plan - Jarrett Walker - is one of the leaders when it comes to developing transit systems and has worked on transit plans around the world in different countries so I trust that they know what they're doing (http://jarrettwalker.com/places/). If you're interested in reading about transit, he wrote a good book about different theories, decisions and strategies that transit planners deal with: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597269727/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

u/Totorodeo · 5 pointsr/InteriorDesign

There’s some decent sketchy / perspective books out there and some video and whatnot that have links on piniterest. Search and see what appeals to you and your needs.
I like this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Viz-Method-Visualization-Ideas/dp/159863268X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rapid+drawing&qid=1556261581&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Ultimately tho, I also prefer psd comps, so much more clear and I can use actual images of pieces I am buying. Learn how to do both design comps AND how to put a look together visual on a design board and you’ll be okay.

u/iamktothed · 4 pointsr/Design

Interaction Design

u/chuckfrank · 4 pointsr/architecture

Theory will fail you. Trust me. & Francis Ching is an illustrator. He is not a builder.

Here's what I did. I collected the Graphic Standards. There are 11 editions in all.

http://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Graphic-Standards-11th-Edition/dp/0471700916

And then I carefully traced the changes in construction from one edition to the next on details that I thought were salient to my project. And for each project, regardless of whether a teacher wanted it or not, I put up a page of details. Because it is in the details that the construction reveals itself.

And after that you can start to go to the trades. Got precast in your project - go the the precast manufacturer association and look for details that would describe your solution.

Learn the details.

Your own theory will follow as a framework for your knowledge and for your values. In school, they'll teach it to you backwards. They'll take the theories of others who have gone through the process and give it to you fully baked, and without anything else, you'll end up knowing nothing.

Trust the Graphic Standards, even those from 1932. They have a ton to teach you.

u/MaxisGuillaume · 4 pointsr/SimCity

Very cool. I've been meaning to make cities using the layouts shown in the Sprawl Repair Manual (http://www.sprawlrepair.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/Sprawl-Repair-Manual-Galina-Tachieva/dp/1597267325) -- you should check it out when you get a chance.

u/Yearsnowlost · 4 pointsr/nyc

To be a guide, you have to take and pass the NYC sightseeing exam, which consists of 150 multiple choice questions, a handful of which are pictures. The passing score is 97; distinguished guides get a score of 120 or above. Tell your gf to get the AIA Guide to NYC and the Blue Guide New York, as the test contains questions about material in these books. I am actually working on writing a guide to the exam, as before I took it, I had compiled a list of questions I thought would be on the exam, and most of them indeed were. If your gf has any other questions, please feel free to PM me and ask away!

u/mthmchris · 4 pointsr/urbanplanning

You are hardly the first person to come up with this idea. Start reading here.

u/_Gizmo_ · 4 pointsr/WaltDisneyWorld

Three additional suggestions:

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic (From the Magic Kingdom) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1484722299/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RSqEAbE1465J3

Designing Disney's Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance https://www.amazon.com/dp/2080136399/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sTqEAb0JKXXJN

Theme Park Design & The Art of Themed Entertainment https://www.amazon.com/dp/0993578918/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MVqEAbQ1623ZW

The last one is laid out like a textbook (not a picture book) but it has a lot of good information.

u/norouterospf200 · 4 pointsr/audioengineering

a reflection phase grating is a type of diffraction grating or geometric device that will spatially (in space, across a given hemisphere) and temporally (delayed in/over a period of time) disperse sound.

while a flat, planar surface (whose size is large with respect to wavelength) will reflect an incident pressure/sound wave geometrically (angle-of-incidence = angle-of-reflection), a diffusor's intent is to equally disperse energy across a plane regardless of the angle of incidence.

this is accomplished via a constructed geometric device that consists of a series of wells of same width but varying depths. due to the speed of sound being constant, some energy will be reflected and emerge out of the shorter wells prior to that of the longer (deeper) wells. this path length differences results in phase changes for a given frequency (wavelength). as a result of huygens principle and diffraction, an interference pattern emerges when the phase-shifted signals from all of the wells are superposed (combined).

the claim to fame of RPG's was via that of Dr Manfred Schroeder who posed quadratic residue number theory (n^2 mod P) to dictate the depth sequence of the wells - which subequently yield equal energy diffraction lobes. that is, the dispersion/scattering of the reflections from the diffuser would be equal in gain at the diffusion frequency and multiples there-of.

quadratic residue diffusers (QRDs) are one form of RPGs - but do have their own limitations and inherent "distortion" and frequencies that are not correctly "diffused" (thus, "flat plate"). primitive root number theory (PRDs) is another psuedo-random number sequence used to construct RPGs that offer slightly different polar response (more flat power response vs individual diffraction lobes).

you can explore superposition/summation of multiple-spaced signals (which yield polar lobes and nulls) via a 2d wavetank model: http://www.falstad.com/ripple/

a good friend took the time to construct QRDs in the wavetank to illustrate the development of the equal-energy diffraction lobes via that of a 3x N7 QRD array: https://vimeo.com/7507997

notice too how there is less scattering/diffusion at the lower frequencies (longer wavelengths), where the depth of the well is not deep enough to cause significant phase shift and thus "steering" of energy - while the higher frequency waves (shorter wavelengths) form a distinct interference pattern with the "lobes" being dispersed across the given plane/hemisphere.

another wavetank example he constructed was a QRD vs a flat wall (planar surface): https://vimeo.com/6461707

you can clearly see the flat wall yields a reflection in the "geometric/optical" direction - much like that of a pool/billiards ball bouncing around the table. this is the "specular" nature of indirect energy where wavelength is small with respect to boundary. now compare to the QRD where regardless of angle of incidence, energy is dispersed in all directions on that plane.

QRDude is a software based GUI QRD calculator: http://www.subwoofer-builder.com/qrdude.htm

the author also formed a concise tech guide that should be easily digestible for the novice: http://www.subwoofer-builder.com/qrd.htm

much of the information was taken from the authoritative source on the subject: Acoustic Absorbers & Diffusers (Peter D'Antonio of RPG Inc, and Trevor Cox): https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Absorbers-Diffusers-Theory-Application/dp/0415471745/

pdf can be found here for you to explore: https://www.sendspace.com/file/pqgxx8

there is also a nicely written presentation by D'Antonio regarding the subject at conception and his collaboration with Schroeder: https://www.sendspace.com/file/acgjeh

a higher order "N" panel (prime number root) will yield more varied depths of wells, thus more phase shifts, thus more "complex" diffused returns. a deeper diffuser will yield a max depth = 180* phase shift for a lower frequency (longer wavelength), lowering the effective diffusive frequency bandwidth. nested or "diffractal" diffusers can be constructed to increase the overall bandwidth of the array. there are numerous design flaws of QRDs and subsequent mitigations that can be used to optimally design a device for a given application.

it helps best if you think of a 1D or 2D reflection phase grating as a phased array just like a loudspeaker/PA line array (or AESA/PESA radar array). in the case of the line array, the individual drivers all produce the same signal, but are delayed from each other physically (ie, curved or "J" array) and/or electrically (phase delay from the controller), which results in constructive interference to "beam steer" the signal (ie, towards the rear of the crowed), and destructive interference to that where sound is not wanted to radiate.

a good illustration of beam steering via that of phase shifts can be found here: http://www.radartutorial.eu/06.antennas/pic/if3.big.gif

plenty of videos available on youtube that illustrate huygen's principle - which should shore up a lot of the basics.

a RPG converts a single "sparse" reflection into many "signals" (reflections) who have a phase shift dictated by the depths of the wells - and subsequently "beam steer" in multiple directions of equal energy to "diffuse" or scatter the sound. it should help to imagine a small loudspeaker/driver at the bottom of each well, all of which radiate the same signal, but due to the varying depths, some wells emit out away from the diffuser before others. when all of these signals from the individual wells are layered on top of each other, constructive interference form the diffraction lobes to manifest the spatial dispersion.

bit brief and overly high-level but i hope that helps. their design, optimization, application, and the "why" they are needed are further topics of discussion.

u/WhyHelloOfficer · 4 pointsr/LandscapeArchitecture

It looks like this picture has made its rounds again. I saw it in /r/interestingasfuck and /r/marijuanaenthusiasts -- and the first thing I always think when it comes up is that it reminds me of a plan graphic tree.

It always reminds me of the Grant Reid Landscape Graphics book.

u/asymmetric_orbit · 4 pointsr/LandscapeArchitecture

Basically anything Copic for pens and color markers, Micron has great pens too. There's the ubiquitous Pentel sign pen, as well as Sharpies in a variety of point sizes. Staedtler makes great circle templates and pencil sets and you might want to consider some books such as the venerable Landscape Graphics and Drawing and Designing with Confidence. Oh, and tracing paper, lots of it.

u/Orthodox_Mason · 3 pointsr/architecture

I am going to recommend a couple of books that should provide insight into the language that buildings speak. These books get at the established rules of building design in a practical way. Certainly, the conversation of architecture is an immense and ongoing conversation, but I think these books serve as a good introductory.

The Old Way of Seeing

Get Your House Right

u/TallForAStormtrooper · 3 pointsr/urbanplanning

If you haven't read it already, Jarrett Walker's book Human Transit is a must to understand the how and why of transit.
https://www.amazon.com/Human-Transit-Clearer-Thinking-Communities/dp/1597269727/

It sounds like you're wanting a network which is ridership-driven rather than coverage-driven (this is explained in the book, but it's what it sounds like. Many small city networks aim to serve people who cannot drive with winding, inefficient routes which serve a large area. Other cities try to carry the most people with efficient routes and either miss some people who need transit or serve them with paratransit instead).

From a quick perusal of the WRTA website, it looks like most routes are reasonably direct and run every 30-60 minutes. This sounds to me like a network that is trying to be ridership-driven, albeit with limited resources. More frequency on busy routes would spur a lot of ridership by making the bus a viable option for casual trip that require no planning ahead -- just show up and wait for the next bus which runs every 10-15 minutes.

I didn't see a ridership report by line; that would be needed for any scheming of how to redesign the network or add frequency.

u/ieatfishes · 3 pointsr/IndustrialDesign

A good book to look into would be Rapid Viz. While having pretty sketches can be advantageous, the real point of sketches is to convey information and you don't need to be an artist to communicate effectively.

u/CaptainJeff · 3 pointsr/pics

It is.

If you're interested in the design of the DC Metro system I strongly recommend the only book on the subject, The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro. This book is fascinating and offers really good history and explanation of why things on DC Metro are as they are, including why there is carpet in the cars, why you don't see bathrooms in the stations (they are there!), and more.

Excellent read!

u/[deleted] · 3 pointsr/architecture

It is super pricey and maybe a cliche answer to the question, because you are almost certainly aware of it, but the AIA's Architectural Graphics Standards is really an amazing document for getting a handle on industry standards.

My RS Means subscription is all digital now, so I don't know how the paper copies work anymore, but this is a really useful tool for not only understanding the cost of elements and how it bears on decision making, but also just seeing what building types and details are common. Again, this is sort of expensive.

In terms of codes, I use ASHRAE 90.1 a lot. The ICC codes are available. They form the underlying basis of a lot of municipal code now.

Don't be afraid to rely on industry specific sources, either. A lot of times the Precast Concrete Institute or whomever will publish standard details, span tables, specs, etc. for free, in hopes that architects will choose their system.

I don't know if any of that is helpful or not. Good luck!

u/tanmaurk · 3 pointsr/urbanplanning
u/PlanningParty · 3 pointsr/urbanplanning

Sprawl Repair Manual by Galina Tachieva should be added to the top list. It gives some great examples of how to use planning to update poorly planned areas.

u/littleallred008 · 3 pointsr/Imagineering

Yeah Joe really isn't much for discussing how to become an Imagineer. Being a Senior in highschool, you've got plenty of time. The best advice an Imagineer ever gave me was to not make Imagineering the only step on the ladder, and to acknowledge that there are many steps to becoming one. They told me to hone in on what makes me unique as an artist, and work on crafting that part of me. So I'd recommend to you to become as diversified of a writer as possible. Write plays, books, comics, shows, parades, attractions, etc.

Also, about discussing it with current Imagineers, I've found that many love to help others out. The field of art and entertainment isn't as competitive as everyone makes it sound. We all want to help each other make art happen. I'd suggest creating a solid LinkedIn profile (if you haven't already) and adding a lot of information about you there, your career goals, etc. Then search something along the lines of "Imagineering Show Writers" or "Imagineering Producers" or something of the sorts. Then reach out to them and try to connect through LinkedIn messages. That's where I've had the best success. You'll probably need to invest in the premium LinkedIn credits that let you message people, but it is very worth it.

I also have some resources I'd love to pass on to you!

Two Books:

One Little Spark!: Mickey's Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering - Written by the late Marty Sklar, this has two wonderful sections. Mickey's Ten Commandments is all about what you need to keep in mind when writing and designing for a themed offering, and the latter section of the book is advice from Imagineers of how to become one. It's a fantastic read.

Theme Park Design: & the Art of Themed Entertainment - This is basically an entire encyclopedia about creating Themed Entertainment, and it contains information from hundreds of Imagineers and themed entertainment designers. It's 550 pages, and an incredible resource. The price is up there, but I can't recommend it enough.

Also, the applications for the Professional Internships will be opening up in August, most likely. They remove the applications when they are filled, but I have some saved as PDFs. I've linked them below.

WDI Writers Assistant-Story Development Internship

Live Entertainment - Show Writer Internship

Creative Copywriting Intern, Disney's Yellow Shoes

Keep me updated with how you are doing, and best of luck!

u/reddilada · 3 pointsr/learnprogramming

The Practice of Programming is a good one.

If you want something different try The Design of Everyday Things

u/thedaian · 3 pointsr/gamedev

Look up The Design of Everyday Things and Don't Make Me Think.

The first book is mostly about physical objects, and the second book is mostly about websites, but both cover UX fundamentals, and they're basically the essential UX books. That knowledge can pretty easily be applied to games.

Beyond that, the other important thing is just to run your game through testing sessions. Ideally, get someone who hasn't touched your game before, and watch them play it. For best results, record the entire play session on camera, and in game, and watch what they're doing in real life and in game. Recording all of that can be tough, and possibly expensive if you're paying your testers, but you might be able to find a local gamedev group and bring your game there.

u/FZVQbAlTvQIS · 3 pointsr/ottawa

Absolutely, yes. :)

Have you seen the Sprawl Repair Manual? It's a book that outlines an interesting US-originated approach to fixing some of this mess (and thus seems to be like it would apply better here to our existing land-use than any European guide).

I often wonder (as I sit annoyed at one red light after another on Merivale) what it would take to convert the whole length to a UK-style dual-carriageway with roundabouts at the major intersections and all left-turns removed in between. You want to turn left? Go to the next roundabout, loop around, and come back on the other side of the median. This won't help the walkability much, mind you, only the driveability, but I think that the walkability of Merivale is a completely lost cause anyway. Adding segregated cycle tracks could improve the two-wheeled experience, too. Imagine Merivale without a single light from Baseline to Hunt Club: it could not possibly be worse! :)

Actually, for a local example of getting it right, check out Blvd des Allumettières in Gatineau: a dual-carriageway with roundabouts keeps the through flow-rate high, and that means that the road can be narrower as there's no need to store loads of stationary vehicles at each intersection. This also makes it friendlier to cross as a pedestrian. They've also got a segregated cycle track running parallel but at some distance to the road: nicely done.

u/ningwut5000 · 3 pointsr/HomeImprovement

Not that person but:
get your house right is a pretty good book on architectural details

u/tmbridge · 3 pointsr/Tools

If you're actually interested and not just trying to be funny. One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and Screw is an informative, oddly enthralling read and a relatively quick one, too. I just read it today in a few hours.

u/DrKenshin · 3 pointsr/architecture

As an architecture student who asked himself this same question not so long ago I'd say:

  • Modern Architecture: A Critical History by Kenneth Frampton.
    The most introductory, simple to understand, first book you should pick up when ready to jump into some actual architecture. This is the book that you need to read even before architecture school, for your entrance test and just because.

  • Architecture of the City by Aldo Rossi.
    This one is also an easy read that will make you realise how important architecture is for us as human beings, as a society, as a city, as a community, as people... how architecture is not just a free standing building by some "starchitect" in a magazine but a part of something bigger. Great read and one of my favourites.

  • Towards a new architecture by Le Corbusier.
    Love him or hate him Le Corbusier changed the world and studying and understanding how and why will greatly help you understand architecture today. This book might be a bit philosophical and theoretical but it's written for people to understand, not just architects. A must read I'd say.

  • Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture by Christian Norberg-Schulz.
    I'd say this is a book you should read to complement and expand on Aldo Rossi's. Genius Loci is the spirit of a place, it's character and distinctive self. Great read.

  • Architecture As Space by Bruno Zevi.
    Great book to understand how Architecture are not just façades and photos but designed spaces and experiences and how we experience them with our senses, the way they make us feel. This book will make you look at architecture from a different perspective, and you will since then experience the world differently.

    BONUS:

  • 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick. Simple and to the point, might not seem like much and honestly don't take it too seriously but it's nice to keep around and going through it will remind you of things that sometimes we tend to forget.

    Hope this helps and gets you started on a good path. :) Have a nice day.
u/Gman777 · 3 pointsr/architecture

Dude, you live in NYC? Lucky bastard. Go explore manhattan!

Go here:
http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=center-for-architecture

Buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/AIA-Guide-New-York-City/dp/0195383869

Watch this:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fountainhead-Gary-Cooper/dp/B000HWZ4A2

Note: this movie shows the architect how he often likes to see himself. Not realistic, but reveals what often motivates architects.

u/mrpoopsalot · 3 pointsr/LandscapeArchitecture

I would have loved a set of Chartpak markers with a copy of Plan Graphics when i started. These arent completely necessary and her school will have books and materials they recommend/require of course

A nice powerful laptop is a must, but i imagine you have that planned already. There will be a variety of programs that she can get through her school with a discount. Photoshop and autocad are the basics and there will probably be a 3d program that is popular that she might want to get into.

I really think most of it will be up to her. One thing i wish i had planned for and done was a semester of study abroad or at least the "big trip" that most colleges do towards the end of their schooling. I didnt have the money for it, so saving up now might be a good idea.

The last one i can think of is also up to her, but i HIGHLY recommend it if she wants to be artsy at all. Its not necessary to know how to draw by hand, but if she does she will have a big advantage over most of the class. The lessons at drawabox.com (/r/ArtFundamentals) are free (or paid if you want reviews of your work) and they have made me much better at my job.

u/greenistheneworange · 3 pointsr/booksuggestions

This is a nice, concise book on the subject (as are most the Wooden Books imprint titles).

http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Geometry-Wooden-Books-Miranda/dp/0802713823/

This book is very nice & has clear overlays that show the geometry so you can go see the geometry in the design & then also see the design by itself - at least the 1st edition had that, I can only assume the 2nd edition keeps this feature.

http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Design-Revised-Updated-Briefs/dp/1616890363

u/caroline_ross · 3 pointsr/WeddingPhotography

I find a lot of wedding photography books out right now are already outdated.

Some of the books that HAVE helped me throughout the years are books on websites, business, colour theory and most photography books on posing and lighting, regardless of the year it was printed. Also, creative live is an awesome educational source too!

What I value is books on lighting and posing... I find this information doesn't really go out of style. A lot of people forget about classical posing and just do their thing, which is great for a lot of clients that are comfortable in front of the camera, but sometimes more traditional posing is required. I rented a few older books on posing from the library and was surprised how much I learned from them.

Also, check out your local or provincial business office, I got a bunch of booklets and information on starting a photography business from them.

The following are some I can think of off the top of my head:

Business and legal forms for photographers


Wedding Mind Tricks by Ken Luallen

Colour Theory by Itten

u/MaddingtonBear · 3 pointsr/AskNYC

If it involves New York City and architecture, it's in this book.

u/oGsMustachio · 3 pointsr/neoliberal
u/keenbrowne · 3 pointsr/Seattle

If you haven't already, I recommend reading Jarret Walker's blog and book
http://www.humantransit.org/
http://www.amazon.com/Human-Transit-Clearer-Thinking-Communities/dp/1597269727/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317087860&sr=1-1

Also, a search of http://seattletransitblog.com/ will turn up a lot of discussion on streetcars versus buses versus lightrail versus commuter trains versus traditional subways.

u/soapdealer · 3 pointsr/urbanplanning

Probably the most influential urban planning book ever was written as a response to trends in 1960s development: The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs. Along the same lines, the Pulitizer Prize winning The Power Broker by Robert Caro is the definitive biography of Jacobs-nemesis Robert Moses who was super important in the planning decisions made in New York City in the 50s and 60s.

Witold Rybczynski's Makeshift Metropolis includes a pretty good summary of urban planning throughout the 20th century in America, which is helpful for putting trends from the 1960s into context.

I don't have a specific book to recommend here, but also look into the design of Brasilia, since it was by far the biggest and most complete project designed on the sort of modernist principles that dominated the 50s and 60s urban planning scene. It's obviously not an American city, but many of the planners and architects who worked on it worked on American projects as well, and the ideas that influenced it were very important in American thinking on urban design also.

These are all sort of general interest recommendations, though. Sorry if you were looking for something more technical.

u/Altilana · 3 pointsr/painting

Working cools vs warms is a little complicated. I recommend buying some painting books and color theory books to really know what I'm talking about. Basically decide what is going to be the structure of your painting, value or warm/cool shifts. So lets say you decide value (basically you'll find a lot if values, strong darks and lights). Warm/ cool shifts in this context could mean: most of the shadows will feel cooler than the lights (or vise versa). The way you mix that would be: shadows made of violets, greens, blues + a slight neutralizer (the opposite color) or a shade like black, or grey and the lights with bright versions or the hue shifted to things like red, yellows, oranges. (Know that context determines whether a color feels warm or cool. blue can be warm if surrounded by certain neutrals etc etc) However, instead of painting the shadow of on an arm brown, paint it violet. Warm cool shifts work best when there is little value. So if the shadow is Waaaaay darker than the highlight, don't push the violet too much. But let's say you decided to have little value in a painting and wanted space to be formed through warm/cools then make the highlights from red tints and the shadow from violet with no change or little change in value. You see this type of painting Impressionism to contemporary work and prior to Impressionism most painting is value based (due to pigments and the color theories of the time). Extreme values make an easy read for a work, while warm/cools play tricks on the eye and are visually unstable, which makes a painting visually develop over time (stand in front of some Rothko works and you'll know what I mean). It really depends on what you're going for. Also paint from life. Photos flatten things out tremendously and you'll see a lot more color and dimension from actual observation.

Color theory book I recommend: The Elements of Color:

  1. A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten Based on His Book the Art of Color
    http://amzn.com/0471289299

  2. Interaction of Color: Revised Edition
    http://amzn.com/0300018460

  3. Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition
    http://amzn.com/0300115954

    Painting technique book I also recommend:
    Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications
    http://amzn.com/082309927X

    Sorry I'm on mobile and 3:30am so I am a but too exhausted to make those clickable. I look forward to seeing more of your paintings :)

    A Cezanne portrait where his colors in the face do what I'm talking about (using color to make planar shifts or space) http://www.canvasreplicas.com/images/Paul%20Cezanne%20Self%20Portrait.jpg

    A Degas based on warm cool shifts: http://uploads3.wikipaintings.org/images/edgar-degas/the-pink-dancers-before-the-ballet-1884.jpg
u/PhospheneATX · 2 pointsr/audioengineering

Great that you're putting together ideas for acoustic treatment, as it really does make a huge difference in your listening enviroment.

    1. Roxul is pretty popular and will do well just as long as you have the right amount. (a minimum of 4inches deep is needed for bass frequency reduction.)
      2. Rockwool works well in most cases and when you throw panels up you can usually control a fair amount of the bass. Though some situations require "bass-traps" in wall corners. Usually work pretty well just as the foam, though getting ones made of rockwool is preferable in most cases.
      3. Yes, simply put.

      • Now the difficult part.
        Acoustic treatment varies from room to room, as a common saying in the industry "In the beginning sound was perfect, and then man created rooms". This is because every setup is a little different, and every centimeter makes a whole new world of reverberations possible.
        First I would suggest doing a bit more research on the subject as it is a science all in itself, learning a bit more will definitely help you make the best use of your space.
        From personal experience I've found that a combination of live 'Diffusers' in couple with 'isolation' and 'absorption' creates pleasing results, but that's my room and my purpose as a recording studio.
        Look into some wooden diffusers as they will help balance the high end, isolation keeps the sound in and the cops from being called ;P and absorption pads (rockwool gobos) help take out some of the built-up frequencies.
        Here is a great book on the subject.
        Hope that helps a bit ;D
        Cheers!~
        Check out speaker risers as well!
u/erikb42 · 2 pointsr/web_design

To be good at design in general, there's a few things you need to know.

  1. Basic 2d design and color theory: Elements of Colors + Interaction of Color

  2. Art and Deisgn history: Meggs' History of Graphic Design + Janson's History of Art

  3. Basics in grid systems and typography: Grid Systems

    Basically, there is no shortcut. You need to study the history and understand why things work or don't. A bit of psychology never hurt anyone either, even just a 101 class should be enough to get you started. Lastly, just remember this one thing, it will be the most important part in your career...CONCEPT IS KING. I cannot stress this enough, make sure everything you do has a big idea behind it. Something that lets you organize everything under it. I don't care how much UX/UI thought you have, how many ad units and SEO whatevers you did, without a great idea, its total shit and just fluff.
u/skrepetski · 2 pointsr/washingtondc

The book they reference there is pretty fantastic. Incredibly thorough and comprehensive history of WMATA and Metro, right from the start.

u/polytropon · 2 pointsr/BuyItForLife

I just read this book on [building a cob house] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Hand-Sculpted-House-Practical-Philosophical/dp/1890132349) and am so in love with the idea that it is my next life plan. Looking for the land now...

u/darksim905 · 2 pointsr/lockpicking
u/kassidayo · 2 pointsr/graphic_design

A list of some of my favorites so far..

Interactions of Color by Josef Albers

[The Elements of Typographic Style] (https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Typographic-Style-Version-Anniversary/dp/0881792128/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485894924&sr=1-3&keywords=typography+book) by Robert Bringhurst

[Don't Make Me Think] (https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability-ebook/dp/B00HJUBRPG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485895055&sr=1-1&keywords=dont+make+me+think) by Steve Krug (More of web design, but I loved the book. It can apply to all design.)

Logo Design Love by David Airey

Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

These are just a few that I have really enjoyed.

u/easyspirit · 2 pointsr/architecture

Rapid Viz was really helpful for me. It doesn't take as long as you might think to get better at sketching.

http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Viz-Method-Visualitzation-Ideas/dp/159863268X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

u/DustCongress · 2 pointsr/architecture

Some recent-ish architecture/urban design books that are really good reads & from well respected practitioners!

Walkable City by Jeff Speck

Happy City by Charles Montgomery

Cities for People by Jan Gehl

Otherwise, most stationary/art stores should stock some [Rotring] (http://www.rotring.com/en/) pens/mechanical pencils. They are high quality drafting pens that are always in high demand.

source: I own a lot, and still want many more. Always handy.

u/PIGEON_WITH_ANTLERS · 2 pointsr/IndustrialDesign

/u/LeadGenDairy:
> GO TO SCHOOL

This is good advice. Before I did some career counseling to figure out what to do with my life, I didn't know industrial design was even a thing. (I figured you needed a degree in engineering to do that sort of thing, but learned that it's common for a company to employ engineers who figure out how to make the thing work as well as designers to determine how it should work and, moreover, how it should look.) Once I realized that ID was definitely what I wanted to do, I looked up programs in my city, and found a good one. It was at an art school. I decided to apply.

"Apply with a short statement and a portfolio of 10-15 images of your recent work."

Welp.

I had never even taken an art class. I had no recent work. I had no "work" at all. So I made some. It took a few months, and I had some late nights, but by the application deadline, I had 12 pieces, including a few pretty solid drawings and some screenprints that started out in Illustrator. Got in, and got my degree.

If you're looking to learn drawing skills good enough to get into school, get a good book - I recommend Sketching: drawing techniques for product designers and Rapid Viz - and practice the techniques therein. You can also find a lot of tutorials online for programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, SketchUp, and Rhino if you're interested in building those skills too (and can get your hands on the software).

If your background is in CS, you probably have a good bit of experience coming up with weird creative workarounds for tough problems. This kind of problem-solving comes in very handy in ID. I wish you the best of luck!

u/The_Dead_See · 2 pointsr/graphic_design

Apart from the landscape format, it sounds like Geometry of Design

u/Kolione · 2 pointsr/Damnthatsinteresting

There's a fascinating book on this if you haven't read it. One Good Turn. It argues that the screw was the most important invention of the last 1000 years.

u/JimSFV · 2 pointsr/exchristian

Read this. Once I saw how the entire myth was fabricated culturally through the centuries, my fear dissipated.

u/Ouroboros000 · 2 pointsr/AskNYC

Call the Strand and see if they have this book

u/possiblegoat · 2 pointsr/tolkienfans

I helped build an earthen house in Texas, and they are actually quite cheap compared to traditional homes (and super fun to build). The most expensive part is usually getting the land. Ianto Evans and Linda Smiley, two pioneers in the US natural building movement, famously built their cob (it's kind of like adobe) home for only $500.

My advice would be to sign up for any natural building workshops that are in your area, and take lots of notes, pictures, and video. Start building up a good library of books (since a lot of natural builders are hippie-types, you can often download their books for free online). Keep a notebook full of your sketches and ideas (Google also has a free modeling program called SketchUp that you can try using if you want to have a 3D model) and collect materials if you can. Then when the time comes to actually get started you will have your ideas in order, a lot of materials at hand, knowledge and experience, and contacts with folks that can help you out if something goes wrong.

Don't let people tell you it will be too expensive or too hard unless they've got actual experience in natural building. I have known people that have built beautiful buildings without any fancy equipment or tools.

Edit: For a good first book, I would recommend Ianto Evans' The Hand-Sculpted House. It covers everything from the most basic newbie questions to more complex issues likes drainage and wiring. It also has a section on living roofs, which is what you would want for a hobbit home.

u/dadoftwins71309 · 2 pointsr/lockpicking

From this Amazon listing stating "Publication Date: October 8, 2012", and talking with Deviant on Twitter.

This, his second book (on bypassing locks WITH a key) on "the topics of impressioning, master key escalation, skeleton keys, and bumping attacks", also comes out shortly.

u/philo_farnsworth · 2 pointsr/washingtondc

Yes and no. The idea was that the Metro would serve as both a subway system and as a commuter rail-- thus the bad seating layout and the decision to have carpets. They wanted it to feel more like a commuter line.

If you looked at a map of NYC that included the full length of the NJT and Metro-North lines, it would look far more absurd.

I do think that there's path dependence between the Metro and sprawl, but I think that saying it's a causal relationship like you are is overstating it.

Also, might be of interest to some in this thread: Zachary Schrag's The Great Society Subway.

u/onionsman · 2 pointsr/lockpicking

There is a ton of info in the sidebar. The wiki is your friend on free materials.

I highly recommend Lockpicking - Detail Overkill. The Author /u/derpserf used to poke his head in this sub a while back. Really in depth shit. (he would want me to use an expletive)

As far as printed media, I am a huge fan of Deviant Ollam. (Disclaimer: I have hung out with him at Defcon and have a bit of a man crush). He is a super nice guy who is very passionate about teaching what he loves to do. His two books (one about [picking and how locks operate(http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Lock-Picking-Second-Edition/dp/1597499897) and another on impressioning & bypass methods) are awesome.

Hope that helps.

Edit: added links

u/TGilbertPE · 2 pointsr/AskEngineers

I think you are looking for Architectural Graphic Standards

There is also an online resource

Plus if you are interested in all aspects of design, consider the 99% Invisible podcast

u/echinops · 2 pointsr/SelfSufficiency

I've found the hand-sculpted house to be one of the definitive guides. Couple that with Rocket Mass Heaters.

u/Django117 · 2 pointsr/news

There's a huge body of architecture to understand. I would highly suggest to start by reading this book by Jackie Gargus as an introduction to architectural history. Some other fantastic books are:

​

Complexity and Contradiction by Robert Venturi

Towards a new Architecture by Le Corbusier

Modern Architecture: A Critical History by Kenneth Frampton

Space, Time and Architecture by Sigfried Gideon

The Dynamics of Architectural Form by Rudolf Arnheim

​

For more contemporary readings on architecture I would suggest

Red is not a Color by Bernard Tschumi

S, M, L, XL by Rem Koolhaas

​

All of these will lead you to hundreds of more specific papers and discussions surrounding architecture.

u/ItsJustaMetaphor · 2 pointsr/Permaculture
  • Serious Straw Bale

  • The Hand-Sculpted House

    These two books have made me confident I can build my own small house with natural materials. I am starting a pole barn with cob walls this month and a small straw bale guest house on my property later this year with the guidance of these books.

    Also, this blog is a great resource for code issues related to tiny houses.
u/scopa0304 · 2 pointsr/graphic_design

Found it:
Geometry of Design, Revised and Updated (Design Briefs) Elam, Ki... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616890363/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_C4GcBb5B5X288

Handy little book on grid systems.

u/mechtonia · 1 pointr/engineering

I think you are looking for Architectural Graphics Standards published by The American Institute of Architects

The name is a little esoteric but it is basically the bible of architectural drawing.

u/gedankenexperimenter · 1 pointr/Cortex

A random selection of non-fiction recommendations for /u/MindOfMetalAndWheels:

u/jetmark · 1 pointr/architecture

No, I'm not talking about the Unité.

I'm talking about huge housing projects built primarily in the 1950s and 60s in every American city, housing created specifically for those of low-income, modeled after Corbu's Ville Radieuse, Ville Contemporaine and Plan Voisin, plans which Corbu touted worldwide as the solution for urban slums. Of course Corbu was dealing with a specific set of issues in post-colonial France, but he was also creating a framework of over-generalizations, based on utter fantasy, that he exported globally. It didn't become known as the "The International Style" by accident. He and his generation aggressively pushed bad urban design policy on an unwitting public.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities and Wrestling with Moses are good books dealing with mid-century urbanism in America. Death and Life… is Jane Jacobs' treatise on the failures of Corbusian urbanism. Wrestling… is an account of her very public battle with Robert Moses, whom she managed to stop from ramming several Los Angeles-style highways across Manhattan, leveling Soho and installing huge areas of Corbusian wasteland, simply by using the West Village as a model for a high-functioning urban neighborhood.

u/Overtow · 1 pointr/Art

There are a number of color theory books out there but I'm not sure that will answer all of your questions. I have a copy of The Elements of Color that I reference often. The thing is, there isn't really one solid formula for mixing paint. It mostly comes through practice and understanding the physics of color and how colors shift in tone, saturation, and hue. There is some really good advice in this post already. I have a few other sources you might be interested in.

Wet Canvas has some great forums for people like us who need help with this kind of stuff from time to time.

The Dimensions of Color has a very thorough breakdown of color. It is extensive and a harder read than maybe you are used to. Take it slow. Read it a few times. Refer to it often.

Color and Light by James Gurney is a great resource as well. Be warned, that it isn't necessarily a "how-to" but it will give you insight into how a professional artist goes about his work. He provides insight on techniques and palettes and things like that as well as phenomena seen in nature.

Take a look at those. Best of luck.

u/rapid_business · 1 pointr/urbanplanning

Jan Gehl has tons of research on this topic. This book of his is worth checking out for sure.

u/imnojezus · 1 pointr/IndustrialDesign

Start with the book Rapid Viz. It's a workbook for sketching and rapid communication of ideas. Look for books on car sketching, toy sketching, product sketching, whatever... just practice practice practice. Get a note book and fill it from cover to cover, then start on a new one. Trust me on this; good sketching skills will get you hired one day.

u/mofang · 1 pointr/WaltDisneyWorld

Here's something different I can recommend on a much more technical level about the interactive entertainment business: "Theme Park Design & The Art of Themed Entertainment" is a book written by an Imagineer about the design process of building a theme park.

It's not light reading and definitely not a coffee table book, so won't be for everyone; it's best described as a textbook for a graduate level course in interactive entertainment. It's also not purely Disney-centric - it goes out of its way to include Universal and other parks, and you can tell there's an immense amount of professional respect between the author of the book and others in the field.

But if reading through a textbook in Imagineering 5001 sounds like your jam, or if you're interested in pursuing an internship or career in the field, this book is the best I've found explaining the inner workings of how they make the magic.

https://www.amazon.com/Theme-Park-Design-Themed-Entertainment/dp/0993578918

u/Nadarama · 1 pointr/AcademicBiblical

A History of Hell is a pretty good pop book on the subject. Early Christians had a wide variety of beliefs about this and most everything else. Unfortunately, we have little other than the writings of those in the Catholic/Orthodox line to go by; and they were still divided on this. Tertullian in particular advanced the idea of Hell as eternal, and Augustine pretty much cemented it.

u/vedvikra · 1 pointr/Acoustics

Interesting project. You want to consider the mathematical relationships of wavelengths and notes. You'll quickly find that each note and each chord has a unique set of associated harmonics. Maybe you could construct an item based on the fundamental key the instrument is tuned to, but it seems that would be fairly limiting.

The attached show something that would certainly resonate (because everything does) but the circular items would support frequencies relative to their dimensions while the larger item would be diffuse over a larger frequency range.

The book you want to read is this: https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Absorbers-Diffusers-Theory-Application/dp/0415471745

u/tas121790 · 1 pointr/architecture

This book outlines many of the design pitfalls that ruin many houses. "Get Your House Right"

Its from an American perspective though so not sure how much that will help you in Barcelona.

u/prayforariot · 1 pointr/suggestmeabook

I'm reading History of Hell for a college class, it's an easy read and pretty comprehensive source.

u/la_pluie · 1 pointr/Disneyland

Yeah, okay I understand your point. A thesis/dissertation is most likely profitable when its topic is practical for a customer's use. But your thoughts on tattoos as branding (while interesting) would be more relevant for a business/law degree than his American Studies.

>I'm sure your friend is fabulously wealthy from it.

https://www.amazon.com/Theme-Park-Design-Themed-Entertainment/dp/0993578918

u/mstyczynski · 1 pointr/Architects

11 Edition of Architectural Graphic Standards

https://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Standards-American-Institute-Architects/dp/0471700916

Architectural Books/Monographs to me are classic architectural gifts

u/ShepherdOfEmeralds · 1 pointr/architecture

Books,

I have this coffee table book How to Read Churches that is very rudimentary, but also informative.

How to Build a Cathedral is a lot more detailed but also a lot longer.

Kenneth Frampton is one of my personal favorites in terms of modern architectural history.

I would suggest starting out with a book that says a little about a lot, rather than an in-depth book about a particular style or period.

u/violarch · 1 pointr/architecture

kenneth frampton modern architecture

u/kobayashi_maru_fail · 1 pointr/Design

yeah, the ye olde Itten.

But don't mistake print color for web color, or vice versa. If someone knows an equally seminal source for OP on web color, it would be a good counterbalance.

u/serdnaderf · 1 pointr/Design
u/mpls10k · 1 pointr/LandscapeArchitecture

Definitely not a lost cause, and glad to hear you're interested in an MLA. I'd say ecology is one of the strongest backgrounds from which to enter the LA profession. Seems like a lot of firms are looking to hire people with that type of expertise, as the role of ecology in projects continues to rise.

Portfolio-wise, I'd agree with what /u/tricky_p and /u/PHXgp said so far (express enthusiasm, include anything that might be relevant), and add the following advice:

  • Sketch outside, sketch public places, sketch people and plants, buy an LA graphics book and start playing around with the symbols and style of land arch graphics. Even if you don't end up pursuing an MLA, you'll still come out a better sketcher (and who doesn't want that?!).

  • Learning how to graphically present your existing work can go a long way. If you have access to Adobe InDesign, watch a few web tutorials on how to use it. Or if you have to lay out in PowerPoint, just look for tutorials on basic graphic design principles. Even if your work doesn't look the best, you can dress it up in something pretty.

  • For your site planning class this summer, I'd personally focus on producing a couple quality hand graphics rather than trying to go all out and learn 3-d modeling software. Focus on communication - how can you clearly articulate what you've designed / what's going on in your plan.

    Overall... I don't know, just be honest about your skill level and where you're coming from. And check out (www.landezine.com) if you haven't already. Best website around for getting inspired about LA.
u/the_spookiest_ · 0 pointsr/IndustrialDesign