CORRY MICHAEL VAN MEARSCMVM

PROCESS

DESIGN

BUILD

GRAPHICS

PHOTOS

3-8

9-14

15-20

21-26

27-32

PROCESS

4

WYLY THEATRE

SOLAR DECATHLON

In the Fall semester of 2010, under the instruction of Travis Hicks, I took Visual Communications I. Throughout the semester we focused on precedent work on a particular building of our own choosing. I chose the Wyly Theatre in Dallas, Texas. We began with initial diagrams of the space looking at whatever we deemed vital. It then branched off into models, renderings, more sketches and eventually a book involving multiple projects between people.

The Solar Decathlon is a competition that occurs biennially. Universities from across the globe submit proposals for solar efficient and cost effective homes. During my studio taken by Travis Hicks in the Fall of 2011 we had a chance to visit Washington, DC where the event is normally held and gain further insight on how we might submit our own designs. Upon returning we designed our own solar powered homes and I worked around the idea of creating two distinct areas that were both inside and outside.

WYLY THEATRE

6

SOLAR DECATHLON

8

DESIGN

10

JENGA

SOLAR DECATHLON

In the Spring Semester of 2011 with Patrick Lucas, we had a project that began as individual work and ended up becoming groups of twelve person teams. This specific project was JENGA 3.0, a small part of that project, and consisted of myself (renderings), Abigail Buchanan (model) and Austin Loman (technical). The big idea was to take our individual space from a previous assignment, and blend it into the projects of the other two group members and to create public spaces formed by the different elements coming together. We created a portmanteau from our three separate concepts: join, groove, and glide, and formed a new group called Jive.

Once I arrived at a form I liked, I worked on shaping that even more and thinking about physical elements and materials. I desired as much natural light as possible which I achieved by adding clerestory windows and large sliding glass doors. An important factor among the competition of this project was the idea of modularity and transporting the structure, so I worked on building a frame that would be erected on site and then build off of that as a base.

JENGA

N

1

1

12

SOLAR DECATHLON

14

BUILD

16

SOLAR DECATHLON

HALF AND HALF BENCH

After submitting our own proposals as a class, we narrowed it down to one individuals project which was divided into groups based on tasks. I worked alongside the build team constructing what became known as the “canopy” with Wesley Shamlian, Alyssa Hankus, Kara Kooy, Jasmine Jones and Kelly Harris. I was a lead project coordinator along with Phillip Snider, over seeing construction, materials, budget, and design.

In the Spring semester of 2011 I took an independent study in the IARC department woodshop under the instruction of Matt Jones. We worked on a couple of projects and became familiarized with much of the equipment as well as proper usage. The design for the bench started out primarily as a model stand but I decided to make it with the ability to be a bench as well.

SOLAR DECATHLON

18

HALF AND HALF

20

GRAPHICS

22

DIGITAL GRAPHICS

TYPOGRAPHY

Graphic design is something I’ve grown to appreciate and enjoy through my studies and years of experience. I often sketch using my bamboo tablet, creating quick sketches of ideas or just fun drawings. Graphics require an attention to detail, composition, type, and color, all of which fascinate me.

Through my graphic design I have also developed a sort of deep interest in font and the way the letters work both together and alone. I enjoy being able to balance different fonts with various weights or strokes and just learning about type in general and being inspired by the great typefaces.

It’s always sunny on

DIGITAL GRAPHICS

24

TYPOGRAPHY

26

PHOTOS

28

NEW YORK CITY

CHICAGO

Photography has always been a interest of mine. It started by using a point and shoot my family owned and eventually I purchased a Nikon DSLR. New York City was a place I hadn’t visited until a few years ago and since then, I’ve ventured back every year, going new places and visiting old places and taking pictures along the way.

I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago in the Spring of 2011 along with fellow students. We visited a plastic extrusion plant, IIT, and the Art Institute of Chicago while also visiting well known tourist attractions in between.

NEW YORK CITY

30

CHICAGO

32