A&D Building Suggestions

Our suggestions are simple and few.

1. Remove all display cases and tacked up artwork on the corridor walls opposite the couches in the East side of the building. Instead this space should be kept open and unimpeded for classes to use for critiques. This would let passers by observe the work and critical processes of classes and open up class culture to be more welcoming of outside suggestion and criticism. Building confidence, a thick skin, and a curious participatory attitude are necessary and fruitful for art and design students.

2. Reorganize all studio management and open them up for all student use during non-class time, regardless of what classes they are enrolled in. Remove card only access, allow non-class projects, make students be trained on ALL machinery and let them be used. Keep studios open to student access after hours for use even if power-tools and oversight are shut down for the night. Have trained student shop managers in work-study to allow greater open hours. This creative openness would foster an environment where people are encouraged to be creative and try new processes, exposing them to new skills and better work. In addition, fire all shop managers who are resistant to change and have proven themselves to be fearfully unhelpful with student concerns and changing times. The excuse the administration uses for there not being enough space in the studios for openness to student use is utter bullshit and all the students know it. Clearly it is easier to manage and mitigates risk, but it hurts student potential and creates a stifling atmosphere unbecoming of an institution founded around creativity.

3. The courtyard is useless. Fill it in with open collaboration space preserving the natural light via skylights.