Graphic Communication Techniques

Graphic
Communication
Techniques

Linus Tan
University of Melbourne M.Arch & B.Envs Tutor
lihuangt@unimelb.edu.au

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Attract

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

EXPLAIN

Graphic Communication Techniques

Types

of

Architectural

graphics
Start

D A T A

TUTOR is coming!

Give me pen and paper!

V I S U A L I S A T I O N

T E C H N I C A L

This is taking a lot longer

D R A W I N G

than anticipated...

d r a w i n g & I L L U S T R A T I O N

architectural RENDERing

can I just pay someone

Photo composite & MONTAGE

to do it for me?
End

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Sketches of ideas are

straightforward and
quick. They are good for
recording the essence of
an idea.
They help to show your
design interests within
the project scope.

Zaha Hadid
Ben
van Berkel
Dieter Rams

Sou Fujimoto

Iannis Xenakis

University of Melbourne

Frank Gehry

Ludwig
Mies van der Rohe

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Diagrams explaining
design constraints at an
early stage, can reveal
potential opportunities.
During the development
stage, it gives clarity to
your design approach
to the identified
opportunity.

Vrbani Business

Siteless

Center

by

by

Fancois Blanciak

NFO

Maritime Youth House

by
JDS Architects

The Korea Teachers Pension Head Office

by
Tomoon Architects & Engineers

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Data visualisation
presents hard facts
attractively.
It shows only relevant
facts that were sourced
from dense information
for audiences to quickly
understand.
...And diminishes the irrelevant information...

Small mall maps

by
Abi Huynh

Underwater London
by
Rita Martelo

University of Melbourne

Farbmodell/
Farbanalyse
by
Patrick A Vuarnoz

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Technical Drawing is
used to describe design
functionality. It can
be used to explain how
the design works within
context, spatially and
assembly.

Cladding

Cladding

assembly process

construction detail

by

by

ARUP

ARUP

Galaxy Soho

House & Atelier

by

by

Zaha Hadid Architects

Atelier Bow Wow

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Drawing & Illustration

is a Pictorial
representation of a
subject.
It is a creative expression
that can evoke emotions
within audiences.

Fear free city

by
Justyna Karakiewicz, Tom Kvan
& Steve Hatzellis

High Houses

The architectural

by

possibilities of a stair

Lebbeus Woods

by
Dan Slavinsky

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Architectural Rendering
is a realistic visualisation
of an object.
It adds drama to the
physical being and is used
to record a single moment
in reality.

House at the beach

visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

Row House
(by Tadao Ando)
visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

University of Melbourne

Phillips Exeter
Academy Library
(by Louis Kahn)
visualised by
Alex Roman

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Photo composite and

Montage assembles
photos into a single image
to create an illusion.
This is to immerse
audience into an unreal
world and space.

Taipei Pop Music Center

by
Studio Gang

HIA Airport City

by
OMA

New York Public

Library
by

Waalse Krook, Urban

Fosters + Partners

Library of the Future

by
UNStudio

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

ELEMENTS OF Architectural graphics

PART I
Start

IN

FOR

ew

ext

&

pe

UR

ARRAN

WHERE AND HOW SHOULD

&

SHA

&

I EVEN START?

SMALL DETAILS MAKE THE

GREATEST IMPACT.

OUR

&

ITS FINISHED. NOW ALL I CAN

DO IS MOVE THEM around.
End

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Lines can describe

boundaries whereas
curves can depict flow.
Used in combination,
they produce shapes and
guides vision along the
image. Variations can
even be used to bring out
expressions.

Zaha Hadid
Ben
van Berkel
Dieter Rams

Sou Fujimoto

Iannis Xenakis

University of Melbourne

Frank Gehry

Ludwig
Mies van der Rohe

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

2d drawing is projected
onto the 3rd axis to make
a form.
The form is dynamic and
changes according to
the design approach. The
view is static to allow
audience to understand
the changes in relation to
the whole.

Vrbani Business

Siteless

Center

by

by

Fancois Blanciak

NFO

Maritime Youth House

by
JDS Architects

The Korea Teachers Pension Head Office

by
Tomoon Architects & Engineers

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Text is important. It gives

your image utmost clarity.
Typography can be more
powerful than images.
It not only conveys
emotions, but sets the
mood for your entire
project.
NEVER USE COMIC SANS.
It is for 6 year old to write a letter to Santa Claus.

Small mall maps

by
Abi Huynh

Underwater London
by
Rita Martelo

University of Melbourne

Farbmodell/
Farbanalyse
by
Patrick A Vuarnoz

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Texture suggests tactile

materiality accompanied
with the the drawing. It
also brings out the full
meaning and feel of the
drawing.
Density of drawing
distinguishes which has
greater priority.

Cladding

Cladding

assembly process

construction detail

by

by

ARUP

ARUP

Galaxy Soho

House & Atelier

by

by

Zaha Hadid Architects

Atelier Bow Wow

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Colour can evoke an

emotive response from
the viewer.
Colour hue creates
harmony between various
colours whereas value
helps bring the various
hues to the same intense
level.

Fear free city

by
Justyna Karakiewicz, Tom Kvan
& Steve Hatzellis

High Houses

The architectural

by

possibilities of a stair

Lebbeus Woods

by
Dan Slavinsky

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Light tells us the time of

the day and also indicates
the openness of the
environment.
Angled light can be used
to emphasis details within
the render while shadow
used to emphasis outline.

House at the beach

visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

Row House
(by Tadao Ando)
visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

University of Melbourne

Phillips Exeter
Academy Library
(by Louis Kahn)
visualised by
Alex Roman

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Arrangement of graphic
elements within images
guide viewers through the
image.
Horizontal presents a
calm scenario, vertical
shows potential for
movement whereas
diagonal reflects
dynamism.

Taipei Pop Music Center

by
Studio Gang

HIA Airport City

by
OMA

New York Public

Library
by

Waalse Krook, Urban

Fosters + Partners

Library of the Future

by
UNStudio

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

ELEMENTS OF Architectural graphics

PART Ii
p o s i t i ve / n eg a t i ve

r epet i t i o n / v a r i et y

e s s e n ce / n u i s a n ce

s c a le / p r o p o r t i o n

f o c a lp o i n t / b le n d

c o n t r a s t / c h a o s

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

ce

Graphic Communication Techniques

Positive and negative

space helps to balance
composition of the image.
Negative space helps to
increase attraction of
the positive shape.

Zaha Hadid
Ben
van Berkel
Dieter Rams

Sou Fujimoto

Iannis Xenakis

University of Melbourne

Frank Gehry

Ludwig
Mies van der Rohe

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Repetition of a basic
element helps to
establish unity
throughout the design.
Variety is also required to
avoid monotony.

Vrbani Business

Siteless

Center

by

by

Fancois Blanciak

NFO

Maritime Youth House

by
JDS Architects

The Korea Teachers Pension Head Office

by
Tomoon Architects & Engineers

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Emphasize on the essence

and de-emphasize on the
supporting information.
Get rid of the nuisance.
too much information
shows little criticality of
your work.

Small mall maps

by
Abi Huynh

Underwater London
by
Rita Martelo

University of Melbourne

Farbmodell/
Farbanalyse
by
Patrick A Vuarnoz

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Proportion and scale

refers to the relative
size of an element in its
context. When elements
are out of proportion,
there is a lack of harmony
in the drawing.

Cladding

Cladding

assembly process

construction detail

by

by

ARUP

ARUP

Galaxy Soho

House & Atelier

by

by

Zaha Hadid Architects

Atelier Bow Wow

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Focal points define the

emphasis of the design.
This allows you to create
a design with variety and
not competition.
blend allows different
elements, to be unified as
one fabric of design.

Fear free city

by
Justyna Karakiewicz, Tom Kvan
& Steve Hatzellis

High Houses

The architectural

by

possibilities of a stair

Lebbeus Woods

by
Dan Slavinsky

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

contrast can create

emphasis on a centre of
interest.
too many contrasting
elements create chaos.
The viewer cannot begin
understanding the image
as the starting point is
hidden.

House at the beach

visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

Row House
(by Tadao Ando)
visualised by
Viktor Fretyn

University of Melbourne

Phillips Exeter
Academy Library
(by Louis Kahn)
visualised by
Alex Roman

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Balance suggest order.

Viewers absorbs the
overall image immediately
and is able to easily
understand your image.
A judge of balance is via
visual assessment.
View. analyse. synthesise.

Taipei Pop Music Center

by
Studio Gang

HIA Airport City

by
OMA

New York Public

Library
by

Waalse Krook, Urban

Fosters + Partners

Library of the Future

by
UNStudio

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

what kind of graphic do i need?

What should i think of when

constructing the graphic?

How do I judge the quality of the

graphic?

SKETCH

LINE & SHAPE

positive / negative

DIAGRAM

FORM & view

repetition / variety

DATA VISUALISATION

text & TYPe

essence / nuisance

TECHNICAL DRAWING

TEXTURE

scale / proportion

DRAWING & ILLUSTRATION

COLOUR

focal point / blend

ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING

light & shadow

contrast / chaos

PHOTO COMPOSITE & MONTAGE

ARRANGEMENT

balance

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

diagram
12 useless diagram
by
Josh Lewandowski

What is the diagram

suppose to explain?
what do the lines
represent?
How am i suppose to
understand these without
any explanations?

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Data visualisation
associative network
by
unknown

What do the images mean?

what do the colours
represent?
how is that flat pink
tessellation a green
space substrate?

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Data visualisation
local / tourist photo maps
by
eric fischer

blue is local photos

red is tourist photos
yellow is both

Taipei

Washington

Sydney

Seattle

Hong Kong

Chicago

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

technical drawing
House Plans of TV Shows
by
Inaki Aliste Lizarralde

how does the circulation

to pennys bathroom
work?
how are the other housing
units in chandlers
apartment laid out?
is the building outline
that complicated?

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

architectural rendering
(dis)location
by
Filip Dujardin

How do you access the

building?
How do the internal
spaces work?
How does the structure of
the building work?

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

photo montage
marks house
by
unknown

montages and renderings

can be deceiving.

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/

drawing architecture
http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch
http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

concept sketch
http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/

drawing architecture
http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch
http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

concept sketch
http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/

drawing architecture
http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch
http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

concept sketch
http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/

drawing architecture
http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch
http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

concept sketch
http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/

drawing architecture
http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch
http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

concept sketch
http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Tips & inspiration

pinterest

1 Architectural graphics
francis ching

http://www.pinterest.com/

2 from line to design

drawing architecture

Scott vandyke

http://drawinarchitecture.tumblr.com/

architecture sketch

3 graphic thinking for architects & designers

http://architecturesketch.tumblr.com/

paul laseau

concept sketch

4 Visual language for designers

http://conceptsketch.tumblr.com/

Connie malamed

alex hogrefe
http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

5 data flow
Klanten, Bourguin & Ehmann

Eastern Resource Center Library

book call No. 741.6

6 Envisioning Information
edward tufte

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

Graphic Communication Techniques

Attract

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design

EXPLAIN

Graphic Communication Techniques

Graphic
Communication
Techniques

Linus Tan
University of Melbourne M.Arch & B.Envs Tutor
lihuangt@unimelb.edu.au

University of Melbourne

Faculty of architecture

Melbourne

Building & planning

School of Design