I've mentioned a few times some designs appear to be‘arbitrary'.That is, the features in the design – pathways, garden beds, entertaining areas etc.– don't appear to beinfluenced by anything.They were most likely just drawn onto a plan.This kind of ‘design' work I call‘Painting'.
In the image above, we have a small space with an interesting layout.BUT… I'mnot sure what influenced the layout of these spacesand materials.
Is it just aset of lines drawn onto a plan?Different overlapping shapes?While (presumably) relatively effective as a space, I'm unsure where it is… it could be any number of places.
To me,great design is influenced by its surroundings, and I'm not sure how this one is.
Form X Function
To me, real design isform x functionBUT it alsotakes cues and is influenced by its surroundings.
When I askwhya decision was made, this is the crux of the question.Did youarbitrarily draw this line here?Or was there aspecific reasonthat it is this wide/straight/long etc.?
I've driven home the notion that you need to justify your decisions.It helps starting broadly and eliminating options.I still maintain that is the best option for your design work.But, ‘painting' may be the most suitable option in some circumstances.I'll touch on those later on.
Let's look at the differences between painting and designing.
Painting
As I said, painting is often justdrawing shapes on plan.The aim is to look pretty.Aesthetically pleasing.
Designing
Isinfluenced and shaped by the needs of the space.You're testing against afunction.
Different styles prioritise these approaches differently.Think about architecture.Modernism is all aboutfunction.Clean, straight lines.Little additional material or ornamentation.
Gothic, on the other hand, is aboutappearance.It usesexcess material.Ornamentationordecorationsignals a certain level ofstatus.You can afford to live with ‘superfluous' things or additional things to clean and care for.
Throughout history in many cultures,more of something– a material, resources, servants, cows etc.– signifiesstatus. A house with large windows in England indicated extreme wealth (as windows were taxed, limiting their spread and size).
Ironically, nowadays the reverse is probably happening (at least in parts of the West).Returning to a moresimplistic lifestylesignals a higher level of income and potentially status.Minimalism and clean living is a greater signal of wealth than consumption (in some circles).
That's whyorganic, unprocessedandartisanal productsare more expensive than mass produced.It's not just about the cost of production – it's also a marketing component.Buying these thingssignal a level of income and corresponding lifestyle and values.
But we're getting off track.Back to painting vs design… The key difference is designing ‘tests' itself against afunction.
You could ‘paint' an area.It may still be suitable for a function.But you haven't used the requirements of the function, or site or weather conditions, toinfluencethe design of the space.
When To Paint vs When To Design
So Painting really starts with apretty outlineandfills things into it.
It can be tiring designingevery positionin a site.
Going through multiple iterations of different programs in one position.Then another position.Then try a different program in those positions.And then combining them together in a plan.Then switching things around.Taking it to extremes.Reigning it back in with constraints… You get the idea.
I think for many people, going through this initial process will be helpful.You should focus your attention on the main activities and features you'd like to see in your site.
I said sometimes painting is thebetterchoice when working through a design.Let's look at some occasions where this may be the case.
For positions in your site that may bemarginal.Thinkboundary areas, or certain spots that aresmall, cramped, shaded or otherwise difficult to work with.
You can (and at least initially should) test them with different programs.You do have a choice in how much effort you go to.
Sometimes it may be the program.A simple garden bed or feature.You want an aesthetic space you won't ‘use', rather than go to a lot of effort designing it.You can turn to an expert later for help.
In some ways this isn't really ‘painting' the way I've described it earlier.Chances are these spaces will be impacted by others around them.These moreimportantspaces will be ‘designed'.You will work through the process with them.They then bleed into and inform this more marginal space.
When To Use ‘Painting' In Your Designs
My point here is that yes,design is the more rigorous way to create.But that doesn't mean painting isn't appropriate on some occasions.
Use your judgement.Paint in areas with low utility.Or paint in areas withlittle allocated funds.Paint in places you can't be bothered (right now)thinking about in depth.
I maintain you should attempt to design what you can.And while it sounds like I disparage painting in your design, I think it can be fine in some cases.
Never start your design from a ‘painted' approach.
No main lines should start with an arbitrary flourish of the pen.Random curves, lines, colours etc.You can use space and "fat" or excess to accommodate these kinds of things.But that is only onceyou know where your minimum and maximum boundaries are.
Try touse the design process at themacrolevel.Feel free topaint at themicrolevel.