The Discover Design in South Beach (DD@SoBe) Summer program, led by Associate Professor David Rifkind, saw growth and the demonstration of talent among thirteen students at The College of Architecture + The Arts | Miami Beach Urban Studios.
The students in the DD@SoBe program ranged in age from high school sophomores to young professionals considering careers in design. From June 9th to June 20th, the thirteen students developed one design project per week and attended workshops on freehand drawing, measured drawing, and model-making. This was made possible with the leadership of program director David Rifkind and the expertise of FIU Architecture faculty and recent graduates such as Priscilla Pagan, Marsha McDonald, and Jorge Bonsenõr, as well as the expertise of local designer Holly Zickler.
“…[T]he students [had] a fantastic time,” said Rifkind. “We saw real growth in their design sensibilities, representational skills and presentation abilities between the first and second weeks.”
DD@SoBe is a two-week summer program that provides an intense and enjoyable introduction to architecture and the related disciplines of landscape and interior architecture. The program takes advantage of the rich cultural context of our studios on Miami Beach’s famous Lincoln Road by using the city as a laboratory in which to study the relationships between design and the built environment. Participants spend a considerable portion of each day working on design projects, and engage in group discussions with faculty from FIU’s Department of Architecture. Guest lectures by prominent local practitioners and visits to offices enhance the learning experience, and guided tours of significant local architecture and urban design projects demonstrate the impact of design on our world.
The featured image above is provided courtesy of David Rifkind.
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