I recently had the privilege of accompanying some of our 2010 students to their first job interviews. The results were outstanding. They aced their interviews!

Our students were amongst those interviewed for a position offered at a specialist engineering company for junior draughtsperson. They all arrived early and were smartly dressed. It started with a joint briefing from the MD on their company and a question and answer session on why the students want to work. Then it was down to the serious business of what they can do!

Their portfolios were scrutinised from end to end by both the MD and the Head Engineer of technical services. The first of their portfolios opened received a simultaneous “Wow” and I knew these students were on their way. Throughout this scrutiny further comments were made and feedback given to the applicants about their great standard of work. (Here, thanks must go to the dedicated team of lecturers and staff) Once this was completed each applicant was interviewed individually. Upon completion, all applicants were then thanked for their participation and told that they would shortly be informed who the lucky ones were.

Lucky they are, but it was not luck alone that enabled them to stand out.

One of the biggest concerns of both students and parents alike is that once they complete the programme will they find gainful employment.

At Academy IDT we focus on all the skills that you would need to be able to make an impact in the draughting and design arena. It starts with their appearance and at Academy IDT professional work atire is mandatory. (collar and tie  for the men.) Our students are prepared throughout the year while doing various presentations and real world projects for this very day. For them, interviews and presenting their work is second nature. They understand the wealth of opportunity in criticism while realising that they must take it from whence it comes. By using a multi-disciplinary approach to training we are able to equip our students with a variety of skills in a number of industries. This enables them to approach various sectors when applying for jobs.

Although we do not guarantee work for the student once they complete the programme, we assist our students where we can. Their work ethic, people skills, attention to detail and quality of draughting during their year of study determine which students are placed first. We often have requests from companies that need junior draughspersons. Based on the type of work needed and the people representing the company we are then able to provide them with recommendations.

The students and employers are now part of the seed fund. Our congratulations must go to both Dean and Willie on their success.

We wish them all the best in their new endeavours at ET in 2011. We know they will do us proud while never forgetting their roots at their Academy IDT family.

Remember, when it comes to your portfolio be clinical, don’t give an inch to the employer or potential client. A portfolio which is neat and clean will make more of an impression than one which has brilliant work, but is dirty and not well put together. One must remember that, like in graphic design, there is no right or wrong, there is only effective and non-effective. Effective portfolio in this instance would contain the following aspects;

-it would showcase the full spectrum of your work,

-it would highlight the field that you would like to pursue,

-it would display your best work,

-it would be cleverly laid out and be interesting to the viewer

-it would clearly show the thought process which goes into each project.

Show your versatility, if you want to go into Architecture, don’t leave your structural drawing work out. The employer wants to see how diverse you are and therefore would pick you over someone who has no structural knowhow, because you would be more of an asset to the company. In saying this, be sure to focus more on the field in which you would like to pursue, Architecture in this example. I would recommend getting up to speed on a graphic manipulating program (if you have not already) to be able to express yourself and get that image from your head onto the A3 canvas. All these extra skills will hold you in good stead when creating your portfolio.

Your value is contained within your portfolio, what you have, and potentially can achieve is being heavily scrutinized. Don’t sell yourself short with a mediocre portfolio, don’t stumble at the final hurdle. Take initiative and create your masterpiece and go get yourself that job you have been drooling over for as long as you can remember.

What awaits these learners is the excitement of having their minds opened to being able to create something on the computer in 3D.  Understaning the third plane. We all know X and Y, most every graphical representation that we see includes these two, price over time, time over distance, sure, you get the picture.  But now it is time for the magical Z!!

I will not forget the first time I was introduced to Z. All of a sudden my lines were off into space. What looked like a perfect square with all four equal lines connected to each other was soon revealed to be some wonderful 3 Dimensionable line not connected at all. What a shock!!  Pretty soon however, I was able to model something that I had created in 3D.  Once I had applied my various materials, textures, surfaces and lighting, it was a thing of great beauty!  Well……they say”beauty is in the eye of……….”  And behold, there it was, my first cube !!  But then, this was not just any cube.  It was my 3D cube with bevelled edges and circular cut throughs and extrusions, blue glass, on a polished marble surface!  I sat mesmerised as I was able to spin it in all directions, clockwise, counter clockwise, top to bottom bottom to top, you get the idea.  The light danced off the surfaces revealing rainbows of colour and the shadows created shapes of world that I could only dream of ………..And all this was before my introduction to Z. the third dimension!!!

Soon it was a stainless steel cube and then a gold cube, Imagine the possibilities. They were seemingly endless. The lines then became curves, the curves shapes the shapes objects  and my world expanded once again….

Make sure you use your opportunity get to meet the third dimension!

From last year to this year, my role has changed – from student to employee of Academy IDT. So, I feel I can comment on some ‘inside info’, giving you a good idea about important changes! I’d like to emphasize in this blog’s entry that there have been major improvements in the software packaging and also in the Academy’s approach to draughting:

This year, Academy IDT partnered with Bentley, who plays a big role in the draughting software industry, offering many industry-specific CAD packages. 2010 students are fortunate, because they are often working with 3d packages. For example, SolidWorks, a top 3d mechanical software package, and MicroStation – which is a Bentleyall-rounder package. MicroStation of course also doubles up as a 2d package – but as far as I can see, students use its 3d facility mostly. The fundamental difference in approach from last year to this, is that last year we would have had to visualize the 3d drawing in our head first and then draw it in 2d, whereas this year the students model it up in 3d and then just let the software display in 2d. Students this year, in other words, are benefitted by finally having both 2- and 3d drawings.

The 3d’ers of this year also have time on their side, because, with industry-specific packages, things like bolts can be ‘drawn’ by simply entering a size-code. Drawing a bolt to size in 2d, then having to fit it to its place, then having to erase the parts you wouldn’t see, is a little annoying. Another big difference and time-saver: say there are three views in 2d, but one part of the drawing is incorrect? Last year’s draughting students would have to correct the mistake on all of the views. Again, this year’s 3d’ers would only need to correct the item on the 3d model and all the views would automatically update with the correction.

Having tried out the new software packaging myself, I’ve noticed that as efficient as what the 3d CAD programs are, they do take some getting used to. The time it takes to familiarize oneself with all the plusses of this software, however, pales by comparison with the amount of time-saving and effectiveness of the programmes once it’s learnt.

All these slight differences – improvements, probably better said – play an important role in an industry where time and accuracy are so important. Academy IDT is definitely headed in the right direction, being on the forefront of technology – in a field where technology kind of makes the industry.

When I started my draughting career in 1984 long before CAD was introduced into everyday industry, the art of printing and line styles was the signature of every engineer, architect and draughtsman.

As time moved on the electronic print pad was introduced, which clipped onto the drawing board machine and the text typed directly into the hand drawn drawing. WOW what a break through !! However cost to provide every draughtsman with the scriber was limited and it was the privilege of only the chosen few to use this amazing machine.

Then came the BIG CAD programmes on green monitors, later upgraded to amber monitors where straight lines and circles could be drawn and dimensioned, patterns were later added to the software and after a few years colour monitors and lineweights became the next huge upgrade. Year after year 2D draughting evolved with extra features and a greater library of usable blocks to make the drawing faster, easier and even more user friendly.

With the introduction of CAD / CAM and CNC machines the link between the draughtsman and the workshop floor became closer, where forming a working bond and inter-dependence enabled a quicker and easier manufacturing process .

With the introduction of the laser cutting equipment and CNC bending of plates, the role of the draughtsman evolved again to developing electronic drawings compatible with the software of the laser and CNC equipment and now accuracy of the drawing was directly linked to the cut profile of the component and no longer the responsibility of the boilermaker or operator.

Thus, the manufacturing process was made easier and quicker however the skill of a boilermaker was now reduced to an assembler and the art of a drawing changed to producing quick precise electronic drawings to meet the manufacturing pressure.

Where the electronic design age will progress to in the future is exciting, challenging and rewarding. There are constant changes and to be a part of a team making sure our students have access to the best relevant design software for an ever changing draughting technology is most rewarding.

Take the plastic toilet seat for example: if it comes undone just once more… Why did they not just design this item a little better? Yes sure there are toilet seats that are made of alternative materials, which are providing a different solution, but I am specifically referring to the plastic one. Is there anyone out there feeling my pain?

One of my other gripes is the shower head in modern day living spaces. What are the architects and designers thinking? If like me you happen to be blessed with a little above 6ft, then I am sure that the next shower you take will require you to crawl in on your knees so as to wet your body from head to toe, or the other extreme, you are around 4ft and you were blessed elsewhere, you would now require a ladder to change the pulse of the water or the angle of the spray. A little thinking and I am sure that the prototype for an all round showerhead could be designed.

Yes, you might say these are really not issues which concern you and that might well be so. These are inconsequential details. But then, what about the areas that do concern you? What would you like to change?

What about traffic congestion, space availability, resource depletion, transport and other real world global issues. All these earth infrastructure concepts, could they not be resolved with better planning and design? Could we not, with just a little more effort and ‘attention to detail’ bring about change by design?

If you, like me have experienced dissatisfaction from a product or a design then this is your chance to speak out and make a difference.

The students at Academy IDT are empowered to make a difference.  While they get to draught the present, we get them to apply these skills to re-designing the future. With their basics starting in mechanical orientation, and architectural draughting, they are taught to become innovative problem solvers. Our drawing office brings in actual draughting and design work, which the students then become involved with under the guidance of industry professionals.

Applying their skills and stretching their minds to solve your ‘real world issue’ might just result in the next change by design.

SAID Conference Speech at the SACAP Bosperaard

Present – SAIA , SAIAT, SAIBD, SACAP

Quinton J Damstra

My name is Quinton J Damstra and I have been an Executive member of the South African Institute of Draughting since 2001 – S.A.I.D. I am here with Maureen Gerrens our secretary and Megan Reneke, we are the 3 executive members representing Architectural Draughting on the S.A.I.D. executive.

A bit about SAID and how we fit into the architectural food chain. We have been in operation since 1953 and it’s not only a great honour but also historic for us to be at the same table with other Institutions and other ‘V.A.’s today and we thank S.A.C.A.P. for this opportunity and priviledge to be present today.

.

I’m going to give a very brief overview of how the profession of draughting has evolved in SA through the years. As draughting is a very broad based discipline, of which Architectural Draughting is a small part it is important to mention the other disciplines associated with the draughting profession. We are not only a VA under SACAP however we are also a VA under the engineering council of SA – ECSA. A draughtsperson used to start their professional journey as a tracer or on the workshop floor. they would then be invited into the drawing office if showing the correct aptitude. In the case of architectural draughting they would trace existing Architectural plans. At first your basic homes are the easiest to trace. They would then trace examples of all the disciplines electrical, civil, mechanical, structural steel details and piping. This experiential progress should take years! As I maintain to my students – one can only get 20 years experience in any field by working 20 years – no shortcuts to experience. After being exposed to the various draughting disciplines the draughtsperson can now choose which discipline best suites their passion. – The matrix is very broad – some choose to become Architectural draughtspersons and slowly climb the now SACAP ladder.

Most large industrial companies have a draughting office or at the very least an in house draughtsperson. The Steel and mining sectors have very qualified draughtspersons – who are called Multi Disciplinary Draughtspersons.

One of SAID’s many challenges is most of these other draughting professionals feel architectural draughting is an easy discipline – and they all dabble in it. – Part time! SAID’s architectural draughting representatives job is to educate these draughting individuals that we should all stick to our professional draughting portfolio – S.A.C.A.P has helped immensely with preventing this across the board draughting by preventing these individuals from submitting plans to councils without a SACAP number. which has been a great start to this problem. As S.A.I.D. we want to give credibility to our brand – when industry see the SAID logo advertising an individual or product we want that to be the mark of approval and we also want to be able to validate the placing of that logo.

Our architectural Industry has its very strange anomalies – when you speak to an architect about draughts people or technicians they are very vocal and passionate about the fact Draught Persons and Technicians don’t know how to design and they shouldn’t etc, etc, …

When you speak to draughtsmen & technicians they say certain Architects don’t know how to draught and their sketches and certain of their designs are illegible etc, etc, …

So there is a lot of eyeballing. All of us in our own compounds; a kind of professional xenophobia.

What can the S.A.I.D. do to better equip our draughtspersons to aid in our offices. We are contacted by companies from Holland – where everyone is an architect or Engineer – they contact us for our draughts people – you see in Holland there are no draughtspersons to do the bulk work in the drawing office. Site surveys, tracing and all the tedious work – the truth is as much as draughtspersons get eyeballed, a professional draughtsperson adds a huge ammount of value to your practice. Every one knows the adage regarding too many cooks/ too many chiefs. We need workers! We want to provide professionals from our ranks for the work place. Skilled draughtspersons within our ranks to bolster industry. So that’s us in a nutshell.

Our Aim is not to have our draughtpersons be Engineers without the qualifications or Architects / Architectural Technologists without the necessary experience.

Our Aim is to promote the advancement of the skill of draughting. The skill or communicative language we all use in our Architectural profession.

S.A.I.D. wants to change the perception that draughts persons are under qualified. The perception that we are not the brightest of the bright. To be brutaly honest there are some even within your professional ranks that are no Einstein’s!

We do have a concern:

Municipal Councils – What dialogue does S.A.C.A.P. have with municipalities? What is S.A.C.A.P. doing to expedite the plans approval process in council? And give much needed expertise to a very inadequately run process.

I have clients who have money and invest now in our economy – through job creation, buying and building. I design a home that doesn’t require departures, neighbours, consents, and motivation. I have presented my proposals to several Aesthetics’ Committees and Homeowners’ Associations – all have screened my designs with a fine toothcomb. These committees approve them. Most of the work has already been done before reaching the municipality. I walk into council to have the plans sit on a desk for 8 months, 1 year before approval. In this time my client is losing his money; inflation, interest rate hikes – the usual! The public is not being protected – my client suffers from the inadequacies of the Municipal Councils. When you go to Council – it’s like running into flypaper – they are short staffed and in some cases woefully under qualified and basically they are preventing growth. Can’t S.A.C.A.P. do something about this, maybe by putting up scrutiny fees, attract more qualified staff into municipalities and some how unblock this log jam?

Is it not possible to forward the best-run Municipality in the land and create a model for other municipalities to look at? This is a crisis and is costing Homebuilders millions.

We as an Institute want to thank S.A.C.A.P. for facilitating the bosberaad and I’m sure it’s going to pave the way for a professional future for all of us.

We had the career focused future politician(who would look to draught more votes), an elipsed stand-up-comedian (who promised to ‘sweeten’ the deal), a model who knows it’s all about the ‘role’, and one candidate who “if” he keeps his head, would like to ”fashion” that all female students wear Academy IDT logo-embellished bikinis as Friday attire. Well done to you all and may the best person for the position be elected!!

We look forward to meeting with you and are sure that you will represent your class of 2010 with distinction.