“I’m extremely frustrated.” It’s a short sentence that says a lot. I’ve been pursuing a few job leads that haven’t amounted to anything yet and the jobs I am working on have seemed to become just a little more difficult. Except, it’s not me that said that sentence.
Little Guy is making the rounds as a new three year old (always hold up 3 fingers when you tell people you are three because. . . then they will get it). He’s exploring and explaining every single thing that’s around him and it’s all really amazing (and often a very amusing process) to be a part of. And of course, every once in a while, a toddler will get extremely frustrated. I’m just surprised that he could tell me that.
I asked him how he knew those words and he replied, “Because I do.”
How do you know that song? “Because I do.”
How did you remember where the coffee aisle is? “Because I do.”
How did you know how to change the oil in the car? . . . . well. . . we’ll get there. . .
There’s an endless feed of information coming across his world view, and I’m pretty sure he’s taking it all in and saving for later. If you press him a bit, you can get it out of him. “We sing that song in school”, or “This is where we got coffee last time.” But it doesn’t matter how he knows those things, it matters that he knows them.
Sometimes I can get away with that during the day too. At Studio m Architecture + Design, I’m constantly reviewing projects for code, aesthetic, & overall thoroughness. How do I know how much clearance is needed in and around an ADA restroom? Because I do. I don’t expect clients to “get into it” with me and start questioning why I know that or what events lead up to today so that I can solve the problem without looking in a code book (although I would be more than happy to do that). I make decisions because I’m a professional and I have years of experience and lots of opinions about how things should be.
We put our trust in people who “know things” every day. You get on the train in the morning and the people operating it know what they’re doing. Why? Because they do. I think. Well, there’s obviously a system in place that will make sure that the right people are there so that I don’t have to worry about it. . . right? Probably? I mean, you know, the National. . . Train. . . Drivers. . . Association. . . NTDA, right? I know I have a few expensive pieces of paper in the drawer that represent people who are basically saying, “Yeah, he does. He knows things.”
So, somewhere along the way, we stop taking someone’s word for it (and that’s a good thing). How do you know that that block tower is going to stand? “Because I do.” Hey, you’re right! Good job.
How do you know that I can take this wall away and my building won’t fall down? Well . . . . . It’ll work, but we’re going to have to consult a Structural Engineer and once we have his calculations, I’ll design everything according to his recommendations (he’s licensed too). Once we have everything coordinated, we’ll size the final structural members that will replace the wall. All of the drawings will, of course, be signed and sealed and additional drawings will be included to detail how exactly everything will look when we’re finished. Don’t believe me? No worries. The drawings are then sent to the local jurisdiction for review and permitting. . . although some of those people use 3rd party specialized review services to ensure proper review of the design. THEN, you can get your wall removed. . . well. . . by someone who is licensed to do it, and after he’s finished, we’ll all go back and make sure it’s right.
So, my advice to Little Guy? Keep reading. Keep learning. I’ll take your word for it most of the time, but when you start to “know” things like that you can land in the pool by jumping off the roof. . . . don’t be surprised if I start questioning your knowledge. It’s nothing personal. I just know that you might need a little help along the way. . . because I do.
Architecture/Design Products:
The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust has a store with lots of Wright inspired products. I’m coming full circle back to FLW. Every college architecture student gets flooded with “falling water” related material because he’s basically the only Architect that most people have ever heard of. But there’s a reason for that.
The Prairie House Blocks are really nice and capture the long, horizontal lines that define the style. These look a little smaller than typical blocks, so check to make sure they’re not too small. This is one of those toys that could be for the budding designer. . . . or maybe for dad. . . .
Check out:
http://www.shopwright.org/product/blocks-prairie-house/blocks
http://www.flwright.org/
Design a Dad 