Art Deco Project Guidelines

The last project involves researching the Art Deco era and creating a unique jewelry store that reflects your research and effective merchandising techniques.





Project #6



Guidelines: Conduct research  to answer the following questions about Art Deco Design.

The questionnaire is due 3/9.

1. During What years was the Art Deco design movement prominent?

2. Name 2 major socio-political events during or leading up to the Art Deco era.

3. Identify 2 major artists/designers of the Art Deco era and describe their activities and influence.

4. Identify 6 distinctly Art Deco characteristics relevant to architecture, art and fashion.
Example: elongated, jewel-toned...etc.

5. Identify 2 major architectural works of the Art Deco era.

6. What materials were commonly used in architecture, Art and Fashion (this includes jewelry, sculpture, ceramics and other artisan and fine art objects) during that time.

7. What were some popular colors and color schemes of the Art Deco era?

Be prepared to discuss your research in class.

After conducting research and discussing the content and context of Art Deco design, develop 4 distinct concepts for your jewelry store based on research. Each concept must include the following:

Part 1 Due 3/9

1. Exterior facade (the measurements for the front facade are not to exceed 30 feet wide and 24 feet tall)
2. 2 window displays
3. Floor Plan (measurements not to exceed 30 feet wide, 30 feet deep)
4. Color schemes
5. 4 inspiration images of architecture, furniture, textiles, floor and/or wall treatments (4 elements).



Part 2 Due 3/23

1. one exterior elevation
2. one interior elevation
3. one floor plan
5. at least one figure to illustrate scale in each elevation
4. one materials page showing detailed sketches of furniture, fixtures, textiles, wall and or floor treatments (4 elements) from interior or exterior expressing Art Deco design.
5. One page essay describing the effectiveness of your merchandising display.

6.  Include a inspiration page, a collage of images that propelled your design process.





200 points Due 3/24   

Notice the jewel-toned color scheme

and the elongated forms.

Geometric patterns were popular in interior design

and architecture.

Demo: Drawing from reference material

First, look at the image for information you can use. Look for items which will help you gain knowledge of scale. The couch against the wall is probably around 8 feet long. I will use this informtion to start to draw in 1/4 scale on gird paper. Then I measure the rest of the room in relation to the couch, keeping in mind that as objects get closer to the viewer they will grow larger.



Once I have the basic shape of the room I look for the "vanishing point" by following the horizontal lines in the room that recede toward the center. Once I have located the vanishing point I can make more accurate drawings of the furniture, walls and fixtures. Keep looking at the spacial relationships and adjusting the pencil drawing until it looks right. If you wish, use lines to block out shaded areas.





Transfer the drawing to marker paper manually or through a xerox copier.



Consult your original photo/image to determine your color scheme.



Be prepared to make some mistakes coloring. Have an extra copy of your line drawing ready for your second draft.
Personally, the lines on the blue wall don't work for me. In a second draft I would use only marker on the walls
or use lines more in an all-over way. They look out of place.

Marker Rendering and Project #4

Project #2 Furniture and Fabric Swatch Project due Complete next Monday

along with Project #3 home plan(1) and elevations(2)

Refer to classroom plan and elevations for guidance.  No perspective necessary 

but use overlapping, contrast, value, and shading to communicate spacial relationships.

Recall in class demonstration to colorize your drawings.




1. Determine a light source and the location of highlights and shadows. Leave the only the highest highlights blank.
2. Ink your drawings with fine-point pen on marker paper.
3. Consult your color chart and select your markers. Practice color mixing on scrap paper.
Determine the base color, most common color, preferably the lightest. Fill it in.
4. Working light to dark, colorize your project.
5. Add shadows using your grays, 10, 30, 60. Make sure to have at least three distinct values. Value creates form.
6. Use your white pencil to create highest highlights.

Project #4

Interior Reference Drawings

Objective:  Further develop knowledge of drawing with proper scale and proportion, color, material matching, and representing spacial relationships efficiently and accurately.

Guidelines:  

1.  Utilize class time to go to Library and find 3 images of residential interiors suitable for drawing one plan and two elevations.  After returning to class consult fellow students and instructor for final approval.  Images best suited for the project provide a clear, expansive view of at least one wall.  Cluttered images or images to deeply set into a corner do not provide enough information for the floor plan & elevations. 

2. Based on your best judgement, draw a floor plan of the room, or portion of the room shown in the image.  Research standard door, window, seating, table sizes to devise an accurate estimate of the interior space and elements contained within.  Color match all elements, floor, furniture, fixtures.

3. The elevation is an idea sketch based on the image.  It should have a sense of depth and perspective.  Try making several quick sketches to develop proper proportions, then pick your best to copy and color match.

4. Thirdly, create a materials page depicting 4 details in increased scale.  Material details could include fabric swatches, furniture, fixtures, floor and/or wall treatments. Include call-outs (notes identifying describing the material shown).

Be sure to provide enough detail in all your drawings to describe forms and materials accurately.  Is it a rectangle or is it actually a couch.  What is the couch made of?  Fabric, leather.  Is the floor painted concrete or walnut?  

All elements must be in proper proportion and relative scale.  DO NOT fill the entire paper with your drawing.  Create an organized, balanced and attractive composition.

Points 150

Due 11/10/08

Here are some good examples of appropriate images for this project.






Notice how there is enough information so that you can devise a possible floor plan and an elevation.  Also there is enough variety in texture, contrast,

color and value to create an attractive composition.

Below are more images to guide you through the project, some student work, some drawings by artists and professional designers.

Cool collage elevation composition by Rinah Lang for Dwell Mag

Elevations by students and instructors.

Student illustration of Material Details portion of project #4.