Here is the January 2012 Architectural Blog Chat (#ABlogChat)

Thanks to curateDE.com for this formatted transcript:

Read all about it at www.Modenus.com – and may the best entries win!

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Dear Modenus and the BlogTour advisory board,

I would like to be considered as a guest blogger for the New York City destination of BlogTour 2012 based on the following online influence factors:

• My blog, Building Content, focuses on providing high-value content for my fellow architects.
• I leverage my blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media platforms to promote the work of others. (Featured Blog Series and Guest Book Reviewer, BIM and Integrated Design)
• I have previous blogging recognition. (Guest blogger for Coverings 2010, Exceptional Contributor Award, for UPworld, 2011-Q1)
• I am a creative and prolific deadline-driven writer. (Winner of NaNoWriMo 2011; a 52K word novel written in the month of November)
• I nurture my online influence as reflected in my steadily growing scores with Klout (44), PeerIndex (47) and Kred (736).

I sincerely appreciate being considered along with the other exceptional bloggers for this exciting opportunity.

Collier Ward

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I never played an instrument in school, but I bet I could be First Chair in blowing my own horn.

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We spend a lot of time connecting with people online; some of them we get to know rather well. On a rare occasion, an industry conference for example, we get to meet these contacts “IRL” – in real life. These live encounters are always a highlight because, sans the familiar online platform, we get to experience the each other in a new dimension (well actually, in an age-old dimension).

Image via Wikipedia

My two recent encounters were not “IRL” in the handshake-and-pat-on-the-back way, but they were blessings nevertheless. These two meetings were over the phone.

Last Monday night I joined in on Philippa Burgess’s regular Media Brand Workshop conference call. I first came to know Philippa through a LinkedIn Group; Screenwriters and Hopefuls and I introduced you to these calls in my first Learning from Hollywood post.

I have enjoyed many of these workshop recordings, but I had never joined one in progress. Because I was new and because I’d joined the discussion late, I kept myself on mute for quite a while. When the discussion focused on some participants who were questioning the purpose and effectiveness of Twitter, I had to chime in. It was great speaking directly to Philippa and the other callers.

The following evening as I was completing my workday I received a call. My iPhone screen was filled with numbers – it was an international call. On the other end was the pleasant accent of another connection from the screenwriters group, Jonathan Stuart-Brown. Jonathan had taken the initiative to follow-up on a discussion thread I began in that group. (You can follow it all here.) Jonathan called to encourage me to begin writing a novel based on architects and architecture. He offered more of the knowledge and insight he’d shared online, but this time it was live and two-way. By the end of the conversation I was committed to start such a work – and finish by years end.

More of my novel news to come in my next post.

I want to publicly thank Philippa and Jonathan for taking our LinkedIn interactions to the level of an interactive phone call. If my plans take shape, I’ll eventually meet both of these friends “IRL”.

Hearing the term triggered an old fashion incandescent light bulb moment!

Dull Graphic of a Bright Idea (via Wikipedia)

For several months I’d been mulling over scenarios for a cable or Internet program to showcase the professional architecture experience. I had adopted the idea of “meta-marketing” – promoting architects and architecture to the general public through entertainment media (and untapped New Media platforms). I’d started connecting with entertainment industry groups to investigate and validate the possibilities. Could the actual work of architects be the basis for engaging entertainment?

Why entertainment? Here’s the reasoning. Novels, movies and television programs have a common stock-in-trade; the “procedural“. Medical dramas, detective shows, legal thrillers, and now forensic mysteries – they all show people at work. They detail the procedures, the techniques and the inherent drama involved in getting a job done. Tell me there’s no drama in winning a client, designing their project and getting it built! The public sees the end product, but if they’re oblivious to the procedure they are likely to overlook the value of how that product came to be.

The public sees the end product, but if they’re oblivious to the procedure they are likely to overlook the value of how that product came to be.

Back to the film industry interview. Colleen Nystedt was addressing the topic “Marketing & Tech Tools for Filmmakers” on Philippa Burgess’ website, “Media Brand Workshop”. She was commenting on the public’s keen interest in how movies are made. People are familiar with Hollywood’s end product, but the fan base also loves a film-making “procedural”! Ms. Nystedt explained how her group was using social media to reach the fan base and to cultivate an audience while the movie was being made. There was a story within the story – and a movie’s production has become its best new means of marketing. In a phrase, “production is the new promotion”.

Production is the New Promotion

There is entertainment value in the “procedural”, in telling of an important job well done. If the entertainment industry knows this (and is using social media as its new marketing) we, as architects, should be Learning from Hollywood.

Image via Wikipedia

In my next post I’ll offer some “production is the new promotion” architectural scenarios and present what our procedurals might look like. Please comment below, and “stay tuned”!

Utopia Forever: Visions of Architecture and Urbanism

The Globe and Mail’s architectural contributor, John Bentley Mays reviewed Utopia Forever: Visions of Architecture and Urbanism and titled his article “Architects Still Dare to Dream of Utopia”

Utopian visions do come from the realm of dreams and architects do tend to start out as dreamers. Utopia Forever apparently is a catalog of such dreams, from fanciful and futuristic sci-fi to hopeful and helpful environmentalism. It’s a book I’d be proud to own and display.

However, while peeking in on someone’s dreams is exciting (Inception, anyone?) we practicing architects must function within the current cultural and financial reality.

“The best thing about this book… is the news it brings us about men and women who are not afraid to think expansive thoughts.”

This evaluation by Mr. Mays validates my own “utopian vision”. Mine isn’t as grand in terms of construction as those in Utopia Forever, but I believe it’s beneficial impact is indeed expansive. It is a vision we can all share – and shape;

“The goal at Building Content is to develop a community of architectural bloggers who will usher in the next golden age of our profession.”

Let me elaborate. While I’m sure that Utopia Forever is an extraordinary book, I believe we need to get architectural ideas off book shelves and coffee tables and onto people’s screens. People understand doctors, lawyers and detectives, not so much from personal contact, but from movies and television. For presenting the potential and the passion of our profession, I believe stories about architects and their work would rival medical dramas, crime scene mysteries and court room procedurals. Let’s tell these stories!

Here’s one approach. I’m currently active at LinkedIn with screenwriters, cultivating relationships and sharing ideas about architecture. Authors are taught to “write what you know” and I’m there to help them know architecture. My stated goal there is to add a great fictional architect to the American culture.

The New Media affords opportunities for access, production and broadcast far beyond traditional Hollywood. Whether on television, in film, as independent webs-isodes, or even as mobile apps, there are means and methods available to us to promote the passion and potential of Architecture. Let’s tell these stories!

Friends, please continue to tell your story on your own professional blog – you’re doing a great job! Let your readers see a glimpse of Architecture’s next Golden Age!