Harvard Architecture Portfolio Review | De Qian Huang

In this portfolio review, we'll walk through De Huang's portfolio that was created during his study at the Harvard GSD (Graduate School of Design). De Huang has also founded his practice OAID in recent years. To learn more about his professional work: oaid.studio/work/?workname=pr...
Today's portfolio is viewable here:
issuu.com/deqianhuang/docs/20...
Plan Oblique tutorial: • How to Create a Plan O...
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#harvard #gsd #portfolio
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[@jonathanknight8702]

From my professional experience, and from being involved in portfolio reviews and interviews at three of the top firms in the world, people with portfolios like this rarely get hired at top firms. It’s eye candy for fellow students and academic programs but shows very little about how you think as a designer, your philosophy and process, and your ability to actually do things that pay the bills in the practicing world of architecture: orthographic drawings, details, client and contractor communication, designing to a budget, etc. Pretty drawings only get you so far in the real world. There’s a lot more skillsets that are necessary to function inside an office. The danger here is that you never move beyond making drawings and 3D modeling into project management, client relations, business development, etc.

[@ArchiHacks]

This is a really great point! Could you please provide us with an example? I think young professional viewers will benefit greatly from reading a well-rounded variety. Thanks again for your suggestions and we look forward to seeing your example!

[@Nipul29]

I've been working in an architecture firm for three years post-graduation now and I can only agree with your comment. My superiors wanted to know whether or not I was able to do these things you mentioned on a daily basis, in the real world. My only question to you would be: Do these things have a place in your portfolio, since they are not considered the prettiest? Some skills are not able to be represented through drawings either, so what would be your advice to convey a good impression of your real world skills?

[@dianajoytulaylay4885]

This is for real! I already got my architectural license in my country, and for what have I seen in the practice, these people with great design/rendering skills often ends up inside the office and does not get exposed in the business side of things in the practice. As an architect, and to pursue a career/practice of your own, you should be all around and more technical and you should never forget that this is still a business and have ROIs and clients in a normal basis does not require that much of design. To design something crazy, you should find a client that is crazy too, with a crazy budget. Hahah

[@jonathanknight8702]

​@@Nipul29 When I graduated I had several pages of construction details. Also most of my projects included either a few scanned sketches of the design iterations OR beautiful diagrams that show a design unfolding in both time and space: think Bjarke Ingles diagrams. They allow you to show your thinking without messy drawings and what, how, why you designed what you did. I also had a professor once remind us that most of the beautiful "napkin sketches" you see from fancy firms are actually done at the end of the project. Maybe they are similar to the first napkin sketches, but they are indeed redone at the end -- so feel free to "beautify" your sketches and design thinking within the portfolio. In summary: I think a good portfolio has a mix of design thinking at the beginning---either hand or digitized--along with final renderings and construction details (as applicable).

[@jamesfansdesigncrossing4184]

Jonathan KnightI can’t agree with you more. I’m working in the U.S. currently. I had worked and working for architects who worked in Genoa RPBW office for almost a decade. Both of them completed buildings for Renzo Piano here in the U.S. Both of them went to the GSD. And the work we do, even for artistic exhibition, are really down to the nuts and bolts with countless amount of iterations. I too, restructuring my portfolio. I would just show the rendering with the complete architecture photographs side by side in the same spread, for the real world projects.

[@janine475]

I think what academia demands vs. the work that firms in the profession expects differs largely. Academia likes to test students conceptually because it can afford to and I think this is reflected in graduate portfolios like this one. Professional firms will expect the standard plans, sections, elevations and technical details, hence the portfolio of someone working for 10 years is going to differ largely from the new grads. It's not like the new grads can't do these drawings - it's just that schools will push you away from the standard drawing and towards reimagining ways of communicating your project. Whether this is a good thing or not is another discussion.

[@sakshiisharmaaa]

I liked the way you took us through. This was a helpful video, thanks.

[@hassankhan2280]

Now this looks like a dope portfolio majority of the portfolio i have seen were art oriented some only had 2 projects and more drawing ! bdw love the way you explains this beauty !!!

[@andrewmorrisondesign]

The cover is very professional and well executed

[@idilkumsaldolanbay4224]

I really wonder portfolios of people who studied in Bartlett or AA school as well. And how do they make those complex models, drawings and illustrations, they are insane and i really want to see how do they develop their projects into that level. Incredible...

[@ArchiHacks]

Those are excellent questions! I'll review some more portfolios soon : )

[@idilkumsaldolanbay4224]

@@ArchiHacks thank you very much! best regards from Istanbul :)

[@anirudhrathi2616]

Lovely, both the portfolio & the critique!

[@LandSpaceArchitecture]

love the way how you go through the portfolio

[@ArchiHacks]

Glad you like it! Love your videos too 😍

[@niazigrouni2700]

thank you for sharing!

[@jamesfansdesigncrossing4184]

Would you mind showing some construction details and practical architecture portfolios?

[@danaraslan4241]

Thank you for an excellent review

[@SurasmitaMeher-ch3lo]

I dunno man, like it's more of a modern art portfolio than an architectural portfolio. We gotta dive into the techniques as well.

[@LaSombraa]

That’s what schools like these days... beautiful graphics bro, nobody cars about techniques anymore lo...

[@satyasinghbhati8567]

@@LaSombraa I'm not so sure about that.

[@adharmacharmalok6651]

Thank you 🔥💪🏽

[@bowenzhou4303]

as a design student, the drawings are really clear to me. orthographic and technical drawings are really easy, so they are being seen as too basic and not included here.

[@provadatta2807]

Hi, I am from India. I have done my MSC in interior design & have 7+ years job experience. I am very much interested in architecture.So now I am planning for self taught architecture. So could you please guide about this?

[@x_xx3x]

The best architectural stuff through hundreds experiences to see these portfolio also including mine

[@hyderkhan1726]

Need more portfolio review...

[@brighttooth3592]

Thank you

[@jeffersonllm9090]

Just a crazy Harvard student. that's a complement.

[@KevinJesus1000]

Awesome!!

[@VickyVyNguyen]

This is great!

[@khulagukhan]

having white background for cover sheet is some king of new trend I guess.

[@ulucgoksan4354]

I dont understan why people is talking about being able to draw or put this much art he is from Harvard it is almost the top and Architecture is literally art and this is a beautiful portfolio 10/10

[@princesstikka8007]

he may be from Harvard, but it doesn't mean he will be the best. If you read the comments there are some very good comments that explain why this portfolio lacks architecture.

[@h...........................]

this is a beautiful (ART) portfolio,but not an architectural portfolio, there isn't anything that is a project,only beautiful designs,BUT,not projects..

[@abbassethi4663]

Please guide me about how can I get admission in GSD

[@samuelmudehwe2526]

Archi Hacks Thanks for all tips and tricks. Looking forward for more in the new year 2021. Here is wishing you a merry Xmas and wonderful new year. Samuel Mudehwe (Ex Harvey Bufe Partnership, Chartered Architects)

[@ArchiHacks]

Thank you so much for your kind words! We wish you a Merry Christmas and a great holiday season!

[@DEEPAKKumar-ew3gj]

Helo, I want to review my portfolio from your, I am under graduate student, so I want to know what I did good and what I did wrong, so In future I can make it perfect. Plzz reply if you can review

[@riddhimaagupta3037]

What software and techniques are involved in making such detailed drawings ? Be it the line work or the renders?

[@ZachyR]

Most likely will be Revit or rhino among many more but I highly think that he involve other programs to add such an extremely detail work.

[@osamatariq9134]

Civil engineer left the chat

[@LaSombraa]

Lmao just engineer in general 😂

[@spiderchubbbb]

@@LaSombraa Landscape architect as well

[@kamrunnahar199]

One question! Is it okay to use copyworks in portfolio?(By copyworks I mean things I have drawn but not my original idea (maybe a picture of a building)) Does it create disbelief?

[@TristanMattox]

It's certainly okay, just keep in mind that this showcases your ability as an artist to draw, sketch, or render. It does not show anything of you as a designer. I would suggest keeping it to a minimum and, of course, always give credit to the original work!

[@luisas7879]

I’m in my second year as undergraduate and I have a doubt: good/successful portfolios usually set a color palette for each project displayed? Or its better to have one color palette that goes in the hole portfolio?

[@ArchiHacks]

Hi Luisa, I'm glad you asked! There's definitely no right answer to that question and either can work. Choose the color that works the best for you. Sometimes it'll be project specific and eventually, you'll find your own style that seems to occur consistently : )

[@wongxu1667]

Hi I was wondering how you got architecture experience or knowledge before high school, like does high school provide the info for you or do you need to do something else? I saw on the portfolio some blue print designs (architectural work). I’m a 14 about to go to high school and I want to be prepared. Thanks.

[@mochicat8464]

uhh no high school doesn't. but the subjects art, design/technology etc in high school would help you gain some skills. the portfolio he is showing was done in university, not during high school

[@bastianschuster3343]

What kind of drawing style is this, does it have a name? I have seen similar drawings by zaha hadid and would love to learn more about sketches like these!

[@ChildOfHephaestus]

These kinds of conceptual drawings are pretty ubiquitous within architecture schools. Zaha’s style has been described as “radical deconstructivism”

[@urvieevathanii]

Absolutely wonderful 👏👏👏 Can i get this portofolio please, 🙏

[@_Final_Boss]

Here: issuu.com/deqianhuang/docs/2019_portfolio_s

[@sherzodrasulovv]

@@_Final_Boss link is not working((

[@_Final_Boss]

@@sherzodrasulovv yes it is not working, i would suggest you to type his name " Deqian Huang" in the issue website search box and see if it shows anything. 2nd possibility is the author has altogether deleted or made his work private. Cheers!

[@masonbby]

what font did he use for his cover

[@Potatoverynice]

comic sans

[@ua9764]

😂😂😂I feel sorry for the person who commented hoping to get the font, only to have a reply saying ‘comic sans’

[@smn8405]

can you do me a favor? plz name the apps which are used in this portfolio:)))

[@hannah6301]

well probably standard adobe ps, ai and id plus of course 3d and endering software

[@jackruck441]

I don't understand these drawings... they are so abstract and artistic rather than logical and meaningful

[@llijamie]

go and take civil engineering then, you obviously have no clue what "school" means in the field of Archi

[@muntazirbeegun7115]

@@llijamie you are right but i believe he has a point though. Again you need to read the captions to understand each project. Again the question of portfolio ? Is it to understand your project through just drawings?

[@feelfuulfiil]

It might shows nothing logical, but for sure he/she shows the technics of capabilities and able to create extraordinarily outside the box These can't be done in a day.. At least shows some appreciation for the writer

[@llijamie]

@@feelfuulfiil exactly...

[@thuhuong8838]

That what all architecture portfolio look like. Once you get used to it, they are pretty eay to understand

[@zoc7706]

diao :)

[@sebascorralm1]

No sections, no plans, no details. I can tell he is really good designing and diagraming but I can’t see a real project here.

[@LaSombraa]

I didn’t even realize till you said that... kind of strange there are no plan views, sections, or detailed sectional drawings of structural elements. This guy can be a good architectural designer, but maybe not so much an architect

[@joshuaohsnap]

do you know what fonts he was using

[@sabrahislam301]

Maybe Adobe Caslon pro

[@joshuaohsnap]

@@sabrahislam301 cheers!

[@zahrahosseini9523]

Now I’m so confused about architecture. Why are these so abstract? Are the people working in architecture field suppose to do and know all of these things ?

[@ArchiHacks]

Hey Zahra, those are excellent questions, and the answer can be different for everyone. For us, there is some distinction between academic and practical projects. Sometimes these abstract and conceptual projects help one better understand oneself and give birth to new ideas that can be applicable to more concrete projects. It might be easiest to think about how high fashion affects the future of design.

[@flashgames1273]

crutch of pretty drawings...

[@shams77able]

Didn't find any architectural character in whole portfolio.

[@selvii]

Was more of a Design thing

[@archzay5073]

He is allowing the viewer to be open to scale you know

[@LaSombraa]

Oh so you want to see entire construction documents in an architectural portfolio? Bruh, get out of here lmao.

[@friedrichnietzsche4569]

*cries in 2:2*

[@kazuma8630]

you dont really understand anythink about the projects. He has some nice drawings but I´m not sure if there is good architecture and you dont get a felling of the rooms and that is what architecture is about...

[@benjadelavega9748]

here you can see the difference between an artist and an architect. this definitely ISN'T architecture.

[@itgeltbayan]

not really an architectural portfolio to me...

[@BorisSunshine]

This portfolio is weak

[@afopec1654]

Why

[@emilyprincessxo]

Are you serious ?

[@afopec1654]

Yeah...the projects seem strong but maybe it could do with hand drawings and paintings

[@BorisSunshine]

@@emilyprincessxo Most drawings are not clear to say the least. This portfolio is shouting - "I have made some drawings, trust them to have a point". Like a coffee table photo album.

[@h...........................]

agree,this isn't even architecture,only design... like,WHERE ARE YOUR PROJECTS? in which situation are going to applying those designs? ok boy..

[@666hardStyle999]

wow k aburrido es el portafolio que muestras :v

[@sebastianchavez4837]

I really hate this “architecture” tendency. Its more graphic design. Haveńt seen a single technical drawing