Specifications when buying your own computer

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When choosing your own CAD / design / visualisation machine consider the following broad pointers for specifications.

  • Laptop will have the portability and convenience but a desktop workstation is likely to be more powerful for the same price.
  • Get as much RAM as possible; 8Gb minimum but 16gb or more recommended
  • Discreet Nvidia GTX / RTX or Quadro graphics card if you can – rather than onboard graphics.
  • i5/i7 class or AMD Ryzen cpu or higher
  • SSD – solid state hard drive; it doesn’t necessarily need to be huge if you store data on an external drive.
  • Warranty – check this is not just a basic return to supplier option which would mean you are without a machine for weeks.
  • Screen: 1080p minimum resolution; for a desktop setup a 24 inch plus is ideal for CAD / visualisation – and adding a cheaper smaller second screen is a great productivity booster.

While machines without all these specs will still run the more power hungry applications it will likely be a frustrating and limited experience.

Note:

Macs won’t natively run some potentially useful software including:

  • Vray for Rhino – rendering plugin
  • 3D Studio Max – advanced 3d design / visualisation
  • ArcView – GIS Software
  • Autodesk Recap – laser scanning processing software

You can get discount on Macs via the Apple Eduction / Unidays store. A MacBook Air 13 with an upgrade to 16gb Ram is a pretty solid choice for graphic design students.

A desktop machine will likely be cheaper and easier to upgrade than a laptop – also you can have larger and dual monitor setups which is extremely useful for CAD / design work. Pcspecialist.co.uk have a great online machine configurator for getting a custom specification. A basic configuration could be easily improved later by swapping out for a better graphics card or adding extra RAM.

A refurbished or older machine with good specs is likely to be better than a new basic one – these two suppliers currently have refurbished laptops – with warranty – available for delivery:

https://www.tier1online.com/

https://www.europc.co.uk/

Apple also sell refurbished and warranties models on the Apple Refurbished Site

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Resources Available off site.

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Note: The Stockwell Street Building and its facilities be closed from 17.00 Friday 20th March until further notice.

While you are unable to visit the University and access the School of Design facilities, here are some resources that may help while you continue your studies off-site:

Software

Software available for download and installing onto your own machines:

Remote Rendering

It is possible to upload V-Ray render files to the University for processing on the workstation machines; uploaded files will be queued, processed and returned as .PNG images.

Instructions on how to remote render

Chaos also offer a paid render service themselves; priced according to render size and complexity

Chaos Cloud Paid Render

Learning Resources

Links to useful online tutorials / manuals / guides for popular design related software

Photography

Information about putting together a photography setup in your own home

Photography at Home

Workshop

Workshop Activities at Home

Tech Support

We will endeavour to respond to queries and give advice regarding supporting off site activities as much as possible. Please mail us here

DesignStudios@gre.ac.uk

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Key Dates 2020 : Timetable SUSPENDED

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All key dates running up to the final submissions, end of year show and end of term are now SUSPENDED due to the current situation. A revised schedule will be published when conditions allow.

Monday 20th April

  • 24/5 Hour Access BEGINS (Proposed)
  • First / Second Floor S11

Monday 27th April

  • Final Submission
  • BA Architecture Year ONE

Wednesday 29th April

  • Final Submission
  • BA Architecture Year TWO

Monday 4th May

  • Final Submission
  • MArchitecture Year ONE

Tuesday 5th May

  • Final Submission
  • BA Architecture Year THREE

Wednesday 6th May

  • Final Submission
  • MArchitecture Year TWO

Thursday 7th May

  • Final Submission
  • BA / MA / MLA Landscape Architecture All Years

Friday 8th May

  • 24/5 Hour Access ENDS (Proposed)
  • First / Second Floor S11

Monday 11th-14th May

  • Install by SECOND YEAR Graphics / Animation students
  • Studios 1001 – 1006

Friday 15th May

  • SECOND YEAR Graphics / Animation Show
  • Studios 1001 – 1006

Monday 18th-22nd May

  • Deinstall by Students
  • 2nd year graphics show takedown

Monday 18th-22nd May

  • Build : RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THESE SPACES
  • Studios 1001-1006 :Graphics / Media / Animation.

Tuesday 26-29 May (Monday is a BH)

  • Install by students
  • Graphics / Media / Animation

Tuesday 26-29th May:

  • Build : RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THESE SPACES
  • Studios 10-21 (Architecture and Landscape)

Monday 1-3 June:

  • Marking
  • Graphics / Media / Animation

Monday 1-5th June:

  • Install
  • Architecture install (going into weekend if necessary)

Monday 1-5th June:

  • Build: RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THESE SPACES
  • 1-5th June: Ground floor build and installation / FTV

Monday 8/9th June:

  • Rehang (where required)
  • Graphics / Media / Animation

Wednesday 10th June

  • Opening 6.00PM
  • NO ACCESS FOR STUDENTS DURING THE DAY

Saturday 27 June

  • Open Day
  • Show closes 6PM

Sunday 28 June – 5th July

  • Deinstall by all students
  • Students to collect own work

Monday July 6th – July 10th

  • Deinstall
  • Remaining student work is moved to holding area

Monday July 13th – 24th

  • Take down: RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THESE SPACES
  • All first floor studio
  • Contractors to dismantle show and make good studios for beginning of term

Friday 28th August

  • Disposal
  • Unclaimed student work to be disposed / recycled
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Academic Year 2019-2020 : What’s New

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Here are some of the changes and additions for the design resources in Stockwell Street this new academic year.

New Studio Layout

Studios

Studio layout has changed; the tall walls in the crit pit put up for exhibition will now stay.  These walls are now open ended with shelving inside for extra portfolio storage in the studios.  More tables and chairs have been purchased too as well as new wheelable roll cages for tidier storage and transport of models / media / drawings.

Please make use of the extra storage – this year we are required to be tidier and less cluttered with work and models, etc. Please identify models and portfolios as your own – we may move these to storage shelves if they are cluttering the spaces.

The areas assigned to course groups have changed too; broadly the user / studio arrangement is like this

  • 1001 / 1002 : Landscape Architecture
  • 1003 / 1004 / 1005 / 1006 : Graphic Design
  • Crit Pit / 1020: Architecture
  • 1010 / 1019 : Shared studios

Computers

Software Updates :

  • Autodesk 2020 [about to be installed]
  • Sketchup 2019
  • Zbrush 2019
  • Cinema 4d r20
  • Blender 2.8
  • Vray Next

New software: 

  • KeyShot 8 – standalone renderer for Rhino, Sketchup etc.  Easy to use and fast.
  • Insta360 Studio – 360 camera editing
  • Cyclone Register 360. Laser Scanner registration and processing software

Plotting and Equipment

The plotting software has changed, we are now using Uniflow.  Prices have stayed the same, but now you will plot per area of plot – meaning you can choose any of the standard ISO sizes or make a custom size plot (for example a long plot).  The price is calculated according to the area and you will get a confirmation dialogue with the price for that area before going ahead.

New sheet feed plotter – we have an additional Canon TX-3000 plotter which has replaced the old sheet feed plotter.  Higher quality and faster – plots are also now charged per area of plot.

New Laser Printers: All of the A3/A4 laser printers in the University have been replaced.  The new models are faster, higher quality and deal with heavy PDF files better.  When printing duplex the second (back) page costs less.

NEW Ideal 4315 electric guillotine: this is a guillotine that will let you cut up to 40mm thick reams of paper / card in one go. It has an electric gauge and laser guide to allow precise measurements of cuts.  MUST NOT to be used with Perspex / wood etc. You will require the key to unlock and use this cutter – this will be available from support staff

Insta EVO 360 Camera

Camera for recording 360 degree movies and stills (used for creating video at top of this page). Includes “invisible” selfie stick.

Workshop

NEW Ultimaker 5S 3D Printer: this is a new larger printer that allows print volumes of 330 x 240 x 300 mm. Small but important feature of this printer is that it will pause when it runs out of material the resume when it is refilled.

https://ultimaker.com/learn/the-ultimaker-s5-is-here

NEW laser cutter: Universal ILS9.150D can cut sheets up to 914 x 610. It is much more powerful than the old laser cutter it is replacing and much faster. The focus this year will be on all students doing their own laser cutting for straightforward jobs.

https://www.ulsinc.com/products/platforms/ils9150d

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Key Dates: Summer Arrangements

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Key Dates

Monday 1st July

Show take down for students

– Students to collect exhibition work this week. Please take any work you want to keep, or arrange for a colleague to collect it for you.  

Monday 8th July

Contractor Take down

– Any work still remaining in the exhibition will be moved to a collection pile between plot area and crit pit.

– While we will endeavour to have work moved and stored carefully we strongly advise you to take away important work as soon as possible.

– All portfolios in computer areas (and second floor seminar rooms) moved to storage rack between plotters and computer area

– Graduating students should also take away any items remaining in the workshop – continuing students must make arrangements with the workshop if items are to remain there.

Wednesday 24th July

– Lockers and black cupboards to be emptied, inspected, batteries replaced. 

[31st July – Resubmissions]

Monday 5th August

– Network Shared Area; S: drive to be wiped.  Please back up. It is full

– If you do need to retain work here then please move it to a folder named “2020-your name”, anything else will be deleted

Monday 2nd September

– Recycling / disposal of any remaining exhibition work still in temporary storage area.

– Items of interest may be used elsewhere for display or demonstration purposes but there is very limited space for retaining models.

Monday 16th September

– Term begins [induction week]

Monday 23rd September

– Teaching begins

Monday 30th September

– Recycling of remaining portfolios; portfolios to be emptied of contents and made available to new students

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Design Studio :: Key Dates 2019

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April 29 / 30 : Enterprise Event in Crit Pit and Studios 1001-1006 (work, models, portfolios will need temporarily to be moved elsewhere)

April 29 / May 3 : PLOT SLAM. Bring properly sized PDF’s to support office for 25% discount on plots

April 15 : 24 Hour Access Starts (Mon-Fri only; Sat / Sun midnight finish)

April 29 : First Year Graphics Submission [Typo – Magazine]

May 6 : Early May Bank Holiday

May 7 – 9 : Second Year Show SETUP

May 8 Submissions:

  • Submission: Architecture Year 1
  • Submission: Architecture Year 2
  • Submission: Architecture Year 3

May 9 Submissions:

  • Submission: Landscape Architecture Year 1
  • Submission: Landscape Architecture Year 2
  • Submission: Landscape Architecture Year 3
  • Submission: Landscape Architecture MLA1
  • Submission: Landscape Architecture MLA2

May 10 Submission:

  • Submission: Architecture Year 4
  • Submission: Architecture Year 5

May 10 – 13 Second Year Show 11_1001 – 11_1006

May 13 : Second Year Graphics Submission [Branding Portfolio]

May 15 : Third Year Graphics Submission [Professional Portfolio]

May 17 : 24 Hour Access Ends

May 20-25 : Exhibition Build: Graphics / 3D/ Media 11_1001 – 11_1006

May 27 : Late May Bank Holiday

May 28 – June 1st: Exhibition Build: Architecture / Landscape Architecture

May 29 : Workshop Deadline: Plinths / Exhibition Furniture

May 28-31 : Exhibition Hanging: Graphics / 3D / Media

June 3 – 7 : Exhibition Hanging: Architecture / Landscape Architecture

June 3 – 7 : Ground Floor Build / Install

June 3 – 7 : Marking: Graphics / 3D / Media

June 11 : DEADLINE FOR COMPLETING ALL EXHIBITION INSTALLATION Midnight 

June 12 : Studio Floor CLOSED: For Deep Clean, catering setup, H&S inspection, etc.

June 12 : Exhibition Opening Night 6.00PM

June 28 : Final Day of public opening

June 29 : Open Day (Exhibition remains on display)

July 1 – 5 : Take down / collection of student work

July 8 – 12 : Exhibition Takedown

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Design Studio :: Key Dates 2018/2019

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Building S11 Operating Hours and Security

Opening hours for the Christmas break and details of the 24 hour operation which will start on 24thNovember:

Christmas / New Year Closure Dates

Closes:                         Friday 21st December 2018 / 5.00PM

Re-opens:                    Wednesday 2nd January 2019 / 8.00AM

24 Hour Opening

The 24 hour opening period for S11 Studios and 2nd Floor spaces is:

Monday 26th November – Friday 14th December (midnight)

and

Wednesday 2nd January – Friday 11th January (midnight)

Note:

  • 24 Hour Opening is for Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday only:  
  • Saturday and Sundays are midnight closing

Security

Please exercise sensible security practice while in studios:

  • Don’t leave laptops and valuables unattended
  • Report suspicious behaviour to security staff
  • University and REASSURANCE security staff will patrol the areas
  • Keep Gateway Card on you at all times – you may be asked to leave if you do not have it with you
  • In the event of a fire alarm activation please leave immediately by following the fire exit signs to the nearest exit – use the enclosed stair cores rather than the open stairs.
  • No sleeping! Staff will wake anyone caught napping; Please go home when you are too tired to work.

 

 

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New for 2018 / 2019

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New Machines: Teaching Lab 2001

This room has had all machines replaced; it now consists of

10 x HP Z6 Workstations with the following spec

  • Intel DUAL Xeon 8 core CPU
  • 64GB Ram
  • NVIDIA Quadro P4000 8GB Graphics Card
  • 1TB SSD
  • 3d connexion space mouse
  • 27 inch UHD screen

30 x Dell Precision 5720 AIO Chassis

  • Intel Xeon Processor E3-1225 v5 (Quad Core)
  • 64GB (4x16GB) 2400MHz DDR4 Non-ECC 1 SR
  • AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 Graphics
  • 1TB SSD
  • Touch Screen

 

Design Studio Computing

  • Canon TX300 Large format scanner / Photo glossy plotter
  • 5 additional Xeon HP Z6 workstations (to be installed)

Software

  • Rhino 6
  • Vray NEXT for 3ds
  • Vray 3.4 for Rhino / Sketchup
  • 3DF Zephyr Photogrammetry [to be installed]
  • Autodesk 2019
  • Adobe 2018

Workshop

  • Mini Pewter furnace – for casting in pewter
  • 3D Printer – Formlabs Form 2 SLA printer
  • Large Belt Sander
  • Soldering station
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Exhibition 2018 Key Dates

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The end of year show is open to the public 14th – 30th June.

After this date the show will still be up for various internal / private events the last of which is on the Tuesday 17th July.

The show takedown will begin on Wednesday 18th July:

  • 17thJuly                       :           VC Dinner [final show event]
  • 18th– 22rdJuly             :           Show takedown – Students [please collect your own work or make arrangements for it to be collected]
  • 23rdJuly                       :           Any remaining student work taken down and put in temporary storage area
  • 22rdJuly – 27th            :           Show takedown – Contractors [contractors to dismantle walls and rearrange studios]
  • 31stAugust                :          Deadline for work collection – Disposal / Recycling

Do NOT take work away before 18th July

Note: portfolios / drawing tubes will not be disposed.  These will move to the portfolio racks. Any portfolios / tubes still remaining by the beginning of next term will have their contents disposed of and then be offered to new students.

 

 

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End of Year Studio Cleanup

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The 2018 end of year show starts on Wednesday 13th June and requires all models / materials / portfolios to be cleared from the first floor studios.

In preparation for this we will be carrying out a phased disposal / recycle of items currently in studios:

Throughout the next few weeks we will be moving items around the studio to a holding area – this is the tables in front of the wall between the CritPit and plotting area.

PLEASE IDENTIFY AND REMOVE ANY ITEMS HERE YOU WISH TO KEEP.

On each Friday before the exhibition the contents of these tables will be considered unwanted and will be disposed / recycled.

For work required for the show we will provide a safe storage area – details to be confirmed shortly.

Please note that we will WILL NOT dispose of portfolios.  The portfolio recycling routine is for us to move all portfolios onto the portfolio racks for reclaiming.  Those portfolios still remaining by the second week of term will have their contents disposed of and the portfolios themselves are made available to students needing them in the next academic year.

Keys dates for the disposal of work

  • Friday 25th May
  • Friday 1st June
  • Friday 8th June

Please assist us by taking home any work you wish to keep as soon as possible.