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  • learning, work-in-progress, architect-on-demand, advice-without-strings

    Passion for Learning: Life as Work-In-Progress

    Second installment of the workshop felt like the fastest three hours ever! In awe with the participants’ commitment, I admired and respected their passion for learning — the way they were striving to stretch their comfort zone — developing, acquiring knowledge and expanding existing skills. It made me think of life as work-in-progress.

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  • organizing thoughts, parti, architect-on-demand, advice-without-strings

    Generating a Parti? Try a New Way of Organizing Thoughts

    Although nervous and uncomfortable promoting my own system, I’m compelled to recommend it. I teach a strategy of organizing thoughts aimed at generating a parti, a launch pad for an architectural design. The process is quite simple; it’s outlined in my how-to ebook DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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  • DIY Like an Architect, workshop, generating ideas, architect on demand, advice without strings

    DIY Like an Architect Workshop: Generating Ideas

    Every time I teach DIY Like an Architect workshop through ArtCenter’s ACX, a sense of doing something meaningful gives me a jolt. Being able to assist with the process of generating ideas is uplifting. It’s so inspiring to come in contact with men and women who’d give up their Sunday to uncover new facets of…

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  • displaying objects, tips, museum, home, alla diy ally. architect on demand, advice without strings

    8 Tips on Displaying Objects: From Museum to Home

    Yesterday, I went to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) with the sole purpose of collecting tips on displaying objects. I wanted to see what can anyone learn from a museum to apply at home.

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  • masterplan, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Learning How to Masterplan

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: last week. My creative teens have practically learned everything about how to think like an architect. We’ve come full-circle and are practicing how to masterplan through mind mapping and collaging. It’s the final step in DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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  • uniting parts, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Uniting Parts with the Whole

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week seven. My creative teens are mastering the concept of uniting parts with a whole as they learn how to think like an architect while we work our way through the steps of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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  • architect on demand, advice without strings

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Scaled Drawings and Models Simultaneously

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week six. My creative teens are practicing how to think like an architect while working on steps  8 and 9 of the DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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  • models, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Models

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week five. Last week my creative teens started scaled drawings — step 8 in the DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method. Some of the kids are eager to build already; they are moving right along to step 9, a scaled model.

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  • floor plan, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Designing with a Floor Plan

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week four. My creative teens are practicing how to think like an architect — ready to tackle step 8 of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method — zeroing in on a floor plan.

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  • understanding scale, proportion, DIY Like an Architect

    DIY Like an Architect: Understanding Scale and Proportion

    Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week three. We are working on understanding scale and proportion. First two sessions were devoted to initial brainstorming steps of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method. Today my creative teens are sharing the insights — building presentation skills is one of the objectives.

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Get to know

  • Meet Alla
  • Testimonials
  • Accolades
  • Get in touch

Get inspired

  • DIY like an architect
  • Kid-Focused Design
  • Idea books
  • Blog
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  • get to know
    • meet Alla
    • testimonials
    • accolades
    • legacy
  • get started
    • DIY like an Architect
  • get inspired
    • kid-focused design
    • ideabooks
    • blog
  • get in touch