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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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  • architecture, 11-step method, architect on demand, advice without strings

    Architecture 101: 11-step Method

    Establishing Children’s Architecture Workshop in 1995 meant embarking on a journey that shaped the course of my life as well as career. A young mother and a newly licensed architect, I aspired to make an impact and become a better parent in the process. Years of hands-on teaching architecture experience enabled me to invent the…

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  • how do you start a project, 11-step method, architect on demand, advice without strings

    11-Step Method Helps You DIY Like an Architect

    Day two of my DYI Like an Architect two-day workshop at Art Center College of Design. Everyone is very enthusiastic about the process of approaching a design project with the 11-step method. 

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  • how do you start a project, 11-step method, architect on demand, advice without strings

    How Do You Start a Design Project? 11-Step Method!

    The first day of my DYI Like an Architect workshop at Art Center College of Design went really well! We tackled how do you start a design project question by learning DIY Ally’s  11-step method. 

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  • workshop, architect on demand, advice without strings

    DIY Like an Architect Workshop at Art Center College of Design

    If you would rather lose a limb than surrender control of your dream project but would enjoy learning some tricks of the trade, the workshop I lead might be of interest. It is a two-day DIY Like an Architect workshop offered at ArtCenter College of Design.

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

    Generating Design Ideas With DIY Like an Architect

    Design ideas category is my focus for the next post and I am in the process of researching zen gardens. I am distracted by an email from someone who just downloaded DIY Like an Architect: “Ciao Alla! I can’t wait to read your book!”

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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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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