Image and IT Managemnt (Kolade)

IMAGE MANAGEMENT

Being an Image manager makes me responsible for the firm’s visual identity. I’m in charge of creating and delivering a strategic framework for the look and feel of all projects and making sure that everything we do including presentation and advertising is in keeping with our strategy and brand guidelines.

I work closely with all departments of Cube Studios especially marketing in order to visually represent the firm accurately, being a good listener and experience and contacts from my previous jobs enable me to achieve that.

GOALS
1. Brand Cube Studios as a high quality firm
2. Create a consistent image for Cube Studios - Style
3. Responding to request from management team

STRATEGY AND TARGETS
1. Starting up in 2021, I’ll ensure that every aspect of material used in branding is of top quality from business cards to letter heads. Most information in this century is consumed via electronic devices therefore, we would stick to flat and clean designs (currently trending) and a limited colour pallet and try as much as possible to get most of our designs done in house.

I would also that the appearance of our content on all platforms from physical to digital remains consistent. By 2026, there would be further improvements to our branding as we aim to have another office in London by then. I’ll be working very closely with a top class branding firm in order to achieve consistency.

2. Consistency is key to recognition. In order to create an image for Cube Studios that remains constant, themes would be created for each project. I ensure that they follow through by conducting checks weekly or monthly depending on the length of the project. These checks are based on the quality of drawings, graphics and their relationship to the theme. Adjustments can be made in time before the next review if mistakes are spotted.

Themes are based on color pallets and our personalized library of architectural symbols which would continue to grow over time.

Being the image manager, (by 2026) I have full access to all drawing and graphic documents being produced via a Local Area Network or Cloud through which weekly submissions or any uncertainties are addressed. Uncertainties are addressed as soon as they are received and as soon as possible during the weekend.

3. Request from management team would be handled based on priority. Request for graphics required in less than a week will be prioritized over those required later. To make a request, the manager has to send me a detailed description of what is needed with a sketch if possible and completed graphic would be sent back. By 2026, the introduction of the centralized database would simplify this process. Graphics would be easily accessible through the database allowing for quick responses and modifications needed to be made.

IT MANAGEMENT
I’m in charge of the quality, maintenance, systems and data within the IT department.

GOALS
1.  Having a centralized IT based system.
2.  Maintaining the system and database – Updates and Backups.
3.  Privacy and security
4.  Staying ahead of trends – Virtual Reality

STRATEGY AND TARGETS

1.     By 2026, we would have enough funds to set up a centralized IT based systems through which all our files are accessed, stored and backed up. This would allow all management to have quick and easy access to all files. It saves time and office space as documents is soft and less time is spent by Admin answering queries. Before then, files would be accessed manually through data transfer mediums like flash drives, emails etc or via a shared cloud account.

2.     In order to keep the systems functioning properly, they would be updated promptly and a maintenance policy would be set up to guide users on how to go about day to day use of the systems.

I’ll ensure eternal vigilance over our data through backing up every day work remotely (cloud) and locally (Hard Drives). All company data would be stored and accessed from a main hard drive via Local Area Network, this hard drive is backed up automatically to a twin hard drive in case of a fault and my access to both allows me to back up the twin hard drive on-line via Dropbox automatically. This system is the same before 2026 but not automatic as I’ll have to make sure each user updates their systems promptly and back up all files on a shared hard drive. This hard drive would then be backed up by me at the end of each day on another hard drive and online.

3.     As a startup firm in 2021, privacy and security would not be an issue but as we begin to expand and hire other staff, certain information would be kept private and secure through password protection of files.

4.     Virtual Reality is Revolutionizing Architecture;
Architects, engineers, and designers spend a good chunk of time illustrating their ideas with tools like Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp, but these designs are still confined to the computer screen. This is a big problem; 2D screens are terrible at communicating how a space actually feels. Models do a better job but they have limitations.

The most practical solution to this problem is the use of HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) due to their affordability and level of immersion. Our choice of HMD is the Oculus Rift Gear by Oculus. This enables us to produce immersive architectural walkthroughs

Once all drawings are clear approved by Admin, I create an application by working with pdf blueprint drawings, or by importing existing CAD or BIM models from programs like Revit, SketchUp, or ArchiCAD or AutoCAD. The final step is the integration with the Unity3D game engine – the same technology used to create many of the latest XBox and iPad games. This can then be experienced using an Oculus Rift Gear, embedded in a web page, or displayed during presentations.

We aim to improve our VR testing system a decade letter, by having a testing facility which would help through design stage, walkthroughs and construction.