presentation in architecture

12 Tips on Architecture Presentation (for Beginners)

In other words, improving your presentation skills will be an incredibly valuable skill, not just in school but in the professional field of architecture.

The design itself is important, and while there is nothing you will read here that will negate that, it is crucial to know that your work does not end when the drawings are complete.

1. Get a Grasp of Your Audience

Interest levels are going to vary between audiences based on the context of your presentation. If you are a practicing architect, your design is the keystone of the presentation.

In this scenario, your professional success depends not just on how good your designs are but how well you can sell them to clients.

So, focus on demonstrating your knowledge, dedication, and creativity. Prove that you worked hard on the presentation, and you will draw respect.

2. Plan and Structure Your Presentation

Have a series of steps that break down what you are going to present in which order. For example:

Add additional details that could help you more comfortably present your design in an informative and easy-to-follow manner.

3. Structure the Visuals as You Would Telling a Story

4. speak clearly and confidently.

It is so blatant it’s cliché. But don’t overlook it.

Practice if this is an area in which you struggle. Your design is great, so speak clearly and confidently to back it up.

It may be hard for you to get to this point, but once you do, you might find yourself looking forward to sharing your brilliant work rather than dreading it.

6. Rehearse

7. dress nice.

If you are a student, you may consider investing in high-quality garb for when you present your final project because, ultimately, putting effort into presenting yourself only aids the effort you put into presenting your project.

8. Be Concise

9. include humor, 10. be personable, 11. recognize imperfections, 12. include a chance for questions.

10 Tips for Creating Stunning Architecture Project Presentation

Architectural design projects are the life and soul of architecture school . As a student, you are always working on one, and somehow it becomes what your life is revolving around.

You would give it every possible effort and believe you have done your best, but on jury day, when you see everyone else’s project you could lose a bit of your confidence, not because your project is any less, but because your presentation is lacking.

The architecture project presentation might not be the core of the project, but it surely influences the viewer. It can also be considered an indicator of your artistic skills and sense as a designer.

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While you shouldn’t be completely dependable on positive results from a merely eye-catching architecture project presentation, you still need to give an adequate amount of time to properly plan it in a way that communicates your idea best. Your architecture professor might credit you for a creative design regardless of the presentation, but your future client might only see the presentation, so make it a habit, to involve your design skills in all aspects of your project, starting now.

Besides the essential tips and tutorials for photoshop architectural rendering that will definitely improve your board, here, we will give you some basic tips on how to create a Stunning Architecture Project Presentation . So, let’s get started.

Architecture Project Presentation Board Tips

1) size and orientation.

Most of the time your professors restrict you to specific board sizes and the number of boards. If that is the case then you need to confirm if your boards should be presented in Landscape or Portrait orientation. You, also, need to decide if you will be presenting your board side by side as one big board, one poster of equivalent size, or as separate boards that come in sequence.

Now, that you have a base to work on you need to start planning the layout of your boards or poster:

• If you are presenting hand drawings then you can do prior planning on one or more A4 paper sheets for example. Try to make an accurate estimation of the space needed per each drawing and the buffering space you would like to leave around each.

• If you will be presenting CAD drawings, then this might be easier. You can experiment with the actual drawings on CAD Layout or Photoshop if you will be rendering your project digitally.
• You can use a grid system to organize your drawings. Decide on a unit width, for example, 6cm, then use its multiples to create unit areas to contain your drawings, like for instance, 12cm for outer frame buffering, 36cm for main drawings and so.

Do This Or that! Here is an example!

3) placement and zoning.

Think of the way you would like the viewers to circulate through your presentation, what you would like them to see first, how they would best understand your project. For example, you may start by brief site analysis, then move to the concept statement and its illustrative sketches if needed.

• If your concept is form-based you may need to show the form first, before the plan, then move to the plan to reveal how the form has functionally worked out.
• If your concept is in the plan itself, then you may move directly to the plan and conclude with the rendered exterior form as usual.

Drawing and Rendering Tips

4) background.

Dark Background

It is called “background” for a reason. It should be a platform to feature your drawings as the main focus, clear of any distractions. Some students use faded renderings of their own projects as background, but this can be seriously diverting. White backgrounds are best, as they show the true colors of your project.

Some opt to use a black background to stand out, however, that doesn’t usually turn out so well. It may cause halation and strain for sensitive eyes.

Black and white presentation

There are many ways you can render your projects, choose the one you excel at and shows your project best.

• There is the Black & White or Greyscale presentation where you only show lines with various thicknesses, in addition to shade and shadow.
• There is the greyscale presentation with an element of color where you would choose one bright color, for example, green for landscape and greenery, to contrast with the, generally, achromatic drawings.
• One color might become two colors revealing different materials like wood or bricks and glass for example.

Presentation with a Color Scheme on Greyscale

All, these previous techniques would work out fine if colors are not the main focus in your project, however, if there is an idea behind your color scheme or the used materials, or there are many details that will go lost in greyscale, then there is no way out.

You need to fully color or at least broaden the color palette for your presentation.

Colored Presentation

The manual achromatic presentation can be via graphic pencils and ink, and the colored elements can be executed using watercolor, markers, brush pens, or pastels. For digital presentations, you can use Adobe Photoshop as the most commonly used tool. You can even mimic the aesthetic of the manual presentation in Photoshop using downloadable brushes and a mix of effects.

6) Visual Hierarchy

Black and White Contrast Color

What is your strongest point, the highlight of your project? Grab the attention from far away with that. There are many ways to grab the attention of a specific drawing, using color or size. For example, if the main idea is in your cross-section, you can present it on large scale with full-hue colors, against black and white plan drawings. That is mixing between two of the color presentation techniques mentioned in the previous point to get emphasis by contrast.

General Tips

7) Minimize text on your presentation board. Write a short and concise concept statement and add a very brief explanation, if needed. Don’t waste your time composing elongated descriptive text because no one will read it.

8) Replace words, whenever possible, with simple illustrative sketches and figures. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. You may use colors and keys to further clarify your illustrations.

9) Use a suitable font for your title and text and, preferably, don’t use more than one font type per project. You can vary between the title, the concept statement, and the labeling by size. Sans Serif fonts like Century Gothic and Helvetica may be good for headlines; their slick minimalism befits modern high-tech designs.

10) Finally, don’t overdo it.

• Don’t pack your boards with drawings and text at every corner. Leave some breathing space but not too much, that it would look like a) you couldn’t finish your work, b) you didn’t well plan your boards or c) you haven’t worked hard enough.
• Don’t overuse colors to the extent that they would become a distraction but also don’t make your presentation too light and faded, or it might exhaust the eyes of the viewer and give an impression of weak effort.

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Presentation tips for Architects, Part I

• Written by David Basulto
• Published on November 18, 2010

Our profession is all about presentations. It all started at university in the architecture studio, a whole semester had to be condensed into a 10-minute precise presentation in order to get the crits to understand your project, and it continued into professional life as the main tool to communicate with your co-workers, clients, a jury or with other architects in a lecture.

A good presentation could get your project approved, or quickly dismissed if you don’t plan it right. For example, a presentation to a client compared to a presentation for a group of architects is very different, even if the project you need to communicate is the same.

As I usually have to give at least a couple presentations per month, I have always tried to make them worth and not waste other people’s time. A big help for that has been Garr Reynolds, the “Presentation Zen” from which I haven taken some key points of which I will share with you in order to make a good presentation, adapted to our profession.

I think that this is the most crucial part no matter what you need to communicate. In order to deliver your message you need to present it according to whom you want to understand it. There are several terms and concepts that we as architects can easily understand, but that our clients or a general audience might not understand at first. Often we even invent or misuse words, misleading our audience. Program, urban fabric, etc.

The same as we do with our projects, a presentation should be simple. We should strip out anything that is unnecessary. Think of it as a Mies building on which everything is there for a reason and nothing can be removed. This is often the most difficult part, as we have to reduce it to its essentials. As an exercise Garr suggest that you outline the three things you want your audience to remember from your presentation.

“Less is more”.

Related to the previous point (and also to the 1st). Put yourself in the shoes of your audiences and ask “so what?”. You might have several interesting stories or concepts to tell the audience, but if they don’t add to what you want to communicate – just take them out.

You start with the foundation, follow with the structure, then move on to the skin and the interiors. This is a crystal clear process that you already know. Do the same for your presentation.

It also makes your audience follow you and focus on the presentation. When I have to make a long presentation I always start with an index, and as we move forward I keep reminding the audience where we are in the presentation, therefore they can follow along, stay focused, and recall what comes next.

Say the speaker before you exceeded on their time, or the client was late and is short on time. You always need to have a short version of the presentation, or at least know which parts you can skip in order to make it on time. The exercise is usually called “the elevator pitch”, under the idea that you should be able to sell your idea in the time span of an elevator ride, meaning in a maximum of 30 seconds and in 130 words or fewer.

Regarding the previous point, it reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright drafting the Fallingwater House only 2 hours before his meeting with Kaufmann, all that in one sitting at his drafting table.

As you can see, this story was appealing to you as an architect, and you immediately understood my point. Stories can connect you with your audience, and engage them.

You can think about your project as a story, and develop the whole presentation as if you are the story teller. Just keep in mind the previous points, as an irrelevant story can do more harm than help.

Last year Volume Magazine published an issue on Storytelling, intro by Jeffrey Inaba .

Even after almost a hundred presentations, I’m still nervous before giving them. If you are nervous, your audience will notice it, and will focus on that instead of your project.

Mies may have suggested a glass of scotch, but the best is to rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. If you know your presentation backwards and forwards it will flow naturally, and will also keep you prepared for any unexpected event during the presentation.

And “picture the audience nude” always comes handy.

I hope these tips can help you with your future presentations. As always, your feedback is welcome on the comments below.

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Architecture Presentation Board Ideas

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Being an architect, you understand that showcasing your project effectively to the stakeholders is very essential. The architecture presentation board examples helps make that right impact in the first go. These architecture presentation board drawings ensure that your idea is beautifully expressed and is conceived the same way as you have thought.

But creating and designing the architectural presentation is a challenging task as a slight mismatch or mistake can completely ruin your architectural project. It’s very important to design the presentation board in such a way that it can communicate your ideas cohesively and engagingly.

Best Architecture Presentation Board Ideas

Let’s have a look at 8 critical elements of architectural presentation boards design that’ll help you craft a polished and visually captivating presentation. Just go through these tips and enhance your ability to showcase your architecture projects impactfully and impressively.

What do you mean by an architecture presentation board? How it is helpful?

An architecture presentation board is a visual summary of a project, used by architects to showcase their designs to clients, superiors, or colleagues. It serves as a tool for presenting ideas, attracting clients, and advancing careers. The purpose of an architectural presentation model is to convey essential project information in a self-explanatory manner.

Key elements of an effective architecture presentation board layout include:

• A well-designed layout that organizes and presents information in a logical and visually appealing way.
• Clear and concise text that explains the project’s concept, goals, and solutions.
• High-quality visuals, such as drawings, renderings, and photographs, that illustrate the project’s design and features.
• A consistent visual style that creates a unified and professional look.

Architecture presentation drawings are used by both students and professionals. Students use them to present their work to professors and peers, while professionals use them to present designs to clients, committees, shareholders, and exhibitions.

Top 8 Architecture Presentation Board Tips and Techniques

To help you get started, Renderspoint has exclusively curated some of the best architectural presentation board techniques and tips that must be considered when creating your architecture presentation board. So, let’s get started in our journey to create flawless architecture presentation board tips for clients.

1. Size and Orientation of the Architecture Presentation Board

When creating an architecture presentation model, consider the size and orientation that will best showcase your project. You may have limited options due to restrictions imposed by your director, client, or professor. If you have the freedom to choose, think about which orientation will make your graphics stand out and tell the story of your project most effectively.

Presentation Options:

• Single Large Board : Present your boards side by side as a single large board. You may choose horizontal or vertical architectural presentation boards depending on the requirements of the project.
• Equivalent-Sized Poster : Present your boards as one poster of equal size.
• Separate Boards : Arrange your boards in a sequence, with each board presenting a different aspect of your project.

The orientation and size of your architecture presentation board can influence the structure and layout of your presentation. Choose the option that best suits your project and allows you to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively.

2. Choosing the Right Layout for your Architectural Presentation Board Drawings

It all starts with brainstorming for the right layout. Brainstorm and jot down the main ideas you want to express. Also, work on the images and graphics that will best showcase those concepts. Now start creating small-scale sketches to capture the basic flow of each architecture presentation board. Before finalizing your design, keep experimenting with different element placements until you get the perfect one. You may explore some architectural presentation board layout examples online for some cool and best ideas.

Be very diligent regarding the space allocation. Determine how much space each element will require on the page. Ensure each graphic is impactful and consider the amount of space between elements. Avoid overcrowding or excessive space. By carefully planning the layout of your architecture presentation board, you can ensure that your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively.

Also, work on the size of images. Too small an image will fail to make that impact. Try to go for big and visually appealing images/graphics. You can even approach a 3D architectural rendering firm as 3D renders give a more photorealistic option to impress the stakeholders. Remember, the goal is to create a visually appealing and informative presentation that effectively conveys your project’s message.

3. Structure and Flow for a cohesive Architecture Presentation Board Style

The structure and flow of your architecture presentation board are crucial for effectively communicating your project’s vision. Using a grid structure can simplify the organization of visual elements, while diagramming helps deliver comprehensive information. Consider the narrative flow of your project, ensuring a logical progression from one architecture presentation board to the next. Number your boards if they won’t be displayed simultaneously.

Remember, viewers typically read presentations from left to right and top to bottom. Use visual cues to guide their eyes through your architectural presentation models. Maintain consistency in font, colour, and style throughout your architectural presentation boards. Leave sufficient white space to avoid overcrowding. Finally, proofread your text carefully for errors. By carefully following these professional architectural presentation board techniques, you can create a visually appealing and informative presentation that effectively conveys your architectural vision to your audience.

4. Visual Hierarchy of Architecture Presentation Board: Guiding the Viewer’s Eye

In architecture presentation board, visual hierarchy plays a crucial role in directing the viewer’s attention to specific images. This involves identifying the strongest point of your project and making it the primary focus that catches the eye from a distance. Other images should reveal their details upon closer examination.

Techniques to Create Visual Hierarchy:

• Size : Make the image you want to highlight the largest, ensuring it can be viewed clearly from a distance.
• Colour : Use colour strategically to guide the viewer’s eye toward the main idea on the board.
• Placement : Centre the image you want to highlight and arrange the surrounding content to complement it.

Additional Tips:

• Keep the overall vision of your project in mind when selecting images.
• Choose images that directly display and strongly support your project’s idea.
• Avoid using too many images that will make the board look cluttered and messy.
• Maintain consistency in the style and tone of your images.

By carefully considering visual hierarchy, you can create conversion-ready architectural presentation drawings that effectively communicate your architectural vision and guide the viewer’s eye to the most important elements of your project.

5. Choosing Perfect Colours: Bringing Life and Focus to Your Architecture Presentation Board

This is one of the most critical architectural presentation board techniques that you need to decide very wisely. While black, white, and grey are commonly used in architecture presentation boards, don’t shy away from incorporating colours. However, be mindful of your choices to strike the right balance and avoid overwhelming the viewer. Here’s how you can make strategic use of the colours in your presentation architecture style.

• Introduce hints of colour to bring life to your architecture presentation board.
• Use colour contrast as it helps to draw attention to elements you need to focus on.
• Represent different building materials with unique colours.
• Consider bold colours for diagrams to create a focal point.

Maintain consistency by using the same colour across all architectural presentation boards. This approach ensures a cohesive and seamless flow throughout your presentation. Also, you may explore pre-made colour palettes online for inspiration. Experiment with different colour combinations to find the best fit for your project.

6. Selecting Background Colour: Enhancing Clarity and Focus

The background of your architecture presentation board should be a supporting element, not a distraction. Avoid complex or busy backgrounds that may draw attention away from your graphics and text. Bold colours and textures should be used sparingly, if at all. Here are three key things that you need to keep in mind while selecting a background colour for your architectural presentation board.

• Black Background: Use with Caution

Black backgrounds can be challenging to work with. They can diminish text readability and reduce the impact of graphics. Additionally, black backgrounds can create a cold and boring tone. If you choose to use a black background, ensure that all information remains easily comprehensible.

• White or Light Gray: A Professional Choice

White or light grey backgrounds are typically the best choice for an architecture presentation board. They enhance the visibility of graphics and text, creating a professional and clean appearance. Other colours can be incorporated to align with your central concept but ensure that the background remains plain enough to direct the viewer’s attention to the design.

• Embrace Negative Space

Negative space is your friend. Resist the temptation to fill every space with information. The strategic use of negative space enhances the impact of your design, creating a clean and professional feel.

7. Image Selection: Striking the Right Balance

Choosing the right images is crucial for creating an effective architecture presentation board. Your graphics can either enhance or detract from your overall presentation.  Always go for high-quality images/CGI and ensure that they are relevant, engaging, and catchy.

As already stated just use enough images to effectively communicate your project. Avoid overcrowding your architecture presentation board with too many images. strive for a balanced representation that showcases your project’s key aspects.

You may include a variety of images, such as sketches, models, renderings, and drawings. This approach provides a comprehensive overview of your project.

8. Content, Text, and Font: The Impression Makers

An effective architecture presentation board should convey a clear understanding of the project and demonstrate the designer’s commitment and dedication. Key elements to include are internal and external images, isometric and exploded views, perspective cuts, diagrams, volumetry studies, descriptive memorials, and technical drawings. The specific elements used may vary depending on the project’s requirements and nature.

Make sure the text that you place on the architecture presentation board should complement the layout and try to keep it minimum. A crisp, concise, and focused concept statement will make your architecture presentation board more impressive and attention-grabbing.

Additional tips that will enhance your communication power using texts on the architecture presentation board.

• Consider readability, flow, and visual appeal.
• Align text within text boxes for easy reading.
• Complement graphics/images/CGI with text box size and alignment.
• Avoid all capitals except for titles and follow standard capitalization rules.
• Use simple sketches and figures instead of text when possible.

Select a single font type that complements your project’s style. Sans Serif fonts like Futura or Helvetica are popular choices for their clean and modern look. Avoid script or handwriting fonts for a professional appearance. Use dark hues for your font to ensure contrast against a light background. Choose a font and size that is easy to read and create a hierarchy using different font sizes for titles, subtitles, and body text.

Win More Clients with Perfect Architectural Presentation Boards

Hope you liked our tips and techniques to make your architecture presentation board impressive and converting. At, Renderspoint, we offer you the best 3D CGI that will ace up your architecture presentation board styles and help you communicate in a never-like-before way. Reach out to us for eye-catching and engaging 3D visualization such as 3D rendering, modelling, floor plans and more. Feel the magic that our 3D rendering studio experts cast on your images.

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How to create successful architecture presentation boards

In architectural design, the ability to communicate your vision effectively is as crucial as the design itself. 

Architecture presentation boards are essential for this type of communication. These boards provide a visual and textual representation of your architectural solutions that is easy for your clients to understand.

Want some ideas for creating more effective architecture presentation boards? 

In this 7-minute read, we’ll delve into the art of crafting presentation boards that not only convey your design intent but do so in a manner that captivates and convinces your audience. 

So whether you’re a seasoned architect or a new contractor working on your first project, the tips in this article will help elevate your presentation skills and land you more clients. 

Let’s start with a quick look at the basics.

What is an Architecture Presentation Board?

An architecture presentation board is a visual tool used by architects and designers to convey the concepts, details and essence of their architectural projects. It combines images, drawings, text, and sometimes physical materials, to provide a coherent and appealing overview of a project. 

These boards are pivotal in architectural competitions and client presentations since they serve as a bridge between the architect’s vision and the client’s understanding.

But presentation boards should be more than just a random collection of visuals. 

• Use your board to tell a story and guide the viewer through the project’s inception, development, and final design. 
• Effective boards balance aesthetics with information by employing a strategic layout to highlight key elements and facilitate easy comprehension. 
• Presentation boards can vary in format from digital displays to large printed panels.

Check out the next section to see the 8 steps to creating your presentation board.

How to Develop Architectural Presentation Boards

Developing architectural presentation boards that stand out requires a blend of creativity, strategic planning, and technical skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting boards that showcase your project and impress potential clients.

1. Size & Orientation

The size and orientation of your presentation board are foundational decisions that set the stage for the rest of the board’s design.

Size: Consider the amount of content and the level of detail you wish to present. Larger boards can accommodate more information and are suitable for complex projects but require careful organization to avoid overwhelming the viewer. Standard sizes often range from A3 for smaller projects to A0 for more detailed presentations.

Orientation: The choice between landscape and portrait orientation can influence the flow of your presentation. Landscape is preferred for its width which facilitates a natural, left-to-right reading flow. It’s ideal for showcasing panoramic site views or extensive floor plans.

PRO TIP : 

• Always tailor the size and orientation to the context of your presentation. For intimate settings, a smaller board might be more practical since it allows for closer viewing and discussion.

The layout of your board is critical in guiding the viewer’s eye through your presentation. This ensures they focus on key elements without missing important details.

Balance and Flow: Create a layout that balances visual elements, text, and white space. Start with the most impactful images or drawings positioned centrally or towards the top, where they attract immediate attention. Use text sparingly to complement the visuals rather than overwhelm them.

Hierarchy: Establish a visual hierarchy that leads the viewer through your board logically, from the project overview to specific details. Use different sizes and styles of text and images to denote importance.

• Use grids to align elements. This creates a professional appearance and makes your board more readable.
• Consider color blocks or frames to delineate different sections without cluttering the board with too many lines.

DON’T FORGET:

• Keep a consistent margin around the edge of the board. This ‘frame’ ensures that none of your content is lost if the board is mounted or encased.

3. Structure

The structure of your presentation board is about more than just where things are placed. It’s about creating a coherent flow that guides the viewer through your design.

Organizational Strategy : Start with a clear organizational structure, such as chronological, thematic or by the project phase. This helps in making your presentation logical and digestible.

Connectivity: Ensure there is a clear connection between different elements on your board. Use lines, arrows or even a numbered path to indicate the order in which the content should be viewed.

PRO TIP:  

• Incorporate an “Introduction” and “Conclusion” section on your board. An introduction at the top left can set the stage for your presentation. Then, a conclusion at the bottom right summarizes the project outcomes or next steps.

DON’T FORGET:  

• The viewer’s eye naturally moves from left to right and top to bottom. Place your most important information (like the project title or key visuals) where viewers will likely see it first.

4. Background

The background of your architecture presentation board plays a crucial role in setting the tone and making your content stand out.

Simplicity is Key: Opt for a simple, non-distracting background that enhances the readability of your content. A subtle gradient or a light texture can add depth without overpowering the visuals and text.

Contrast: Ensure there is enough contrast between the background and the content to make everything easily readable. Light backgrounds with dark text and visuals usually work best.

PRO TIP: 

• Experiment with soft, architectural textures as backgrounds to add a thematic touch to your board without overwhelming the main content.

DON’T FORGET: 

• Always preview your board in its final form before printing or presenting. What looks good on a computer screen may not translate well to a large format print or display.

Colors can evoke emotions, highlight important information, and organize your board visually.

Color Scheme: Choose a color scheme that complements your project. Use your project’s primary colors, or select a palette that reflects the project’s mood and context. Consistency in color usage across the board ties the presentation together.

Accent Colors: Use accent colors sparingly to draw attention to key areas or important details. This can be an effective way to guide the viewer’s eye through the board.

• A limited color palette (2-3 main colors) can help in maintaining visual coherence and professionalism.
• Consider the psychological impact of colors. For example, blue can convey trust and stability, while green might be used to emphasize sustainability or environmental aspects.

6. Visual Ranking

Visual ranking on your presentation board ensures that key elements capture immediate attention and then guide the viewer through your design story.

Prioritize Content: Decide what elements of your design are most important and deserve the prime real estate on your board. Typically, this includes your main concept image, and key plans or sections.

Size Matters: Larger images attract more attention. Use size strategically to emphasize the most critical aspects of your project. Smaller images can show less important, but still relevant, information.

• Use visual contrast through varied textures or color highlights to elevate important content further. A high-contrast backdrop for your most crucial images or diagrams can make them stand out.

7. Image Selection

The images you choose to display on your architecture presentation board can make or break your presentation. 

Quality Over Quantity: Select high-resolution images that clearly communicate your design. Blurry or pixelated images can detract from your professionalism.

Relevance is Key: Every image should serve a purpose, whether it’s to showcase design details, illustrate spatial relationships or convey the atmosphere of your proposed project.

PRO TIP:   If you plan to use 3D-generated images, make sure they are high-quality. Poor-quality, unrealistic images can detract from your design presentation. That’s why more and more housing professionals are switching to easy-to-use 3D design software like Cedreo . Cedreo makes it easy for anyone to generate photorealistic 3D project images for architecture presentation boards.

8. Text & Font

The text and font choices on your presentation board are vital for communicating your design intent clearly and effectively.

Legibility is Crucial: Choose fonts that are easy to read at various sizes. Sans-serif fonts are often preferred for their clean lines and readability in both digital and print formats.

Hierarchy Through Typography: Use different font sizes and weights to create a visual hierarchy in your text. It should be easy for viewers to distinguish between titles, headings and body text.

• Limit your presentation to two fonts to maintain visual coherence—one for headings and one for body text. This simplifies the design and enhances readability.

Types of Architecture Presentation Boards

Understanding the different architecture presentation board templates and layouts is essential for selecting the most effective way to communicate your project’s vision. Each type serves a unique purpose and audience, from conceptual designs to detailed technical drawings.

Here are a few architecture presentation board examples.

Conceptual Board

Conceptual boards are the storytellers of architectural design. They focus on the vision, ideas, and themes behind a project. They are less about detail and more about conveying the concept and atmosphere of the design.

• Use compelling visuals that evoke the intended feel of the project, such as mood boards, abstract diagrams, and 3D floor plans .
• Include brief text descriptions or quotes that capture the essence of your design philosophy and the main concept behind the project.

Advice: Conceptual boards are your chance to connect emotionally with your audience, so choose images and words that resonate deeply with the project’s core idea. Remember: The goal is to intrigue and inspire while making viewers curious and excited about the potential of your design.

Technical Drawings Board

Technical drawing boards detail the specificities of the design through precise drawings and specifications.

• Incorporate a range of technical drawings, including floor plans , elevations , sections , and detailed construction drawings , to provide a comprehensive overview of the project.
• Use annotations, dimensions, and notes to clarify the technical aspects and innovative solutions within your design.

Advice: Make sure your technical boards are meticulously organized and labeled to ensure clarity and ease of understanding. Remember: While technical accuracy is important, consider the layout and visual appeal of your board to ensure it remains engaging and not overly dense.

Professional Board

Professional boards are tailored for client presentations, competitions, or public exhibitions. They blend both conceptual and technical elements to present a complete story.

• Combine striking visuals, key technical drawings, and succinct, persuasive text to showcase your project’s strengths and feasibility.
• Balance the layout to highlight the most compelling aspects of your design while ensuring a logical flow that guides the viewer through the narrative.

Advice : Professional boards are your portfolio’s highlight reel. Focus on quality over quantity and make sure to select only the most impactful images and information that demonstrates your vision.

Remember : Take the time to get it right. A well-executed professional board is a powerful tool for winning bids, gaining approval, and impressing stakeholders.

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• One-Stop Solution: From initial sketches to final presentation boards, Cedreo offers a comprehensive platform for all your design needs.
• High-Quality Outputs : Produce professional, high-resolution 3D presentation board images that impress clients and showcase your projects in the best light.

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ARCHITECTURE PRESENTATION: 5 SECRETS TO MAKING IT A SUCCESS

Architecture presentation is where the magic of the project happens. If an Architect plays his cards right, it’s when his client clicks with the design and wants to see the results as soon as possible. The ideal outcome is when the only questions left at the end of the speech are “How much?” and “When do we start?”

But things don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes, they go likes this: during the presentation, the client sits with a blank face. He does not have a single question in the end and calls back a few days later to inform that he would like to explore other options and see what other firms have to offer. So much time wasted! The project was excellent, clients – initially forthcoming and nice, yet something happened during the meeting. As the Architect looks through the notes, he realizes that the trouble was in the way he had presented his brainchild.

Presentation is 50% of success. It requires thorough preparation, creativity, excellent visual material – like architecture animation videos , communication skills and a little bit of acting. However, most of these things are long to work on. Are there points for making the next presentation a success? There sure are a few simple rules to start applying right now. Let’s find them out!

#1. Use an Index to Prepare the Audience

The Architect can prepare an Index with a short presentation plan that outlines the most important checkpoints. It will be much easier for people to follow the presenter, mentally structure the mass of new information and perhaps even make notes on some of the points. Furthermore, the creation of printed materials will show the engagement and diligent preparation of the architect.

#2. Start Architecture Presentation with the End

There are many ways to build the structure of an architecture presentation, each having its advantages. Success depends on implementation. But beginning with results is a sure attention-catcher. Logically, one would put them in the end, first walking the audience through the technical assignment, process, and challenges of the project development, building up the intrigue. But doesn’t it make a better sense to give the audience what they want first? That would get them interested. They would better understand what’s going on and be more involved in discussing details, having seen the overall picture.

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#3. use high-end visual materials.

Visual materials of the architecture presentation should be top-notch – both informative and looking high-end. The whole project will be judged by them, so all visuals, including drawings and sketches should be impeccable. Instead of references, it’s wise to get a 3D architecture video . It helps to easily demonstrate a project at its best, show all the details and strength of the design, and make a strong impression. For who wouldn’t be impressed by a photorealistic tour around the property which hasn’t been built yet?

#4. Avoid Too Much Detail

It’s perfectly understandable that the Architect loves to talk about his art. So when asked a question at an architecture presentation, he feels in his element and can get carried away a little. Going into the details is time-consuming, not to mention the audience might not need or understand them. There is a simple way to avoid it: when asked a question, the Architect should give a brief answer and then ask if the audience wants a more elaborate one. If that’s the case, better to warn that a detailed explanation will take extra time.

#5. Forget about Professional Slang

Professional slang is great for communication with colleagues. It perfectly conveys the technical aspects and is quick and emotional when necessary. It is also a sign of expertise: so much so that when 3D artists in a 3D animation studio speak it, only those who work in the sphere can understand them. And that is exactly the reason to avoid professional slang at an architecture presentation: the audience won’t understand a thing. The speech should be listener-oriented so that communication be effective. So whenever there is a need for using professional terminology, it’s better to explain every word and notion.

Preparing a successful architecture presentation is a journey rather than a goal. An Architect needs to take care of every aspect: language, structure, intonation, handout materials, and of course, get prime quality visuals. Want to take your clients on a tour through your amazing project? Then click the button below and contact CGI Flythrough architecture animation company . We will create a CG video showing the project with accuracy and Hollywood impact!

To impress your clients with a show-stopping 3D animation

Irma Prus Content Writer, Copywriter

Irma writes articles and white papers about CGI services. Outside of work, her passions include watching Alfred Hitchcock movies, eating mint chocolate and reading CGI news.

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Introduction

The Architecture Presentation Board is a means of producing visually captivating summaries of design projects. They can be used for a variety of purposes. On an academic level, students use them for their architecture school submissions but they can also assist a client’s imagination or help win a commission on the professional side. 

Your drawings, graphics and architecture presentation boards have one main purpose – to communicate your design in all its entirety from the concept to final renderings. If your presentation boards look good, but don’t do their job – you may need to think again.

In order to win over a tutor, client, planning officer or committee it is vital that your scheme is clearly conveyed and easy to understand. In a way it is like a sales pitch, you are selling your design, ideas, concept. So read through this post for some essential tips on designing the best architecture presentation boards!

And remember a great design can be mediocre if it is not presented well.

Scroll to the end to download this article as a handy PDF guide!

Our Top Important Tips for Architecture Presentation Boards

Brief requirements .

A project brief whether it is for a university project or for an architecture competition will typically outline what you need to include in your architecture presentation boards. So make sure you read this through and note down the non negotiables. 

Architecture presentation boards usually include floor plans, elevations, and sections along with some sort of perspective views, 3d drawings or renders. There may be a focus on some of the key features of your design, perhaps with brief sentences explaining your scheme. Hand drawings and development work can be good to include if relevant/required.

Going through the brief will also help you determine what content to assign to your boards. For architecture school projects, there may be more than one presentation board to curate. Try to determine each board’s key focus –  it could either be to depict your site analysis, conceptual development, material application, technical resolution or final scheme. Generally for competitions you will have to compile all of these key stages on one or two presentation boards.

For more helpful tips on how to dissect your briefs, check out our Architecture Assignments Brief Guide post. It includes a cool Architecture Assignment Planner:

Architecture Assignment Brief Guide – First In Architecture

When you start to plan your architecture presentation board is also crucial. If you begin planning out your boards immediately after reading through your brief, you will get an idea of what you are working towards. You can get as specific as you like with the details. Revisiting this rough plan throughout your design process may help you work on perfecting the images that will best represent your project.

On the other hand, if you plan your boards after completing your project, all the work you have done until then will determine your end result. It would sort of be like piecing all your work together as you would a puzzle. You may end up editing your existing work or even having to create more work to place on your presentation boards.

Either way, take a moment to organise your work. Think of what you are trying to convey. What drawings / images do you have to show as part of your brief/criteria? What are the key elements in your design that you would like to portray?

Collect all this information –  list out all the images to be included and what text you would like to put in, then you can start planning the structure of your boards. This will really help you visualise what information will be on your boards and how you are going to communicate your design.

Inspiration

Similar to having precedents for your design, we recommend having an idea of what graphic style you would like to use for your architecture presentation board. Try to bring your work together as a unified selection of drawings with a format, scale and style that work together to create a logical and comprehensive view of the project. Different graphic styles and inconsistencies can cause a lack of clarity and confusion.

For this you can seek inspiration from a variety of sources like Pinterest or Instagram. 

If you are finding it difficult to come up with a graphic style for your architecture presentation boards, check out our Pinterest board here:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/1starchitecture/architecture-presentation-boards/

Representing Architecture

Your architecture presentation board must use graphics and text to represent your design idea and clearly communicate the details and essential aspects of the scheme. It is important to be efficient with the production of drawings, and only use what is necessary to convey your idea. Quality is better than quantity as quantity can lead to confusion. 

View your project as if for the first time, and consider how easy or difficult it is to understand the concept and the main elements of the scheme. Only add work you would be confident presenting in person and avoid any unnecessary information.

Architectural Notation

When you plan your architecture presentation boards make sure that you can see the relationship between the drawings. 

For example sections and plans should be aligned so it is clear to read. You can even use dashed/dotted lines to highlight these connections.

Every instance of a plan needs to be of the same orientation (north point always in the same place) otherwise it can get very confusing for someone who has not seen the project before.

When showing plans and elevations/sections together, it is beneficial if they are of the same scale and in line. However, if one drawing is more important than the others then it makes sense to show it on a different scale.

Just because it’s a pretty architecture presentation board, don’t forget to include your symbols! Scale bars, section lines and north points often get forgotten, but are important to be included in order to make your drawings and information clear.

We would recommend sketching out the structure of your architecture presentation board before you start, so you can get an idea of the possible configurations you can use and what might work best. A small storyboard sketch or small scale mock up of the presentation can work well as you can adjust the layout until you are happy with the arrangement and alignment.

In general we read design presentations from left to right and from top to bottom, so consider the story of your design and how it will be read. Show the progression and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Use a program you know. The last thing you need to be doing is learning a whole new software program whilst in the panic of putting your boards together. If you have allowed yourself enough time, fair enough. We would recommend InDesign or Photoshop, but Microsoft Word or Pages on the Mac will still give you good results if you are more comfortable using them. Powerpoint or Keynote on the Mac, can be good options, but do check they can print to the size you require the boards to be.

Orientation, setting and size

Confirm whether your architecture presentation boards are supposed to be presented in landscape or portrait orientation. Think of the size your presentation boards are going to be. Ensure you have the right resolution and print settings applied. Check if you are limited by the number of boards and don’t forget to explore relationships between each board, and how they will be read together. Consider numbering the boards to show what comes next. 

Ensuring you have set up your presentation board files correctly will help save you loads of time in the end.

Key Information – Title, story, content

Do you need to have a title bar? If so, consider keeping it consistent throughout your architecture presentation boards. This gives a sense of professionalism, and orderliness. Don’t forget to include your details – name, title of project etc and whatever else is applicable. 

It’s tempting to get carried away with multiple fonts but please, don’t! Stick to one font, a maximum of two. You can consider using fonts from the same font family for visual coherence.

Use font sizes to create a hierarchy on your architecture presentation boards – e.g. a large font for your titles, a bit smaller for subtitles and standard size for the remainder of your content. 

Make sure your chosen font and size is readable. Keep your sentences short and punchy. No one is going to want to read an essay on your presentation board. A picture paints a thousand words!

Consider how to align your text within its text box. What is easier to read? Think about text spacing, and hyphenation and how it appears on your architecture presentation board. 

For more advice on fonts and to discover some cool font recommendations, feel free to check out our blog post on the Best Fonts for Architects:

Best Fonts for Architects – First In Architecture

Try to keep your background plain, unless it is featuring one of your key images. Architecture presentation board backgrounds can get a little busy and it can be difficult to see the key details of the board.

A white background will make your images and text stand out and look professional. Most of the board images we are sharing in this post feature white backgrounds, it is clear to see why. The information comes across well, and the background makes the visuals pop on the page. 

A background image can often be distracting, so make sure all the information is crystal clear if you decide to go down that route. 

The standard architectural style particularly for students appears to be black, white and grey! Grey grey grey! We understand why people sway that way, but sometimes it’s good to break out and use a bit of colour. Agreed there is a place for simplicity, and grey can give a professional atmospheric board, but try to inject some colour. 

Think how colour is reflected in your design. If the architecture presentation board is predominantly in black and white or grey, does this make the design feel cold? Consider how colour will have an impact on the overall feel of the scheme. Imagine the function and users of your design. What colours would resonate with these? 

As a starting point you can insert colours for natural elements such as the sky, vegetation on your site etc. Experiment with accent colours to highlight key design elements or ideas.

You will also find numerous ready made colour palettes online that you can work with. 

Layout options

Consider using a grid to help you organise the visual elements on your architecture presentation board. You can use a simple grid or something more complex. A grid helps you to organise the elements on your page and produce consistency across the architecture presentation board set.

Once you have set up your page size and orientation you can start creating a grid that suits your needs. The grid can include space for title bars, page numbers, and other information that needs to appear on each board. Using a program like InDesign is great as you can set up master pages as templates so you only need to create the grid once and it can then be used on numerous pages.

Keep in mind that the grid can also be used as a guide, so you don’t have to strictly aim for perpendicular lines. You can have elements and images that blend into one another if you want.

Visual Hierarchy

You will want some of your images to receive more visual attention than others, in order to communicate your idea. You can do this by giving certain images more space in the grid than others. If you wish to showcase one compelling visualisation, you can centre this image or  make your other content fit around this image. It often works best when this type of image has elements that form the background of the architecture presentation board, for instance an extended sky or landscape.

When you view your architecture presentation board, you want something viewable from a distance (an impact image) 6ft away, and up close. This communicates your visual hierarchy.

Also if you plan to use precedent images on your architecture presentation boards, remember to distinguish them from your proposal images to avoid confusion for the readers. 

Example Layouts

There are numerous ways to organise your work onto boards, here are some options to help you visualise:

Landscape Examples:

Portrait Examples:

Give yourself time

It’s a real shame when you have spent weeks/months on a design project, and leave yourself an hour or two to put it together for your architecture presentation boards. It is such a waste. By denying your project the time and care of developing a structure and a plan for how you present your work, you are effectively deducting grades/points there and then. By showing a well thought out presentation, with a clear process and design result, which is easy to engage with you will greatly increase your chances of showing how good your design is and why it should receive a stellar grade!

Our Architecture Presentation Board Templates

We are excited to present a selection of 14 Architecture Presentation Board Templates in Photoshop and Indesign that all have varying layouts and fonts.  They are designed to help speed up your process, create a strong design identity, and save you a huge amount of time. This bundle also includes some textured backgrounds to help you experiment!

You can find out more about these here:

Architecture Presentation Board Templates – First In Architecture

You might also be interested in…

We have a dedicated Pinterest board full of architecture presentation board ideas and styles that will really help inspire you:

We also have lots of incredible architecture content. Be sure to check it out:

Download the Guide!

Download this helpful article as a pdf to keep for reference later!

We hope this post helps you come up with some really good architecture presentation boards, and to show off your work to its best.

If you have got some tips and advice to offer to our readers, let us know in the comments below.

And finally, if you found this post useful, do share it with a friend.

Thank you! 

Image Credits

Landscape Example 1

https://www.arkxsite.com/site-chapel-_-winners

Landscape Example 2

https://architecturecompetitions.com/teamakersguesthouse

Landscape Example 3

https://archidose.tumblr.com/tagged/student

Landscape Example 4

https://www.kairalooro.com/competition_emergencyoperationcenter/winningproject_mentions.html

Landscape Example 5

https://www.archdaily.com/257270/buenos-aires-new-contemporary-art-museum-competition-results/0412750?next_project=no

Landscape Example 6

https://www.presidentsmedals.com/Entry-49001

Portrait Example 1

http://www.arquideas.net/es/vof1170

Portrait Example 2

https://www.pinterest.es/pin/488710997053933680/

Portrait Example 3

https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/08/carleton-university-graduates-architecture-vdf-school-shows/

Portrait Example 4

https://www.behance.net/gallery/47245227/The-First-Half-A-War-to-Eywa

Portrait Example 5

https://www.archidiaries.com/result-announced-bauhaus-campus/

Portrait Example 6

http://www.arquideas.net/es/mesc1258

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24 Comments

Really great Emma,

Both in the tips and tricks but also in the observation and selection of images used. (nice to see them properly credited).

An extra tip; when including precedent studies, make it clear what is precedent rather than proposal by grouping, using a background colour or outline, and if they are on multiple pages keep them to the same place on each page.

Although your tutors are familiar with most precedents, confusing a precedent with proposal is embarrassing for all of us!

Hi Caine, Thanks for your comments – much appreciated.

I WAS ABLE TO USE THIS IN MY CLASS EMMA. WITH DUE RESPECT AND PERMISSION. MY STUDENTS WERE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR COLLECTION OF IDEAS. TNKS.

Thank you so much for this post, I’ve always had a bit of a problem with my boards and this will surely help me in the long run.

with what for a program do u make these portfolios ?

Those presentation boards look awesome! 🙂 what for a program is used to do something like that ?

Hi Jeffry, Boards like these can be achieved using a number of programs, most commonly inDesign or Photoshop. If you don’t have access to this software you can also use things like powerpoint or keynote – although you may be more limited with functionality.

Hi, just wondering what do you recommend to be the best way of getting images onto presentation boards? drawing/ rendering the design then scanning, then editing/ enhancing on photoshop? or using revit to draw and render and transferring these to the boards?

If you could reply to this, it would be muchly appreciated! thank you

Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your comment. I think a lot of it is down to what you are comfortable with, and what stage of your project you are presenting. If you are presenting initial ideas then hand drawings / sketches would be suitable for your boards. These would be best scanned in, and adapted in photoshop, adjust the levels and so on, to get the effect you are looking for. However, if you are presenting final work, perhaps some digital renders would be more relevant. Having said that, if you are comfortable with your drawing skills and have chosen to present your project as hand drawn work, then by all means you should draw and hand render your work to then scan in. I would recommend digitising all hand work and putting together on photoshop/inDesign, as it creates a more professional outcome – and also means you can adjust things as you wish. So, consider your time constraints, what can you achieve in the time you have. Consider what you want the desired outcome to be, and what stage of the project are you presenting. It may be that you use a combination of hand drawings, sketch up models, and final revit renders. There is no correct answer, just do what works well for you, and what you will be able to do at the best of your ability. Hope this helps – and best of luck with your work!! Emma

Heyyy how about capitalisation? Does all the writing should be in caps or it could include lower and upper case??? Thanksss

I think that is down to personal choice and how you want it to look. No strict rules on this. Just make sure you are consistent.

how about manual presentation formats?

thank you so much for all the tips! Appreciate it:)

You’re welcome 🙂

I had receive the pdf copy.however it doesnt contain any image

Hi Nurul, the pdf doesn’t have any images as it is for printing without using too much ink. If you want images you can print directly from the article web page.

Great post..Very helpful. Thanks

Hey, Thank you so much, this has been really very helpful as it has always been a task to understand the requirements and needs that have to be considered for architectural sheet presentation as we have a lot of information to put in but what matters is giving the information a hierarchy as to what needs to be included or not . Appreciate it.

Thank you Anand.

Hello Emma, thanks… I have a presentation next week, could you please send me a downloadable copy of that, thanks

can I take your post because your post very exelent

can i know what is a standard word size for an a1 size presentation board???

Hi, it will depend on many factors, like the font you are using, the intended purpose of the presentation board, how much text you are putting on there etc.

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Master the Art of Architectural Presentation Sheets

• by Elif Ayse Sen
• 10 April 2023

As an architect, one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to create effective and visually appealing presentation sheets. Presentation sheets are a key tool for communicating your design ideas to clients, colleagues, and stakeholders, and they can make a big difference in how your work is perceived.

Here are some tips for mastering the art of architectural presentation sheets:

Start with a clear concept and design direction

Before you begin creating your presentation sheets, make sure you have a clear concept and design direction for your project. This will help guide your presentation and ensure that your sheets are focused and effective.

Use a consistent layout and formatting

Consistency is key when it comes to presentation sheets. Use a consistent layout and formatting throughout your sheets, including fonts, colors, and styles. This will help create a cohesive and professional-looking presentation.

Focus on the key elements

When creating your presentation sheets, focus on the key elements of your design. This includes the overall concept, the site plan, floor plans, elevations, and sections. Use clear and concise labels and annotations to help explain your design ideas.

Incorporate high-quality images and graphics

Visual elements are an important part of any presentation sheet. Incorporate high-quality images and graphics that showcase your design ideas and help bring them to life. This can include photographs, renderings, sketches, and diagrams.

Show the design in context

When presenting your design, it’s important to show it in context. This can include images or graphics of the surrounding neighborhood or landscape, or even a 3D model of the site. This will help clients and stakeholders better understand how your design fits into its surroundings.

Use color and texture to enhance your presentation

Color and texture can be powerful tools for enhancing your presentation sheets. Use color to highlight key elements or to create a mood or atmosphere. Incorporate texture to help create depth and interest.

Practice good presentation skills

Creating effective presentation sheets is only half the battle. You also need to be able to present your ideas in a clear and engaging way. Practice good presentation skills, including speaking clearly and confidently, using visual aids effectively, and engaging with your audience.

Concept and Design 

By mastering the art of architectural presentation sheets, you can better communicate your design ideas, showcase your skills, and build your reputation as a talented architect. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating effective and visually appealing presentation sheets that will impress clients and stakeholders alike.

A concept is a fundamental idea or approach that underlies the design of a project. It is a guiding principle that informs every aspect of the project, from the site selection to the materials used. Without a clear concept, it can be difficult to create a cohesive and effective presentation. A well-defined concept can help focus the presentation, and provide a clear narrative for the design.

In addition to a concept, it’s important to have a clear design direction. This refers to the specific goals and objectives for the project, and the strategies that will be used to achieve them. For example, if the goal of a project is to create a sustainable and energy-efficient building, the design direction might include strategies such as passive solar design, use of renewable materials, and energy-efficient systems.

Having a clear concept and design direction can help guide the creation of the presentation sheets. It can help determine which elements of the design to focus on, and how to present them in a clear and effective way. It can also help ensure that the presentation sheets are consistent with the overall vision and goals of the project.

When developing a concept and design direction for a project, it’s important to consider a variety of factors, including the site, the client’s needs and preferences, and the project’s goals and objectives. It’s also important to involve key stakeholders in the process, including the client, consultants, and other members of the design team. By starting with a clear concept and design direction, architects can create presentation sheets that are focused, cohesive, and effective. They can better communicate their design ideas, and help ensure that the project meets the client’s needs and expectations.

• Archi Plan Presentations
• Architectural Presentation Boards
• architectural presentation boards guide
• Architecture Student Presentation
• Fonts for Presentation
• How to create architectural presentation
• Presentation board
• Presentation Board Template
• presentation sheets
• The Elements of The Presentation Boards

Elif Ayse Sen

architect, writer

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Privacy Overview

Architecture by Google Search

Architectural presentation and rendering, architectural presentation and rendering: learning the creative methods of rendering and presenting..

Architectural Presentation and Rendering! In this comprehensive course, you'll explore a variety of creative methods for presenting and rendering architectural designs. We'll start by covering the importance of visual communication skills and the fundamentals of architectural presentation. From there, we'll dive into topics such as digital rendering techniques, 3D modeling, and the use of software tools like Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, and Blender. Throughout the course, you'll learn how to effectively communicate your design ideas through compelling visual presentations, mastering techniques such as shading, texture mapping, and composition. By the end of the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to create stunning architectural presentations that will impress clients and colleagues alike. 

Course Overview: Architectural Presentation and Rendering

• Importance of visual communication skills
• Fundamentals of architectural presentation
• Digital rendering techniques
• 3D modeling software: Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Blender
• Shading, texture mapping, and composition techniques

Importance of Visual Communication Skills

Your skills as an architect in producing graphic documents or visual communication are crucial for effectively presenting architectural designs to clients.

Architectural Presentation & Rendering Curriculum Essentials

This course covers all essentials about visual communication and architectural presentation skills expected of new architects.

This course will be sufficient to teach all the essentials about visual communication and architectural presentation skills expected of new architects. The architectural presentation is a required course within the architectural education architectural education curriculum.

Goals of the Course

The primary goal is to develop visual communication skills required to present architectural projects effectively.

The most important goal of the course is develop, through extensive practice, the visual communication skills required to effectively present a graphic model of a final project or to highlight specific details of a project. Architectural presentation is also important as a way of studying architectural problems in order to produce solutions.

Architectural Presentation & Rendering Focus Areas

Emphasis is on digital presentation tools like 3D rendering, alongside the importance of freehand lettering.

The focus of this course is not on the use of monochrome media such as pencils, pens, and ink; instead, the focus is on digital architectural presentation tools such as 3D presentation. However, you should study and understand the importance of neat and legible freehand lettering before focusing on the development of 2-D and 3-D sketching skills.

Learning Objectives

Understanding drawing types.

Differentiate between Architectural/Engineering Presentation Drawings and Working Drawings.

Planning and Sketching

Learn the importance of planning, organizing, and sketching before starting computer-aided drafting.

By the time you finish studying this course, you should be able to: 

• Explain the difference between Architectural/Engineering Presentation Drawings and Architectural/Engineering Working Drawings.
• Understand the importance of planning, organizing, and sketching, prior to starting a computer aided drafting data input.

Digital Presentation Skills

Produce digital drawings that effectively communicate dimensions, materials, and textures.

• Produce architectural digital presentation drawings that effectively communicate the depth or 3rd dimension of an object, as well as material finishes and textures. 

Architectural Presentation & Rendering Techniques and Methods

Master shading, stippling, cross-hatching, and other methods to enhance object form and project impressions.

• Use the techniques of shading, stippling, and cross-hatching, as well as being able to provide value, tone and contrast, as well as shade and shadow to enhance the geometric form of an object and the overall sense or impression of a project.

Drawing Generation

Generate 2-D orthographic views and 3-D pictorial views of architectural structures.

• Generate the 2-D orthographic views such as floor plans, elevations, and cross sections, and generate 3-D pictorial views such as perspective, axonometric and oblique of a straightforward and simple architectural structure.
• Describe how and where to effectively place the representation of trees (and other vegetation), people and vehicles, and explain their role or value within an architectural presentation drawing.

Composition and Layout

Understand the importance of composition and consistency in architectural drawings.

• Describe the importance of composition within a drawing and the consistency and continuity of composition within a set of drawings.

Final Presentation

Produce a complete set of Architectural Presentation Drawings for a structure.

• Generate a final set of Architectural Presentation Drawings for a structure including floor plan with landscaping, elevations, and a 3-D view.

Graphical Concepts

Exploring tone and value.

Understanding and applying tone and value in architectural rendering.

The following graphical concepts will be explained mostly through extensive practice of 3D presentation and architectural rendering:

• Tone and value: 

Architectural Entourage

• Incorporating scale figures, vehicles, vegetation, and other elements to enhance architectural presentations.

Shade, Shadow, Texture, and Material

Mastering representation techniques for shade, shadow, texture, and materials in architectural rendering.

• Shade and shadow
• Texture and material representations

Software Usage

Architectural rendering software:, autodesk 3ds max:.

Autodesk 3ds Max is a powerful 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software widely used in the architecture industry. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for creating photorealistic architectural renderings, including advanced lighting, materials, and texture mapping features. Architects use 3ds Max to visualize and communicate their design concepts effectively.

Autodesk Maya:

Autodesk Maya is another popular 3D modeling and animation software commonly used in architectural rendering. It offers a wide range of tools for creating detailed 3D models, animations, and visual effects. Architects utilize Maya's advanced features to produce high-quality architectural renderings and walkthrough animations.

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite that includes modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing capabilities. While initially developed for animation and filmmaking, Blender has gained popularity in the architecture industry due to its robust feature set and accessibility. Architects use Blender to create architectural models, renderings, and visualizations, leveraging its powerful tools and community-driven support.

Presentation Software:

Autodesk revit:.

Autodesk Revit is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software widely used by architects for design, documentation, and collaboration. In addition to its modeling and drafting capabilities, Revit offers presentation tools for creating architectural drawings, diagrams, and visualizations. Architects use Revit to produce professional-looking presentation documents and project documentation.

SketchUp is a user-friendly 3D modeling software commonly used by architects for conceptual design and visualization. It offers intuitive tools for creating 3D models, including buildings, landscapes, and interior spaces. Architects use SketchUp to generate quick, sketch-like renderings and presentations, allowing them to communicate design ideas effectively to clients and stakeholders.

Adobe Creative Suite:

Adobe Creative Suite, including software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, is widely used by architects for graphic design and presentation purposes. Architects utilize Adobe software to enhance architectural renderings, create presentation boards, and produce marketing materials. With its extensive range of tools and capabilities, Adobe Creative Suite allows architects to create visually stunning presentations that showcase their design concepts effectively.

Course Conclusion

Upon completion of this course, students will possess a deeper understanding of architectural presentation requirements and software usage, better preparing them for the demands of the architecture industry. By exploring and utilizing software tools such as Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Autodesk Revit, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, students will gain valuable skills for creating compelling architectural renderings and presentations. With this knowledge and expertise, students will be equipped to communicate their design ideas effectively and excel in their professional careers as architects.

Mastering 3D Architectural Rendering: The Ultimate Checklist for Stunning Results!

Mastering the art of 3D architectural rendering is essential for architects looking to showcase their designs in the most compelling and visually stunning way possible. Whether you're presenting to clients, collaborating with colleagues, or showcasing your portfolio, following a comprehensive checklist can ensure that your 3D renderings leave a lasting impression. Let's explore the ultimate checklist for achieving jaw-dropping 3D architectural rendering results:

Clear Design Brief : Begin by understanding the project requirements and objectives. Clarify the scope, style preferences, and desired outcomes with your clients or stakeholders to ensure alignment from the outset.

High-Quality 3D Models : Invest time in creating or obtaining high-quality 3D models of the architectural design. Pay attention to detail, accuracy, and scale to achieve realistic and lifelike renderings.

Optimized Geometry : Ensure that your 3D models have optimized geometry for efficient rendering. Minimize unnecessary complexity and polygon counts to improve rendering performance and reduce file sizes.

Texture Mapping : Apply high-resolution textures and materials to your 3D models to enhance realism and visual appeal. Use texture mapping techniques such as UV mapping and procedural textures to achieve realistic surface finishes.

Lighting Setup : Experiment with different lighting setups to achieve the desired mood and ambiance in your renderings. Consider natural lighting, artificial lighting, and environmental effects to create dynamic and immersive scenes.

Camera Composition : Pay attention to camera composition and framing to create visually engaging renderings. Experiment with different camera angles, perspectives, and focal lengths to highlight key design features and evoke emotion.

Attention to Detail : Add intricate details and embellishments to your 3D models to enrich the visual storytelling. Incorporate elements such as furniture, fixtures, landscaping, and decor to bring your renderings to life.

Realistic Materials : Use physically accurate materials and shaders to achieve realistic material effects in your renderings. Experiment with reflective surfaces, roughness values, and transparency settings to mimic real-world materials accurately.

Post-Processing Effects : Apply post-processing effects such as depth of field, motion blur, and color correction to enhance the final look of your renderings. Experiment with different effects to achieve the desired aesthetic and mood.

Feedback and Iteration : Seek feedback from colleagues, peers, or clients throughout the rendering process. Iterate on your renderings based on feedback to refine and improve the final results.

By following this comprehensive checklist, architects can ensure that their 3D architectural renderings stand out for their realism, visual impact, and ability to communicate design intent effectively. Whether you're aiming to impress clients, win competitions, or simply showcase your design prowess, mastering the art of 3D rendering is key to achieving jaw-dropping results.

Architectural Presentation and Rendering Questions and Answers

What is meant by architectural rendering.

Architectural rendering refers to the process of creating visual representations of architectural designs using computer software or traditional rendering techniques. These renderings are used to communicate the design intent and aesthetic qualities of a building or space to clients, stakeholders, and other interested parties. Architectural renderings can range from simple sketches to photorealistic images or animations, depending on the level of detail required and the intended purpose of the presentation.

Architectural rendering plays a crucial role in the design process by allowing architects to visualize and communicate their ideas effectively. It helps clients and stakeholders better understand the proposed design, enabling them to provide feedback and make informed decisions. Additionally, architectural renderings can be used for marketing and promotional purposes, helping to attract potential clients and investors.

What is architectural presentation?

Architectural presentation refers to the act of presenting architectural designs, concepts, and ideas to clients, stakeholders, or the public. It involves communicating the vision, functionality, and aesthetic qualities of a building or space through various means, such as drawings, renderings, models, and verbal explanations. Architectural presentations aim to convey the design intent, highlight key features, and address any concerns or questions raised by the audience.

Architectural presentations can take place at different stages of the design process, from initial concept presentations to final design reviews. They may be delivered in formal settings such as meetings or presentations, or informally through informal discussions or walkthroughs. Regardless of the format, effective architectural presentations require clear communication, visual clarity, and engaging storytelling to captivate the audience and convey the design vision effectively.

What do you say in an architectural presentation?

In an architectural presentation, it is essential to convey key information about the design, including its purpose, functionality, aesthetic qualities, and any unique features or innovations. Here are some key points to cover:

Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself, your role in the project, and the purpose of the presentation.

Project Overview: Provide a brief overview of the project, including its location, client, and scope.

Design Concept: Explain the underlying design concept or vision behind the project and how it addresses the client's needs and objectives.

Design Features: Highlight key design features, such as the building's form, layout, materials, and sustainability initiatives.

Visualization: Use architectural renderings, drawings, or models to illustrate the design concept and showcase the proposed building or space from different perspectives.

Functionality: Discuss how the design meets functional requirements, such as space planning, circulation, accessibility, and environmental comfort.

Innovation: If applicable, discuss any innovative or unique aspects of the design, such as new construction methods, sustainable technologies, or cultural considerations.

Conclusion: Summarize the key points of the presentation and invite feedback or questions from the audience.

How do you structure an architecture presentation?

Structuring an architectural presentation involves organizing the content in a logical and engaging manner to effectively communicate the design vision. Here's a suggested structure:

Introduction:

• Introduce yourself and your role in the project.
• Briefly explain the purpose and objectives of the presentation.

Project Overview:

• Provide background information about the project, including its location, client, and scope.
• Highlight any key challenges or constraints that influenced the design.

Design Concept:

• Explain the overarching design concept or vision behind the project.
• Discuss how the design concept addresses the client's needs, site context, and project goals.

Design Features:

• Present the key design features of the project, such as the building's form, materials, and spatial organization.
• Use visual aids such as renderings, drawings, or models to illustrate the design features.

Functionality:

• Discuss how the design meets functional requirements, such as programmatic needs, circulation, and accessibility.
• Highlight any innovative solutions or sustainable design strategies incorporated into the project.

Visualization:

• Showcase architectural renderings, drawings, or models to provide a visual representation of the proposed design.
• Use a combination of floor plans, elevations, sections, and perspectives to illustrate different aspects of the design.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the key points of the presentation.
• Invite feedback, questions, and discussion from the audience.
• Thank the audience for their time and participation.

How do you incorporate client feedback into an architectural presentation?

Incorporating client feedback into an architectural presentation is crucial for ensuring that the final design meets the client's expectations and requirements. Here's how you can do it:

Active Listening : Start by actively listening to the client's feedback during meetings, presentations, or design reviews. Take notes and ask clarifying questions to ensure that you fully understand their concerns and preferences.

Identify Key Points : Identify the key points of feedback raised by the client, focusing on both positive aspects of the design that they appreciate and areas that require improvement or revision.

Address Concerns : Address each of the client's concerns or suggestions in the presentation. Clearly explain how you have addressed or incorporated their feedback into the design, whether it's through revisions to the floor plan, material selection, or design details.

Visual Demonstrations : Use visual aids such as renderings, drawings, or models to demonstrate how specific changes or modifications will impact the design. Visual representations can help clients better understand proposed solutions and make informed decisions.

Provide Options : Present alternative design options or solutions based on the client's feedback, if applicable. Discuss the pros and cons of each option and guide the client in making informed decisions that align with their vision and project goals.

Iterative Process : Approach client feedback as part of an iterative design process. Be open to revising and refining the design based on ongoing feedback and collaboration with the client, ensuring that their needs and preferences are fully addressed.

Document Changes : Document any changes or revisions made to the design based on client feedback. Clearly communicate the rationale behind each change and ensure that the client is kept informed throughout the process.

By incorporating client feedback into the architectural presentation in a proactive and collaborative manner, you can build trust, foster positive relationships, and ultimately deliver a design solution that meets the client's expectations and exceeds their aspirations.

What role does storytelling play in an architecture presentation?

Storytelling plays a vital role in an architecture presentation as it helps to engage the audience, convey the design narrative, and create an emotional connection with the project. Here's how storytelling contributes to an architecture presentation:

Contextualization : Storytelling provides context for the project by explaining its background, inspirations, and objectives. It helps the audience understand the project's significance within its broader social, cultural, and environmental context.

Engagement : A well-crafted story captures the audience's attention and keeps them engaged throughout the presentation. By weaving together narrative elements such as anecdotes, personal experiences, or historical references, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates with the audience.

Emotional Connection : Storytelling creates an emotional connection with the audience by appealing to their emotions, values, and aspirations. By highlighting the human aspect of the project and its impact on people's lives, you can evoke empathy, curiosity, and excitement among the audience.

Visualization : Storytelling helps the audience visualize the design concept and imagine themselves experiencing the space. By describing the project in vivid detail and painting a picture with words, you can bring the design to life in the minds of the audience.

Memorability : A well-told story is memorable and leaves a lasting impression on the audience. By crafting a narrative that resonates with the audience's values and interests, you can ensure that the project is remembered long after the presentation is over.

In summary, storytelling is a powerful tool in an architecture presentation, helping to engage the audience, convey the design narrative, and create an emotional connection that enhances the overall impact and effectiveness of the presentation.

How do you ensure clarity and coherence in an architectural presentation?

Ensuring clarity and coherence in an architectural presentation is essential for effectively communicating the design vision and engaging the audience. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Clear Structure : Organize the presentation in a logical and coherent manner, with clear sections and transitions between topics. Clearly define the purpose and objectives of the presentation at the outset.

Consistent Visual Language : Maintain a consistent visual language throughout the presentation, including fonts, colors, and graphic styles. This helps to create a cohesive and professional-looking presentation that is easy to follow.

Visual Hierarchy : Use visual hierarchy to prioritize information and guide the audience's attention to key points. Highlight important information using visual cues such as bold text, color accents, or larger font sizes.

Succinct Messaging : Keep your messaging clear, concise, and to the point. Avoid jargon or technical language that may confuse or alienate the audience. Use plain language that is accessible to a non-expert audience.

Engaging Visuals : Use high-quality visuals such as renderings, drawings, or photographs to illustrate key points and concepts. Ensure that visuals are relevant, impactful, and support the narrative of the presentation.

Practice Delivery : Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery and confident communication. Practice pacing, tone of voice, and body language to engage the audience and maintain their interest throughout the presentation.

Feedback and Iteration : Seek feedback from colleagues or peers to identify areas for improvement and refine your presentation. Be open to constructive criticism and willing to make adjustments to enhance clarity and coherence.

By following these strategies, you can create an architectural presentation that is clear, coherent, and effectively communicates the design vision to the audience.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid in architectural presentations?

While conducting architectural presentations, several common pitfalls should be avoided to ensure their success:

Overcomplicated Language : Avoid using overly technical or complex language that may confuse or alienate the audience. Use clear and concise language that is accessible to all participants.

Lack of Preparation : Failure to adequately prepare for the presentation can lead to disorganization, stumbling over key points, or missing important details. Prepare thoroughly and rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.

Poor Visuals : Low-quality or irrelevant visuals can detract from the presentation and fail to effectively convey the design concept. Use high-quality visuals that are relevant, impactful, and support the narrative of the presentation.

Ignoring Time Constraints : Going over the allotted time for the presentation can lead to frustration among the audience and may result in important points being rushed or overlooked. Practice pacing and time management to ensure that your presentation fits within the allocated time frame.

Lack of Audience Engagement : Failure to engage the audience can result in disinterest or distraction during the presentation. Use storytelling, interactive elements, and opportunities for audience participation to keep the audience engaged and invested in the presentation.

Ignoring Feedback : Disregarding feedback from clients, stakeholders, or colleagues can lead to missed opportunities for improvement and may result in misunderstandings or misaligned expectations. Actively listen to feedback and be willing to make adjustments to enhance the presentation.

Failure to Follow Up : Neglecting to follow up with the audience after the presentation can result in missed opportunities for further discussion, clarification, or action. Follow up with attendees to address any lingering questions or concerns and to reinforce key points from the presentation.

By avoiding these common pitfalls and implementing best practices, you can deliver an effective and engaging architectural presentation that effectively communicates the design vision and resonates with the audience.

Explore Further

Learn more about architecture with these additional topics:

3D Architecture Presentation Techniques

Utilizing 3D architecture presentation techniques enhances the visual communication of architectural designs. By employing 3D modeling software, architects can create immersive and realistic representations of their projects. These techniques allow for dynamic visualization of spatial relationships, material finishes, and lighting effects, providing clients and stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the proposed design.

Architectural Rendering Examples

Architectural rendering examples showcase the application of rendering techniques to depict architectural designs. These examples encompass a variety of styles, from photorealistic renderings to conceptual sketches. By studying architectural rendering examples, architects can gain inspiration and insight into different rendering approaches and styles. Analyzing these examples also helps architects understand how to effectively convey design concepts and narratives through visual representation.

Architectural Rendering Drawing

Architectural rendering drawing involves the creation of detailed illustrations or visualizations of architectural designs. These drawings can range from hand-drawn sketches to digital renderings produced using specialized software. Architectural rendering drawings serve as valuable tools for communicating design intent, capturing spatial qualities, and conveying the aesthetic vision of a project. Architects use rendering drawings to present their ideas to clients, collaborators, and regulatory authorities, facilitating discussions and decision-making throughout the design process.

Architectural Rendering Services

Architectural rendering services offer specialized expertise in creating high-quality renderings for architectural projects. These services may include 3D modeling, rendering, animation, and visualization capabilities. Architects often collaborate with rendering services to produce photorealistic renderings and visualizations that effectively communicate design concepts to clients and stakeholders. Rendering services employ advanced software and rendering techniques to create compelling visual representations of architectural designs, helping architects bring their ideas to life.

Early Renaissance Architecture

Early Renaissance architecture refers to the architectural style that emerged in Italy during the 15th century. Characterized by a revival of classical elements and a focus on symmetry, proportion, and harmony, early Renaissance architecture marked a departure from the Gothic style that preceded it. Architects such as Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti played key roles in shaping the early Renaissance architectural aesthetic, which laid the foundation for the Renaissance architecture that followed.

History of Islamic Architecture

The history of Islamic architecture spans centuries and encompasses a diverse range of architectural styles and traditions. Influenced by Islamic principles and cultural practices, Islamic architecture is characterized by elements such as geometric patterns, arabesques, and ornate decoration. From the grand mosques of Andalusia to the intricate palaces of Persia, Islamic architecture reflects the rich cultural heritage and architectural achievements of Islamic civilizations throughout history.

Gothic vs Renaissance Architecture

Gothic and Renaissance architecture represent two distinct architectural styles that emerged during different periods in history. Gothic architecture, which flourished in Europe during the Middle Ages, is characterized by its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and soaring cathedrals. In contrast, Renaissance architecture, which emerged in Italy during the 15th century, is characterized by a return to classical forms and a focus on symmetry, proportion, and humanism. While Gothic architecture evokes a sense of grandeur and verticality, Renaissance architecture embodies ideals of balance, harmony, and classical beauty.

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The Art of the Client Presentation

Be prepared. Be thoughtful. Be specific. And be careful to not get your ideas swiped! When approaching a client presentation, it’s essential to do your homework and present your ideas in a way that suits the job at hand and conveys your passion and expertise clearly and concisely—all without giving away too much. Though there’s no one-size-fits-all solution or general script to follow, using the simple strategies suggested by these three seasoned design professionals can help you deliver a winning presentation.

Know your stuff

It’s worth stressing the fact that preparation is key to any successful client presentation. All of the designers AD PRO consulted agree that there is no such thing as being too prepared. “If you are organized during your presentation, you are exhibiting the way their project will be managed,” says Victoria Sanchez, principal designer and owner of the Santa Fe and Washington, D.C.–based firm Victoria at Home. “A designer should be able to walk a client through their project,” she adds. “Starting with a floor plan, presentation board, or other presentation materials, a designer should know their design inside and out. Be ready to answer questions related to the product you are presenting, pricing, lead times. A potential client will want to know more than just the visual aspects.”

“Your presentation should be flawless, detail-oriented, and professional,” urges Richard Ouellette, president of Canadian design firm Les Ensembliers . “The packaging is as important as the product. It is your entry ticket to making [the client] feel important and at ease and that they have chosen the right person even before you have presented any ideas.”

Ouellette offers additional tips: “Understand and organize your presentation. You want to inspire them, so make sure you have a clear idea of what you are proposing. Present your portfolio or body of work first. If it’s a full design presentation, start with layouts, then inspiration. Explain what you feel works for their space with your images, move to hard surfaces, then soft, and lastly product.”

Curate the material

“The goal is to present a cohesive idea and give plenty of options without overwhelming the client,” says Mark Cunningham , founder of his 15-year-old namesake New York design firm. Outlining how to offer the information in a digestible format, he says:

“Everything you’re showing should be for something specific—shapes for the furniture in each room on your floor plan, fabrics for pillows or drapery, lighting fixtures for specific locations.”

“Show a range of options so your client can rule out what they don’t like. Negative comments are just as productive to you as positive ones.”

“Put care into how you present. It should be neatly organized. And fresh flowers and natural light never hurt.”

Show, don’t tell…

“The more a client can see and feel before buying, the more successful you will be in designing a space they love,” Cunningham explains. “I use mood boards to convey my concepts. I find they’re a great tool to begin the conversation about how the client envisions their home.” He also suggests getting samples of everything you’re proposing—from fabrics and finishes to hardware and plumbing. “Even get furniture prototypes if you can,” he adds.

Ouellette suggests that the components of a winning presentation include the following: the perfect layout, with options; inspiring reference images that can be translated to their home; detailed drawings and designs that function; and aspirational and accessible materials and finishes.

…But don’t reveal all your cards

How do you share your vision with potential clients without having it stolen? “Skill and practice,” advises Sanchez. “You don’t show all your cards when you are playing poker. So why would you share your shopping list without a contract and payment? Share enough to make sure they are asking for more.” She adds, “A presentation is meant to propose your vision, not your product numbers. I don’t share vendor information during initial presentations.”

Ouellette admits that he trusts in karma when it comes to stealing ideas. “I believe it starts with the screening process of the potential client: If you establish a good and trustworthy connection, you have a better chance to get to the end,” he says. “But believe me, the ones that take your idea and run are usually the ones that you are better off running from, and it’s much better to know at the beginning than at the end.”

Exude confidence—to a degree

But don’t be smug, urges Ouellette. “Feel great about what you’re presenting. Believe in the design concept and that the products you are sharing are the right ones for the job,” offers Sanchez. “If you don’t believe in yourself and your ability to execute the project you are proposing, your potential client will see right through you.”

Ouellette says, “Go in with passion and an open heart. Be real. You start from a stronger place. Be humbled. Remember it’s their home and money, not yours. No one wants to work with a diva.”

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Architecture Presentation templates

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Life of an Architect

Ep 112: Final Presentations in Architecture School

October 30, 2022 by Bob Borson 1 Comment

It’s the end of the semester, you’ve exhausted all of your ideas, and you’re totally worn out running off minimal sleep and too much caffeine. Your work is pinned up on the wall and it’s time to give your last presentation in front of the final jury. In the grand scheme of things, does this moment even matter? Welcome to Ep 112: Final Presentations in Architecture School.

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What makes a Final Jury different ? jump to 1:24

If we take a second to explain what is meant by the term final jury it’s basically about more. More work. More time spent on a project. More drawings and images are on the wall or in the presentation. The obvious notion of the “final” part is that it is definitely at the end of a semester. It is in essence a culmination of the semesters’ work. Now that may not mean it’s a project that has lasted all semester, but it’s not one that was only three to four weeks. It may be a shorter project, but it’s one that is the culmination of all the semester’s work and learning. The idea that it’s the summary, in some way, of a full semester of education is the main component in our definition. Also, it’s at the end of the time for this studio and the life of the project. There is no more work after this jury presentation.

How much time and preparation is involved jump to 11:32

Another item about these final jury presentations is that they represent the most work you have done for a project in the semester. So you have more production than on other projects. Also, this is typically considered to be the “best” and “most complete” representation of a project thus far. For most this would be true that as you progress in architecture school, each final jury comprises more work than the previous semester’s final jury. Of course, this is not always the case, but generally, that is how school progresses.

Another item to mention here is that this project is also one where at some point, be it a week or a few days before the presentation, you stop “designing” and start production. You simply stop project development and earnestly begin the task of creating all the drawings, images, and models that will best represent your project. There may also be a list of required deliverables for the project. You have to stop changing and solidify the project so that you can make all of those documents. It’s not easy. As designers, we always seem to want to do more. To make one more exploration. To try out this other layout. But you just stop and just produce all the stuff.

Hopefully, you will work in some sleep before the time you present your work. There is nothing worse for a juror to have to see and listen to than a student who is sleep-deprived and incoherent while they attempt to explain their otherwise wonderful project. It happens all too often. Again being able to explain your project with words is just as critical as the images you use to convey it. So if you don’t sleep the week leading up to the presentation, at least get some sleep the night before.

What should you take away from this final review ? jump to 31:39

One key thing here is to not focus on the “bad” parts of your project. I know that can be easy to do. Also, you don’t need to really focus on the suggested modifications to this project as it is now a thing of the past. There are two key takeaways to get from the final jury if at all possible. First deals with the way others (the guest jury) understand your project. This will tell you something about your graphics skills and your speaking skills. These are the tools you use to sell your project. If the jury doesn’t seem to understand your project as you intended, then one of those two elements needs work. The second is a bit more difficult to explain, but it’s about picking up on how others see the same problem or why the jurors give the suggestions they do. This is about learning how to design better and think more critically. This one may be difficult to always glean from the discussion, but it’s about improving your architectural thought process. So try to understand the “why” behind the jury comments and think about how it can impact your design thought process moving forward.

Should you do anything with this project now ? jump to 39:34

Good question. A great deal of the answer depends on what type of project and what phase of your education it occurs. If it is within your first two years of architecture school, it may be best to put them away and take the lessons learned into the next project. If you are later in your educational journey, it may warrant the need to address some of the issues from the review; especially if they are more graphic in nature. It could be advisable to fix that elevation, make that new perspective view, or do those things that the jury asked for or commented on in regard to the way you presented the work. This project may go into your portfolio. That could be for a job application or for graduate school. Either way, it becomes important to strongly consider those jury comments and their ability to improve the project. Making projects look better after the fact is an acceptable action, as long as you keep within certain limits.

However, you should not ever really plan to “redesign” the project. That is never really a good idea. There are multiple reasons for this, but typically it isn’t an efficient or practical use of your time. If you want to rework images or renders because you have learned more skills, then certainly look to apply those. But the idea of redesigning is most likely time better spent doing something else.

Do the juror’s comments impact your final grade ? jump to 47:23

For my studios and many of the others I discuss with my colleagues, that answer is an easy “No”. The idea that this jury review has any measurable impact on the overall grade of the semester is almost laughable. The reasoning is that the review process is only a snapshot of the work done by a student throughout the semester. While they present the project in its entirety, it cannot convey the amount of work, discussion, and learning done over the full semester. So the final jury shouldn’t impact the outcome of the semester. Of course, each studio and professor is different, so the mileage may vary.

However, I think the final jury can positively impact a project or maybe affect your grade. If a juror sees something in a project that I didn’t see or really appreciates a solution that I did not, then I may give pause and reconsider my thoughts. But again this would only ever be a positive impact on the student. The issue that usually upsets me is when an invited juror can pick out something that I completely missed; a solution that I couldn’t see or an area that I failed to review prior to this final jury. At that point, I feel like I have subsequently failed my students, or I get a bit contrary because I didn’t think of such a good idea!

There are some other resources that are available here on Life of an Architect if you would like to explore this particular topic in greater detail (or maybe you are just looking for some information that we did not cover in this episode because we have covered it before). The actual art of presentations is covered here:

Ep 098: Architecture Presentations

… and if you are looking for information related to architectural jury presentations (as opposed to just “final” presentations) we have this resource for you:

How to survive Architectural School Juries

What the Rank jump to 53:46

We each took a completely different path on this one but somehow ended up in the exact same spot for our top pick. Granted the number one spot has to be the undisputed champion of dinner sides; maybe even all side dishes in the culinary world for that matter. I know that may be a bold reach, but I’m gonna put it out there.

Today we are ranking [drum roll please] ….

What are the Best Three Dinner Sides?

While there was some heated discussion about corn and macaroni and cheese, the others were acceptable to us both. I really dislike corn, if not for any other reason than it has no flavor except for what you put onto it. Bob was certain that the vast majority of the time any macaroni and cheese you will get is average at best and not worth consideration into the top 3.

So final juries present a bit of closure to projects during the educational process. While they can be stressful and tiring, they are a crucial part of the design process if only for the fact that they force a stopping point to what may seem like an endless design iteration cycle. They push students to stop creating ideas and produce a quantity of work to showcase those ideas to someone with no prior knowledge. Hopefully, it culminates in a fabulous experience that improves the students’ work moving forward.

Special thanks to our sponsor Petersen, which manufactures PAC-CLAD architectural metal cladding systems. Petersen’s products include wall and roof systems in both steel and aluminum. PAC-CLAD systems are available nationwide in 46 standard Kynar-based PVDF colors. Visit pac-clad.com to learn more.

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How to make your presentation board stand out? 5 simple tips to improve your architecture panels

Adequate creating and composing architecture panels is a key to a successful project delivery, a final presentation, or an awarded competition entry. It is an important part of designing process and very often it stands a synthesis of your long-term work. So, you supposed to take into consideration many aspects during creating your boards. In this article we would like to present five simple tips and advice that will help make your presentation boards stand out. If you follow rules below, your panels will grab attention of the jury panel. The tips will get you closer to a good result in architecture competitions or university public presentations.

1. Make it simple

You probably have heard that many times before. Make it simple. But why? Why my presentation boards should be simple when my design is so complex? If the project is complex for you, it will seem to be even more complicated and demanding for the jury made of your lecturer or colleagues. So, we, as architects, use presentation boards to show others our design in the clearest and most readable way, to present our ideas shortly and the most communicatively. Thera are some tricks that you can use to simplify your panels. Firstly, you may divide your drawing into sections. There may be diagrams put in one sector, technical drawings, details, axonometric views, or perspectives in others. Plans look the best when they directly correspond with the sections or elevations. It is also a good solution to divide your panels horizontally or vertically – to make a composition with your drawings.

2. Show the clue

It is very important to show the key aspects of your work. When you have a final presentation during your studies, you may have a chance to express your design perfectly but when you participate in an architecture competition there is no opportunity to clarify your designing decisions. Your drawing and panels speak for you, so the leading idea and the concept behind the submission should be easily readable. You may use contrast colors to emphasize the most essential parts. Diagrams expressing the form-finding process, explaining circulation among the area, or functional sketches may be found very useful and make your design understandable. It is also important to show the most characteristics spaces on the perspectives – the ones that make the character of the whole area.

3. Quality, not quantity

You need to be aware that it is easy to recognize if you put a lot of effort into drawing and postproduction or not. The visualizations, plans, sections, axonometric views are supposed to be developed on a similar level. It is better to exclude some drawings from the board than put a lot of pictures in bad quality or even worse – unfinished. Make sure that every drawing on the final panels is the best you can prepare. Remember that you use those drawings to show your skills and predispositions.

4. Importance of 3d views

Axonometric views are the best drawings to show the voluminosity and special relations between the elements. You can use exploded axonometry to better explain what is happening inside the building. Using this type of drawing it is also possible to present how the designed structure works as well as show the construction and finishing layers. When it comes to perspectives, they could express the character and the atmosphere of the place in the best way. You may make the 3d model on a similar level as the rest of the drawings but when you pick the shots and positions of the camera, make sure that in those places your model is prepared with more details. There is no need to waste your time on preparing 3d details that will not be even visible on 1:200 or 1:500 scale.

5. Title and description

It would be nice if you could make up a title that is easy to remember and emphasize your approach to the design in the most effective way. If you make a catchy title, you will stay in the jury’s minds longer and have greater chances of being awarded.     Moreover, make it visible. All texts and descriptions should be readable, so please put them in the appropriate to the boards’ format sizes and do not use the flourishing fonts. Be certain that your design has all the necessary description, but do not go too far and try not to overtalk your design.

We hope that these tips will get you closer to the awards! Good luck in your future challenges!

If you need more inspirations, check 20 Free Project Boards Templates prepared by competitions.archi and collaborators. It is a set of 20 awarded project boards available in Photoshop and InDesign formats.

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What is Docker?

Docker is an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications. Docker enables you to separate your applications from your infrastructure so you can deliver software quickly. With Docker, you can manage your infrastructure in the same ways you manage your applications. By taking advantage of Docker's methodologies for shipping, testing, and deploying code, you can significantly reduce the delay between writing code and running it in production.

The Docker platform

Docker provides the ability to package and run an application in a loosely isolated environment called a container. The isolation and security lets you run many containers simultaneously on a given host. Containers are lightweight and contain everything needed to run the application, so you don't need to rely on what's installed on the host. You can share containers while you work, and be sure that everyone you share with gets the same container that works in the same way.

Docker provides tooling and a platform to manage the lifecycle of your containers:

• Develop your application and its supporting components using containers.
• The container becomes the unit for distributing and testing your application.
• When you're ready, deploy your application into your production environment, as a container or an orchestrated service. This works the same whether your production environment is a local data center, a cloud provider, or a hybrid of the two.

What can I use Docker for?

Fast, consistent delivery of your applications.

Docker streamlines the development lifecycle by allowing developers to work in standardized environments using local containers which provide your applications and services. Containers are great for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows.

Consider the following example scenario:

• Your developers write code locally and share their work with their colleagues using Docker containers.
• They use Docker to push their applications into a test environment and run automated and manual tests.
• When developers find bugs, they can fix them in the development environment and redeploy them to the test environment for testing and validation.
• When testing is complete, getting the fix to the customer is as simple as pushing the updated image to the production environment.

Responsive deployment and scaling

Docker's container-based platform allows for highly portable workloads. Docker containers can run on a developer's local laptop, on physical or virtual machines in a data center, on cloud providers, or in a mixture of environments.

Docker's portability and lightweight nature also make it easy to dynamically manage workloads, scaling up or tearing down applications and services as business needs dictate, in near real time.

Running more workloads on the same hardware

Docker is lightweight and fast. It provides a viable, cost-effective alternative to hypervisor-based virtual machines, so you can use more of your server capacity to achieve your business goals. Docker is perfect for high density environments and for small and medium deployments where you need to do more with fewer resources.

Docker architecture

Docker uses a client-server architecture. The Docker client talks to the Docker daemon, which does the heavy lifting of building, running, and distributing your Docker containers. The Docker client and daemon can run on the same system, or you can connect a Docker client to a remote Docker daemon. The Docker client and daemon communicate using a REST API, over UNIX sockets or a network interface. Another Docker client is Docker Compose, that lets you work with applications consisting of a set of containers.

The Docker daemon

The Docker daemon ( dockerd ) listens for Docker API requests and manages Docker objects such as images, containers, networks, and volumes. A daemon can also communicate with other daemons to manage Docker services.

The Docker client

The Docker client ( docker ) is the primary way that many Docker users interact with Docker. When you use commands such as docker run , the client sends these commands to dockerd , which carries them out. The docker command uses the Docker API. The Docker client can communicate with more than one daemon.

Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop is an easy-to-install application for your Mac, Windows or Linux environment that enables you to build and share containerized applications and microservices. Docker Desktop includes the Docker daemon ( dockerd ), the Docker client ( docker ), Docker Compose, Docker Content Trust, Kubernetes, and Credential Helper. For more information, see Docker Desktop .

Docker registries

A Docker registry stores Docker images. Docker Hub is a public registry that anyone can use, and Docker looks for images on Docker Hub by default. You can even run your own private registry.

When you use the docker pull or docker run commands, Docker pulls the required images from your configured registry. When you use the docker push command, Docker pushes your image to your configured registry.

Docker objects

When you use Docker, you are creating and using images, containers, networks, volumes, plugins, and other objects. This section is a brief overview of some of those objects.

An image is a read-only template with instructions for creating a Docker container. Often, an image is based on another image, with some additional customization. For example, you may build an image which is based on the ubuntu image, but installs the Apache web server and your application, as well as the configuration details needed to make your application run.

You might create your own images or you might only use those created by others and published in a registry. To build your own image, you create a Dockerfile with a simple syntax for defining the steps needed to create the image and run it. Each instruction in a Dockerfile creates a layer in the image. When you change the Dockerfile and rebuild the image, only those layers which have changed are rebuilt. This is part of what makes images so lightweight, small, and fast, when compared to other virtualization technologies.

A container is a runnable instance of an image. You can create, start, stop, move, or delete a container using the Docker API or CLI. You can connect a container to one or more networks, attach storage to it, or even create a new image based on its current state.

By default, a container is relatively well isolated from other containers and its host machine. You can control how isolated a container's network, storage, or other underlying subsystems are from other containers or from the host machine.

A container is defined by its image as well as any configuration options you provide to it when you create or start it. When a container is removed, any changes to its state that aren't stored in persistent storage disappear.

Example docker run command

The following command runs an ubuntu container, attaches interactively to your local command-line session, and runs /bin/bash .

When you run this command, the following happens (assuming you are using the default registry configuration):

If you don't have the ubuntu image locally, Docker pulls it from your configured registry, as though you had run docker pull ubuntu manually.

Docker creates a new container, as though you had run a docker container create command manually.

Docker allocates a read-write filesystem to the container, as its final layer. This allows a running container to create or modify files and directories in its local filesystem.

Docker creates a network interface to connect the container to the default network, since you didn't specify any networking options. This includes assigning an IP address to the container. By default, containers can connect to external networks using the host machine's network connection.

Docker starts the container and executes /bin/bash . Because the container is running interactively and attached to your terminal (due to the -i and -t flags), you can provide input using your keyboard while Docker logs the output to your terminal.

When you run exit to terminate the /bin/bash command, the container stops but isn't removed. You can start it again or remove it.

The underlying technology

Docker is written in the Go programming language and takes advantage of several features of the Linux kernel to deliver its functionality. Docker uses a technology called namespaces to provide the isolated workspace called the container. When you run a container, Docker creates a set of namespaces for that container.

These namespaces provide a layer of isolation. Each aspect of a container runs in a separate namespace and its access is limited to that namespace.

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15 reasons to improve your architectural presentation

When architects finally get their design in mind, putting it on paper becomes challenging, and a hundred papers get smashed and thrown into the trash can. It becomes important to get the design on paper right and presented well. And architectural presentation plays a vital role in this; as well as in the competitive architecture world . 

Be it getting the portfolio right, or winning a client; the architectural presentation takes the limelight. Articulating the design to an audience is not just about the right use of pen, pencil, or digital pre se ntation tools, but there’s more to it with creativity as focus. 

There are a few reasons why we should improve our architectural presentation .

1. To grab the Attention of the Audience | Architectural presentation

It is significant to understand who the audience is to present the design effectively. The audience could be the client from whom you want to win a project, the employer who can hire you, or could be the juror in your architecture school . Seeking the attention of the audience depends on the first impression we create with the presentation of sheets. There is a difference in presenting a residential plan to your juror and a client. The juror will expect a design process well explained in the presentation of sheets , while a client would expect you to visualize his residence in the drawings.

2. Less is more

Less is more in the architectural presentation; because the audience is not interested in every detail, but a simple message portrayed in the presentation to get convinced. It is more impressive for the juror to review the entire design conveyed in a drawing sheet than a 100-page report that shows the research, case study, and the process of how you arrived at your design.

3. Time is precious | Architectural presentation

Presenting the design creatively in an understandable format can be favorable because there is always a time factor involved in presentations. Architectural presentation makes it worth why the perceiver should take time out to review your design. Making use of the time effectively can be a win-win situation for both the presenter and perceiver.

4. Showcasing Artistic Skills

Communicating the design process in an out-of-the-box notion also lets you showcase your artistic skills . It also lets your viewers comprehend the concept better. For instance, a sectional view scaled out higher in a presentation can be read more easily than having multiple elevations and sections explaining the same. This is more an artistic and logical solution at the same time.

5. Easier to Read | Architectural presentation

Presentation is brushed aside in working drawings of the building, but it is crucial to read them easily. The misinterpretation of drawings is often caused by neglecting presentation in these drawings, and the consequences can be fatal. A dimension can be read as 66mm or 99mm if the presentation isn’t clear as to how it has to be read.

6. To Sell a Concept

Marketing skills come in handy if you’re a sales executive while presentation skills will help in selling a design idea. Convincing clients about the design idea is the key to getting our designs alive and standing tall. An architectural sketch explaining how the design was created can draw more attention than a series of text written beside the plans explaining the same.

7. Visualizing the Design

Lack of visualization skills in people is the reason why presentation in architecture takes a stand. Architects develop these skills and present the design to those who don’t understand, which is the challenge. Walking the audience through the design and letting them visualize the design can be achieved with a good presentation.

8. Visually Pleasing | Architectural presentation

Architecture presentation is the most pleasing drawing to look at in the construction field. Intriguing visuals or representations of the design can draw one’s attention amidst the creative architecture world. 

9. Keeping up with the Trend

The presentation does not just include 2D representation on paper but can also be in terms of architectural models , Walkthrough Videos and Virtual Reality. Illustrating designs are taking new shapes in this competitive field, and adapting for the same is significant. The current trend is Animated GIFs.

10. Being Unique | Architectural presentation

One can easily identify an architect’s work with the style that he possesses uniquely. The presentation takes the same road of individuality. Be it the font style or the sketches or the colour composition, the presentation style that we develop renders an identity, and it also reflects one’s personality.

11. Presentation as a Story

A design should always have a story and not just the end-product. Conceptual diagrams and graphical charts show the entire design process, but they seem to be neglected in most cases. They are useful means for analyzing a concept abstractly. A narrative presentation is what one looks forward to.

12. Explore Tools

Exploring different tools can improve technical skills to arrive at the best presentation that aligns with the concept. When a designer runs out of time for drawing sections in a digital tool, one can sketch the same and digitalize in an instant with the use of any of the Adobe tools. A hybrid presentation of hand-drawn and digital can contribute to the drawings to blend well with the other drawings. 

13. Realism in Renders | Architectural presentation

The most competitive form of representation in the Architecture field is the realism in renders . Clients ask for renders to be perceptible of the design. This representation is more inclined towards the end of the design phase to close out the final look and feel. 

14. The design comes in different Scales

An architecture competition would restrict its submissions to an A1 size panel with a few other presentation restrictions. In such cases, architectural presentation plays a considerable role with designs from participants varying in scale exhibited in a common canvas.

15. Interpretation | Architectural presentation

Interpreting the design with presentation is a tricky aspect. For instance, one can overpower the use of linestyle in their sketches to show the texture of materials used in the design while the audience perceives the same to be the brutalism style in architecture. Presentation skills should be given more attention and thought to convey the design in the right fashion .

Rohini M is an Assistant Architect in Atkins, Bangalore. She is also certified LEED Green Associate and COA registered Architect. Moreover, she also contributes articles to Building Design Journal in Atkins UK. She is a go-to person for hand made cards for any event or wall arts in the firm.

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InfoQ Homepage Presentations Why a Hedge Fund Built Its Own Database

Why a Hedge Fund Built Its Own Database

James Munro discusses ArcticDB and the practicalities of building a performant time-series datastore and why transactions, particularly the Isolation in ACID, is just not worth it.

James Munro is Head of ArcticDB at Man Group. ArcticDB is a high-performance data-frame database that is optimized for time-series data, data-science workflows and scales to petabytes of data and thousands of simultaneous users. James was previously CTO at Man AHL between 2018 and 2023.

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The Architect’s Guide to Elasticity

Presented by: Jonas Bonér - Co-founder and CTO at Lightbend

Munro: I'm James Munro. I'm going to talk about why a hedge fund built its own database technology. I run ArcticDB at Man Group. Man Group is the asset manager. I was a physicist originally. Spent some time doing plasma physics, electron molecule scattering, things like this. That ended up being useful to do simulations of plasmas for semiconductor processing. This is marginally relevant to a later bit in the talk.

Eventually, I gave that up, joined Man AHL, which is a very systematic quantitative hedge fund manager, mostly hedge fund manager. I worked as a Quant Dev on a bunch of their asset classes, team, strategies, and portfolio management. Became manager in 2016, then CTO in 2018. Then really, that's where I feel like a lot of what I'm going to talk about starts to come in where I'm focusing on particular things for Man AHL. I did that for 5 years, before becoming head of ArcticDB. I actually moved from being the biggest user of ArcticDB, running the team that was using ArcticDB, and demanding features left, right, and center, to being the owner of it, which is an interesting twist.

Technology Empowered Asset Manager

I'm going to give some context to sketch out the story, and then talk about the real whys of building your own database technology. Man Group is a large alternative asset manager. Alternative means not the usual massive markets, but alternative investments designed to give uncorrelated returns. We're quite large for that, so over $160 billion of assets under management. We've been doing that for a while, 35 years.

Actually, Man's much older. It's named after someone called James Man, who founded it in 1783. It's a very old company, and has been doing brokerage and merchanting and stuff for most of its history. For the last 35 years, it's been predominantly asset management. Lots of clients. Mostly sophisticated clients. In fact, you have to legally be a sophisticated client for most of the stuff. Things like pension funds who are looking for other sources of alpha for the people with those pensions. This is a really broad range of investment strategies.

Things like macro funds, trend following funds, multi-strategy things, discretionary things, credit, loans, all sorts of things, real assets. There's a whole diversity of things going on. Anything in alternative asset management has been something that Man Group's interested in. All of that has now been supported by the single technology and operating platform. That's where the story starts to get interesting for us, I think. Because of the size, there's a scale challenge immediately. We trade an awfully large amount for an asset manager, so $6 trillion or more a year. It depends on the vol of the markets, the level of risk we're taking, but that kind of scale.

How do you get from $160-odd billion to $6 trillion? That seems like quite a lot of a jump. Actually, the several-fold comes from leverage. If you're running hedge funds, you're normally running leverage. That's the first factor. The other several-fold from a trillion to $6 trillion or $7 trillion, is actually because you're an active asset manager. You're using data and information on the markets to decide whether you should be long, short, which markets you should hold.

It's that that you're using to trade. That means you have to be coming in and out of positions. You're doing that several times a year, on average. That's where that scale comes from. Then, we're looking for a whole diverse range of ways to find alpha for our clients. That's where you need to trade lots of markets. Anything liquid we will trade basically. Then we've got all these different customers with different problems. We're trying to design it for all of them as well. This is real alpha at scale challenge. Then, trading, you've got to do this cheaply, you've got to do it efficiently. It's a real drag on this activity if you're not getting into the markets really cheaply.

Ten Years of Investment and Refinement

Another little bit of context is about the story for Arctic itself, so just at a high level. This is something we actually started back in about 2011 when we were looking at Python as a platform as well, and we were looking for data solutions that would work for us for that. We built a first version of Arctic. I'm going to try and explain the why for both simultaneously, so this won't come up that much again. We made a first version of this Arctic database, actually purely in Python. It was backed by Mongo at the time, which is a fast document storage database. We did that.

Then we actually open sourced that in 2015, which got reasonably good usage by our peers in the financial industry. That was first half of the story. Really, we started to hit limits with that. Mongo became a bit of a scaling obstacle for us. We were running hundreds of Mongo servers. Apparently, we had the second largest Mongo solution for a while. We needed another way to level up on the performance as well, so we rewrote the core in C++. We actually got rid of the separate database layer completely, and now it connects just to storage. That's one of the stories I'm going to talk about. This was a way therefore that, by changing the way we do storage, so connecting directly to object stores like S3, we could get better performance and better scale.

Then also, by changing the runtime C++ instead of Python, we could get better performance, what we're doing there as well. That was a way to many times our performance level on our scale. That now is used almost for everything at Man Group, in the front office at least, so for the market data and all the data we use to predict markets, or risk, or whatever we're doing, or cost, and for all of the AUM that Man Group trades. It's also used across finance now by banks, other asset managers, data providers.

Why Build a Database?

Let's get into the why. Why build a database? At one level, it sounds crazy. There are thousands of databases out there, and they've already been built by people who want to make a successful database for some reason. Is it really the case that none of them fit what you're trying to do? That's like a core of the question. At some level, this sounds a bit crazy. It reminded me of this quote, the distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success, which after a bit of Googling I found out was made by someone called Bruce Feirstein, who apparently wrote some of the James Bond stories, an American author.

This is the DALL·E interpretation of that. You've got the slightly crazy person on the left and then maybe the more genius person on the right. That was the way around I had it in my head anyway. A younger looking Bruce Feirstein in the middle, and he's measuring his head size for some reason. I got it. Then you get these weird things like the arm coming in from the left on the table. I don't really understand. Is it crazy? I don't think it really is because, for one thing, there's some level of specialism here. We're dealing with a lot of high frequency data. I'm going to talk to you about shapes and sizes of data too. That's a normal thing for people to go and solve with specialist tools. There are proprietary databases you can buy for tick data.

You'll find that most, at least tier-1 banks have built their own proprietary database solutions for tick data for similar reasons that I'm going to talk about. There's a specialism story there. Actually, we built something that's quite general. I think another part of that is most of those thousand databases out there already have been built for a purpose. There are very few databases that are built in a vacuum and then address the purpose. Actually, you should really consider it normal that when there's a breeding ground for some innovation that someone comes up with something that's a little bit different.

Getting into the why, I wanted to try and connect the dots from what Man Group is trying to achieve with this alpha at scale story. Back to the technology pressure for doing something like ArcticDB. This is quite a nice way to explain it. This is an economic article from American Economic Review in 2020, where they were looking at research productivity. You might think that maybe low latency trading systems are the real challenge of running a systematic quant hedge fund. Turns out, not really.

We're not a high frequency trader. That's one element of it where that would be more of a pressure. Although the performance of that does matter, and the technology you need to solve high frequency trading, a really good execution does matter. Actually, you'll find that a lot of the time you're competing on this research productivity, for the trade ideas themselves, and how you manage risk and optimize portfolios, rather than the low latency aspects of it. I'll explain that a bit more. One step back from generating the alpha itself is actually the research to generate the alpha on the data. It's the research productivity for your quant team that you're focused on, for those ideas and for that portfolio construction. This chart is of that for Moore's Law. This felt familiar for me, because I've been working on semiconductor processing in the mid-2000s there.

I'm a little part of that green line. What it shows is that for Moore's Law, in that sector, at least, we know the semiconductor densities doubled every couple of years. Somehow that's 35% compound growth rate, according to the economics, but I didn't quite get that. That's been an exponential growth rate for the computing industry. It's been a massive revolution: the IT revolution, the technology revolution. The cost of doing that research has been going up steadily. I was definitely acutely aware of that, because of the level of detail of simulating those plasmas, etching those semiconductors that I was doing. It was atomic level simulation, back in the mid-2000s.

That was very much at the tail end of the concerns. The number of people just to eke out smaller feature sizes on these things was just getting huge. That works when your payoff is exponential. It doesn't work in every market. If that was one person in 1971, it's now like 18 people in 2014, it's probably a lot more now. Research productivity is a key challenge in that sector. The paper's conclusion is it's a key challenge across sectors. Some of those sectors don't have those exponential payoffs. It's a key challenge in quant as well for markets. For one thing, you've got more data coming in. Another thing is you've got competition, and you've got market efficiency going up. These edges become harder to find. This research productivity ends up being your biggest challenge.

What is Alt Data?

Data's going up, no need to explain that. In asset management, in finance, generally, though, it's been a slightly more nuanced story. High frequency data, low latency market data ticks, that frequency, that's been going up. You can collect trillions of rows per day, if you want. Billions of rows per day is typical for asset managers like ours. Also, there's been another part to the story, which is all this other data starting to get used to predict markets and risk. Generally, we refer to that as alt data or alternative data.

That's all the data that consumers are generating, and people are generating, which is all sorts of different types. It could be weather data, images, could be data on how green you are. All of this stuff. This stuff's been growing. There's a dual sided story here where the volume of this data has been growing. This plot here is by a data like catalog company.

They basically go and index datasets for people to try and connect you to the valuable data you might need, called Eagle Alpha. They've got these nice plots of all the datasets in their catalog over time. Actually, it's also diversity of data challenge for a place like us where you're dealing with all sorts of different data types. You just really need to be able to get through that as a process really quickly, as well. You need agility with data, not just the ability to handle it performantly.

Choosing Python for Data Science in 2011

Then, another part is I wanted to place this story in time as well, because if I think back in 2011, when I joined Man Group, they were just beginning a move to Python. I want to use this Python for data science now. Anyone is choosing at this point. People might be on other languages at the moment. Anyone who is choosing is choosing Python for data science. That's what you get taught at school and everything. That wasn't really the case in 2011. I think that if you're in a quant hedge fund in 2011, you're looking at other languages like R, or things like MATLAB, sometimes C++ if you're doing lots of data.

These were the typical choices. These were the skills that people had in the building. Python wasn't the obvious choice for data science at that point. Also, you were presented with the challenge of wanting something you could use in prod. It wasn't really a choice for that at the time either. Obviously, lots of people have been choosing Python since then. You can see that this is a Stack Overflow language popularity chart. You can see lots of people chose Python, and it became very popular on Stack Overflow, and obviously very popular globally. Back then, also, Python 2 was like normal, Python 3 was out but it was like hard, still a pain.

TensorFlow didn't exist. PyTorch didn't exist. Lots of tools weren't that popular yet. pandas really got popular mid-teens. It was open sourced originally in 2008. This was still a pushy choice. You're going to move everything into Python. You're going to do all these data science there. We spent time supporting that community, particularly PyData in London, and working on our tooling on top of what was available, including ArcticDB.

Conceptual Journey

I want to explain another part of the conceptual journey, which is that even if you're an individual, and you're managing your investment portfolio, this is the process you follow. Even if you're a very sophisticated asset manager, this is the process you follow, whether you like it or not. You're bringing data in, as an individual might just look at my phone, for a price of something. I might be bringing in billions of market data ticks. You're trying to get on board that data. You're coming up with some decision, some idea about what to trade.

Then you need to decide how to trade it, this portfolio construction. Maybe it's not the only position you hold. A simple example is you want to hold American stocks, but maybe you don't want to be exposed to the dollar, so you might need to hedge something. In a complicated case, you've got to decide on your weighting tool, the assets you might hold. Then you want to trade it cheaply. That might affect the instrument you trade, but also how you trade. This is whether you're an individual, or whether you're a global corporation, this is the process you follow. I think the other parts of the story is that, this just really gets complicated extremely quickly. I mentioned the thousands of datasets that Eagle Alpha had indexed there.

There's a variety of data as well. You might be looking at company reports, like documents. You've got tick data. You might be looking at consumer transactions. You might be looking at environmental, social things. You're also doing all sorts of statistical methods. It's not like you're choosing one machine learning algorithm that's on trend. You're doing basic statistical and science. You might be doing deep learning.

You might be using ChatGPT. You're almost using every method under the sun and you're getting hands-on. You need the tools that let you do that. You need to be doing all sorts of portfolio construction. I mentioned that we've got lots of solutions. You need to be doing risk. You need to also do the high frequency end of execution, and you need to do that well. You've just got this really diverse set of problems, and almost teams devoted to all of them. There are hundreds of quants within Man Group, for instance, and they all want to be solving different problems. If you're all solving the same problem, you're probably doing something wrong.

DataFrame Use-Cases Across a Systematic Trading System

Now we're getting into the nuts of it, I think the detail of it. If you're a systematic trader, which means that you designed an algorithm that's going to do the work for you, you're not choosing stocks yourself. You're designing the algorithm, and you're probably very automated, so from data through to execution. I think this is the architecture for the ages called the lambda architecture. Invariably, you invent this lambda architecture, where you have streaming data pipeline, and a batch data pipeline. Streaming data is all about the high frequency stuff.

You're bringing in tick data. You're saving it into tables or DataFrames. You're also going to be downsampling it into bars, typically one-minute bars, could be lower frequency, higher frequency, and doing analytics on it for later use. Also, you don't want to do the kind of work that requires and connecting to non-streaming APIs for everything else. You've got a batch workflow. That's the other side of the lambda architecture, where you're bringing in either fundamental or alternative data for all the things that you care about. You're putting that into DataFrames or tables. You need to catalog that because there's thousands of things. We've got this internal datalake architecture we call codex.

The goal is to bring this stuff into your model, your strategy, where your algorithm is going to execute, and it's going to use this. It's going to be able to do backtests to tell you how this thing evolves over time. It's going to do a portfolio risk and trade optimization. That's where the science is focused on building that algorithm. Then you'll send that instruction out to trading, the eventual decision. That could happen in a variety of ways.

Then you're going to need to do analytics on that. You're going to need to do analytics on all of this to see what's going on. You're bringing this stuff into tables. What's happened at Man Group, and actually at many alternative asset managers is the table has become the DataFrame. The DataFrame's become the unit of moving data around, almost like a document, in that you care about the unit as a whole. You're reading and writing new ones every day. You're just shuffling an awful amount of data around and you're doing analytics on all of it every day. That's a key story that your unit of operation is the whole DataFrame.

Scalable and Accessible

Then from the technology side, back in 2011, but this is still something we care about, we were thinking about how to get past the server bottlenecks, all of this stuff causes. We tried a number of proprietary databases and open source databases at the time. We found all of that required often just creating hundreds of these servers. I talked about the Mongo story a bit. The reality is that a single user can generate enough load with some of these data science models to swamp your entire system, to swamp potentially dozens of servers, which is the inverse of a relationship you might have with a website where you've got thousands, potentially millions of users for a single server.

That's a huge cost and a huge operating burden as well, just the cognitive load, and the work required to maintain that, even in a modern serverless setup. Then, also, we were moving to Python. That was a decision we had made. We wanted to make a really trivial API for people. We wanted to just make it as easy as possible to work with this data, and DataFrames as a unit. Something that is almost like OneDrive now where you can just share data trivially, and work on it like that. Also, was a high-performance time series database. This kind of like not having an idiosyncratic tool for this but simple Python API that let people work with data like this. All of these things coalescing drove us in this direction.

Real-World Data

Then, is there anything that could have still managed to not make us build our own database? I'll explain a bit of that now, with some of the real-world data challenges, and my opinions on it. Time for a DALL·E picture. Shapes that are too wide, too long, or ragged. I wasn't liking the images, so I did cubism on the end, try and get a cubist image. I'm not sure this is cubism but it's got cubes in it. Here's someone struggling with real-world data. A real example, bond data. I think it's an interesting example, because people might not be so familiar with it.

Bonds are actually a bigger market than equities, like multiple times, three times globally as of when I pulled this data in, and actually a higher amount in the U.S. because most bond trading is done in the U.S. It's a huge market, actually, but it's a lot less liquid than equities. We all know about equity trading. It's credit, basically. It's much slower and harder to trade as OTC market. This has been fertile ground for quant, this is because it's less liquid, but really big, it's something that's hard to do. It's something hard to get right. It's a really good thing to be on the front edge of.

The data behind this ends up being somewhat challenging as well. I've got at the top like how you might think about normalized data typically. Then I've got at the bottom, one of the ways we actually work with this data. In fact, we have many shapes for all the things we do. At the top, this is Python pandas DataFrame. Then I'm pulling out the bond data. I've got dates on the left, so it's like time series. I've also got IDs of the bonds. Those are the Cusips and ISINs, the common IDs. You've got things like price, but you've got lots of measures for the bonds, that's the fundamental data, things like duration. This is a normalized way of bringing in data. This is how you often get data. It's not actually how you want to work with data. That's one of the steps I think you've got to take.

At the bottom is a pivot of that. You're just pulling out price now. It's one measure. You're just working with one measure, because you want to do calculations on price. If you do a calculation on price, it's not the same calculation you're going to do on volume. You got IDs along the top, and you got times down the left still. Now you can do time series analytics. If that's stored in a columnar fashion, then that's incredibly fast. Also, you've arranged your data naturally for doing cross-sectional analysis, because everything's a portfolio now.

Trading one asset rarely makes sense. You're really arranging yourself for the kind of work you want to do on this data. This ends up being 400,000 historically tradable bonds from this dataset, which is many gigabytes. It's five rows, because I pulled the tail out. It's a few thousand rows in total of daily data, but it's many gigabytes of data. Wouldn't fit on this laptop, for instance, in RAM. You also need the tools to deal with this. You need something which is happy to have that many columns, which is not a typical SQL schema. It's more like something you need to treat as a block.

This is really the story of the normalization tradeoffs, and maybe personal opinion as well. Generally, people have been taught to design schemas on the left. I'm not saying they're wrong, but I'm saying you need to think. Schemas on the left are typically normalized. The reason you're doing that is because you're looking at the way the data is structured, and you realize not every timestamp exists. You realize that sometimes assets come and go. Apple didn't exist forever. Many companies go bust.

Measures change, because the scheme of your data often changes, so you've got to normalize it all, because you think that's the right thing to do. It's the thing you get taught to do at university, if you do computer science. Actually, your users care about something else, often. I don't want to be too generalistic. Here, I've given another case where it's not like assets IDs along the top, but it's like, you've broken up your problem into assets. Because, typically, maybe you've got an application where people are just pulling in individual assets. You don't actually want the performance cost of building the table on the left, but also the performance cost of scanning the whole table every time you want one asset out of it. Suddenly, you want the columnar storage on an asset.

Two, your measures might change, or you might have something else, you might be doing calculations producing the columns, but you want that stuff aligned. You don't want that to be distributed across your large table. Actually, go to where the user is, as much as possible, and then do the normalization you think is appropriate for that. That's a real part of it, and has made us design it for the flexibility of DataFrames that are the shapes the user want to be.

Two aspects of that, it's just like, one, we can have big tables, but let's make sure those tables are columnar on the things that people want to read. That could be billions of rows, it could be trillions of rows per tick data, or it could just be decades of daily data. Also, users are going to want to do cross-sectional things, and so support hundreds of thousands of columns. We have a user on ArcticDB doing a million columns. Make sure it works for that.

Then, rather than rely on your normalization to deal with missing data, just accept the missing data. Let your data be ragged. Let your data be sparse in places. Build a tool that's performant for that. Again, just an example, because you're going to have many use cases, but this is asset IDs on the top. Then the idea is that some of these assets have gone away, maybe they went bust, and new ones are coming along. If it's bonds, they've expired, and new bonds are being issued, or maybe it was missing data because the server went down. Just build a tool that lets you work with that, because that's how the quants are going to work with it. I think that's actually probably actually quite true of a lot of data science as well.

Architecture

If you believe the why, why build a database, a new one, then how do you go about solving for all this? Time for another DALL·E picture. Our mascot, the polar bear is looking for a way through a complex architecture. My take on this is you can give up one of the ACID mostly. We know atomicity is the idea that either something happens, or it doesn't happen, like it fails completely or happens completely. Renaming a file on a file system is a common example of that. Consistency, all the versions are good versions.

You don't see half complete versions or things which break, things we expect to be immutable. Durability, so there's copies of the data. You've got good uptime. One hundred percent, you need these things. The one that's missing is isolation. If you want to give up anything for the sake of agility and performance, I think you can do a lot by giving up on some of the isolation. Isolation means that you're helping the user coordinate transactions, and they might be doing it from multiple places. A very classic example of this is your shopping basket. You've got stock. You're buying something online.

That shop has stock of that thing, and it can't sell it twice so it needs to check in order when it puts things into shopping baskets, so it doesn't oversell it. In trading, this matters. I've got positions in something, I need to know that the last person who wants to change that table, me, if I want to change that table saw that value, and no one else is operating based on that value until I've done my change. That's the serializability of individual users transacting on the database. If you're moving to a world where you're actually doing analytics and data science, instead of trying to operate an order book in a trading system, then that's something you can easily give up, because you're actually asking the user who's already got millions of these DataFrames, so like documents to the user.

Just to think about how they change that DataFrame, rather than trying to write to it from multiple places. Really, the point here is that isolation needs coordination. That can be a serious cost problem, maintenance problem, because suddenly you need databases, because you need a queue, or locks, or you're limiting yourself to these obscure data types that are eventually consistent. You can do this without separate database servers. You could implement this on AWS S3, but it would be really slow and inefficient, because you're really asking a lot of the abstraction. You could implement a queue. You can implement locks. There are many databases out here that do this without giving up the database server. If you're happy to implement a lock-aware system, then you can do a lot with performance and flexibility, and efficiency of running a database without servers.

Actually, this is not a new idea. There was a 2008 paper on building a database on S3. AWS S3 came out in 2006. Just a couple years after and people are already excited about the technology. The author looks at how you could implement databases on S3, and what you'd have to give up, given the constraints of you're being reasonably efficient. You can see the diagram on the left is basically offering up the chance to run it without a service, because although there's a line between the client and the database logic, the record manager and the page manager, that line can go away.

You could run it, all the database logic in the client. The conclusion is that it's shown atomicity and all client-side consistency levels can be achieved, whereas isolation as strict consistency cannot. What they mean by strict consistency here is that writes follow reads. It's the same challenge of having your write be due to the data you just read. In SQL language, this would be select for update. You're locking the read until you've updated. That level of strict consistency is a challenge to do performantly. The one that's really just below that, which is that writes follow reads, which is that, if you've done a write and that write is complete, that everyone gets the data at that point, is possible in AWS S3 and many S3 implementations, and lets you do a lot.

This is not really rocket science, once you're happy to take this approach. It's stuff that we probably all know about a little bit. A little bit about how this is achieved in ArcticDB with its data structures. If we're going to respect the atomicity and consistency, and just delegate durability to the storage, like not even worry about that, just use good storage technologies, then we need a data structure that's going to support that. Ideally, like an immutable data structure, where you just add versions, rather than modifying previous versions.

User 1 is reading version 5, and then you're making an update. Actually, what you need to do is create a new version of the data. Then you need to reference, so you've got some symbolic link here. I'm pretending that you've got a piece of data called Apple. You're symbolically linking that to the new version as an atomic operation, after you've completely written version 6. Then any new users are getting version 6. You can start to build database semantics on top of this.

Beyond having a reference name for things and a versioning structure, you're going to have some indexes in your database. You're going to have some data. I'll come to that. Really, I've said this a number of times, but no database servers. They're all gone. No job queues. Everyone can operate independently on the storage system, but that's shared storage. It could be a shared file system, could be S3, and people are able therefore to work together. As long as they figure out how to update DataFrames together, individual DataFrames. Typically, there's an ownership here, because there's millions of DataFrames and thousands of libraries.

What does this mean for your concerns in your database? I think this is an important point, because it's really not just about isolation, but it's about where you put your concerns. The things you care about, where do they sit? Traditionally, APIs, normally like quite a light API, because a lot of the work is happening on your database server, the security is definitely happening there, executing your queries, managing your transactions, building your indexes, updating your indexes is a lot of the work.

Then you've got to split responsibility on the capacity, both for performance and how much data you've got between the servers and the storage. The resiliency, the durability is split up across both. You don't have any single point of failure in a modern distributed system. What happens when you make this truly serverless, where you're given up a little bit on transactions, but just with that isolation concern. You do have a heavier weight client. The API is simple, but it's doing a lot. That's actually doing the indexing and the execution of your queries. Then the security and capacity, resiliency all delegated to your storage. If you're using a world class storage system, like many of the S3 ones, you've got incredibly featured capacity, scalability possibilities, and security possibilities, and incredible resiliency. That stuff just works.

Then, you don't have to worry about these database servers. Then the other nice feature, which you might think is a bad feature, but I think it's actually a good feature at an organizational level, is that the work you're doing at your database scales with your clients. If this is a web server, that would seem like a terrible idea. Like, I'm doing all my work in my web browser. If I'm trying to do data science, then the reality is the users doing the most work are running on the biggest machines, and they can afford the most database work as well. You're actually naturally scaling your workload with your user's workload, which is not just about reading or writing data, but the science in the middle. You've got your S3 caring about everything else.

Another way to look at the benefits is that you end up with something, because you're not running up these servers, and not having to care about your servers in the normal meaning of serverless is probably a good trend. Not having them seems like an even better option. Just have somewhere to store your data. In this case, my example, AWS S3, make an S3 bucket. Then configure your credentials. Install ArcticDB as your path in client. It's incredibly simple to set up an almost infinitely scalable database.

Then connect to it. That's much the same as you might connect to any database, just a slightly different API. Then you've got database semantics on top of that. You're reading and writing and updating and deleting data from DataFrames. A win on the back of this is that because you're using these immutable data structures, I'm allowing for deletes, but even deletes create new versions. Even though you based your design on immutability, you've got the ability to change things.

You've also got the ability to rewind time because all these old versions still exist normally. You get this nice feature, this actually ends up being really critical for data science as well, because you need to go back to different models all around. You need to look at how the data changed. You need to look at how your outputs changed, and how that related to the model you're running to do good science. This ends up being a necessary and nice output of this architecture.

For all the reasons discussed, we ended up with this fully client-side database machine that does all the work of deduplicating data, compressing, tiling, indexing, working with the storage system to create a fully featured shared database infrastructure on what could be shared file systems, cloud storage, or it could be very performant flash drives in your local data center, which is the way we run it. I said there was more to the data structures, but, obviously, you're building your indexes, and you're compressing what might be tick data, what are the alternative data, and so columnar storage in your data layer, and you're chunking it. In this way, you can use the indexes to format the bits you want.

I actually VPN'd into the corporate infrastructure here, so I'm just going to do some imports, and then explain a few terms. This is the idea of the namespaces, the bucket level in S3 parlance. You've made some storage bucket that you've got permissions for. Then there's the dataset level we call libraries. You might put your U.S. equity data in one and your European equity data in another, or your weather data in another. Then you've got lots of DataFrames in there, could be millions, for all the things you individually care about.

Each of those items is a DataFrame. Connect to the research cluster here, so 30,000 libraries in the research cluster. There's a separate production cluster where we run our stuff in real life for trading. Then I'm going to get our toy example to show you how things work. I'm getting a library. I'm going to read from one library and write to another. There's a source library and a library. I'm listing the symbols. These are the DataFrames in the library, this is 4.

It's tiny examples, just so you can see what's happening. Basically, you read and write DataFrames. I'll read Amazon 1. I'll write Amazon, and I added in bits of metadata, just so I can keep track of things. You've got some database functionality, so there's not just a document store. You can append data. Let's do that. I've made my DataFrame a bit longer. I've read a piece there. I've written it, appended it to Amazon. There's the slightly longer DataFrame.

You can update the middle, and it will be updating the indexing and the versions for all of this. When I did the original write, you can see that I've run this demo a few times, version 625. Here, I'll do an update in the middle of the data. If you've been watching very carefully, very quickly, you can see that the middle of the data has changed. Also, the time travel. All of these things are new versions. I can get the last version. Then I can go back to a version number, or I can put in a timestamp and you just find a version at a time. That was the original version. All these are toy examples.

This is running in a JupyterHub notebook. It's two virtual cores. It's actually very small. I'm not doing myself any favors by running on a tiny VM. I'm going to get an example with lots of floats in, 100,000 columns, 100,000 rows. I'm just going to pluck out three columns, and a few months of data. That's the turn of the DataFrame there. Then it works with tick data as a clear use case. Here, this is actually Bloomberg data. Level 1, that means like Bid and Ask data from Bloomberg.

Our level 1 dataset there for equities has 66,000 equities. I'll pull out some columns, just one day of data. It took about a third of a second, 1.3 million rows, just to prove the data came back. Then there's query functionality. This is the classic New York taxi dataset for yellow cabs. Here, I'm trying to find out who are the really heavy hitters. This is like pandas star query functionality. Where are people tipped so much that it's 95% of the total amount? They've tipped $100 in a $5 fare? There are those, people do that. There you go. It feels and works like pandas, which is the skills that people have learned in Python, to work with data.

Just to give you a little bit of a feel for how ArcticDB works in practice for users. This is used in [inaudible 00:47:45]. Here, I'm running 40 gigabytes per second, out of this flash storage on the right, no database servers, straight to Python users. Typically, they're running clusters of machines to do their calculations. If using a fast networking of like 40 Gigabit E like networking, then that's like over 10 of those. You're using a lot of networking to do this. This is just like every day. This is multiple days sustained. It's like billions of rows per second. It works.

Quick shoutout to D-Tale, which is a nice pandas visualizer, and actually our most popular open source tool. We're not doing this alone. Bloomberg have been helping us with this. They're a user of it in BQuant which is their quant data science Python tool they sell, which has data already in it. QuantStack which are a French company, who've done a lot of work on Jupyter and conda-forge, mamba, micromamba, things like this. They're a pretty cool open source focused company. With their help, we're building this out.

Questions and Answers

Participant 1: What's the optimization happening on the pandas DataFrames, which we obviously know are not very good at scaling up to billions of rows? How are you doing that? On the pandas DataFrames, what kind of optimizations are you running under the hood? Are you doing some Spark?

Munro: The general pattern we have internally and the users have, is that your returning pandas DataFrames are usable. They're fitting in memory. You're doing the querying, so it's like, limit your results to that. Then, once people have got their DataFrame back, they might choose another technology like Polars, DuckDB to do their analytics, depending on if they don't like pandas or they think it's too slow.

Participant 1: Or they are stored in a single node of the cluster or they're distributed across?

Munro: They're distributed across the storage, which is your storage provider's problem, and something they're actually pretty good at solving. Generally, actually AWS will dynamically distribute your data, to make sure it's meeting demand.

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Recorded at:

Aug 20, 2024

James Munro

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Modeling 6G Software Business Ecosystem: A Look Ahead

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