This new year, however, I’ve not bothered. I’ve realised that making resolutions is futile. It turns out I don’t have much resolve, which probably explains why I start every year feeling like a failure.

Earlier in 2011 I made the decision to stop using a ToDo List. I realised it was driving me a bit nuts. Every time I looked in my notebook (or online – I went through a phase of using various bits of the internet to make my ToDo List more interesting), my heart would sink. Oh god. There’s that task I’ve still not done…. urgh… I’m a bad person… I’m a failure…

But here’s the thing: I always knew I needed to do that task. Writing it down didn’t make me any more likely to complete it. In actual fact, it just wound me up and stressed me out seeing it staring at me. Every. Single. Bloody. Day.  

My ToDo List became the enemy. I would stare at it with a look of mild disgust. It would stare back at me with its hand on its hip and a smart-arse grin on its stupid smug little face. The words TAX RETURN! were leaping off the page every time I glanced downwards. It was the last straw. I tore the page out of my book and threw it away.

So enough is enough. Resolutions and ToDo Lists are dead to me. Instead I’m celebrating the arrival of 2012 by reminding myself of all the things I’ve achieved in 2011:

In the last year I have mostly been:
- improving my public speaking skills by presenting at seminars and conferences,
- improving my writing skills by creating content on the web on behalf of interesting and inspiring clients,
- learning to play the Ukulele,
- making light work of homemade curtains and blinds for my house,
- becoming my own boss,
- re-landscaping my garden and staying on top of maintaining it,
- seeing more of my family and in doing so, being reminded of their general awesomeness
and… AND!!…
- completing my tax return (see? I still managed to do it even though it wasn’t written down on a list. Amazing, huh?)

So go and trash that ToDo List, it’s not doing anyone any good. Have a happy, productive and satisfying 2012 instead.

2011 has been a hectic year. I took the daunting leap into self-employment and although it was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made, and it’s taken some getting used to, the flexibility to select the people I work for, as well as striking a work-life balance leaves me knowing it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Numerous friends, family and colleagues have tirelessly supported me on my journey. I never fail to be astounded by how generous people can be with their time, advice and guidance. Every now and again a message of support, completely unprompted, arrives via [insert electronic messaging system of choice] to remind me that everything’s going to be OK and that there are lots of us out there just trying to do a good job and make an honest living and there, there, don’t cry… etc, etc.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work for some wonderful clients too. Clients who I can now call friends, which makes me feel like the luckiest freelancer in the world.

A special hat-tip to my closest friends and family too, who have put up with my whinging, grumbling and general moodiness, as well as celebrating with me when something I’ve worked hard to achieve works out well.

Thank you, each and every one of you (you know who you are) – it means the world to me. When it’s time to return the favours and the unwavering support, I’ll be here.

So… Merry Christmas one and all, and here’s to a fantastic 2012.

Cheers!

The idea behind the workshop was to firstly take a look interesting web-based projects. In doing so, I hoped to get delegates to see the internet as more than just email and practice websites. Amongst other things, I shared Mapumental, FixMyStreet, GoGenie, SuchTweetSorrow, Give Me Back My Broken Night, Tales of Things, and Substrakt’s BAApp.

You can view the slides for my presentation over on SlideShare.

I went on to explain how certain web tools are helping to enable community-led planning (based on the recent work I’ve been doing around Neighbourhood Planning) with Slider Studio. We looked at StickyWorld in more detail along with some other ideas that have come out of the study.

This was followed by an open discussion about technology in practice. A particularly hot topic was the idea of monitoring comments and feedback through web channels and how best to manage this. I would welcome any questions that we didn’t have time to cover in the session here. Use the comments box below.

• As the recession continues to bite, how are emerging architects finding new approaches to winning and carrying out their work?
• How are the established players reacting to the new challenges?
• Are the old models for building architectural practices out of date?
• Do we need to look at new, more flexible ways of making design happen?
• Is collaboration the answer?

Having discussed with the organisers what delegates are hoping to get from the event, the focus of my session will be to look at new media and growth industries for ideas and inspiration for the future of architectural practice.

Through my afternoon breakout workshop, I’ll be showcasing some interesting and exciting projects from the creative and media industries to inspire delegates to think differently about their approach and service. I’ll be sharing my experience of using social media as a powerful communication tool and demonstrating practical examples of the ways that web-based tools can save money and add value to working practice.

If you’re an Architect or if you work in practice and would like a day of inspiration, I suggest you book yourself in. It should be a great day. All the details are over on RSAW’s regional page of RIBA.

Last week I went along to an event organised by Urban Vision North Staffordshire and RIBA. They brought Architects together with four local community groups to talk about how to write and develop a Neighbourhood Plan. There were useful overviews of the current status of the localism bill and changes to the planning system, as well as a step-by-step guide to Neighbourhood Planning from Dave Chetwyn. I made some (very!) rough notes during the talks which can be found here. The afternoon session was a workshop with each of the community groups discussing their neighbourhood and sharing ideas and aspirations for how their area could be improved.

It was great to see StickyWorld and other web-based tools in action thanks to Rob Annable from Axis Design who led a workshop with representatives from Burslem. Although the session was a discussion based around a printed aerial photograph, Rob was keen to transfer the ideas and (real life) sticky notes to a virtual environment to enable the conversation to continue and develop after the event. Some of the results of that workshop can be found in this dedicated StickyRoom. Rob also made good use of Bookleteer’s Story Cubes to give the discussion some structure.

If you are part of a community group and are wondering how you can get some funding to develop a neighbourhood plan to improve your area, get in touch and I’ll point you in right direction. If you’ve no idea what Neighbourhood Planning is, have a look at this post that I wrote earlier this year.

We’d initially met up with the inimitable Helga Henry to discuss the opportunity for Dean to show his work at 3 Mary Street, but as the conversation developed, rather than focussing on an exhibition as the first step, what resulted was a series of life drawing classes with the practice. 4 two-hour sessions in the office, teaching everyone at the practice to draw the human form. Once the staff got over the initial shock of having a naked man in the office, it brought them back to the very essence of what it means to draw. To look at something and to respond by making a mark on paper. It was a refreshing and gratifying experience and Dean reminded the architects and architectural assistants (and admin support staff!) how powerful drawing can be.

The experience was so valuable to the practice that an exhibition of Dean’s work was the natural conclusion. An exhibition prompts dialogue – people see beyond what’s on the surface, they discuss and share ideas, they look deeper and really think. Architecture works in the same way – it’s more than what you see, it’s about how it makes you feel. Architecture is not a ‘thing’, it reaches your inherent emotional senses, just like art.

Dean’s work obviously made the 60-odd people who came to his Private View feel as good as me because the response was phenomenal – I’ve deliberately not included many photos of his work because I want you, like me, to have your breath taken away by the power of it. It’s simply beautiful.

That boy’ll go far. Go and see for yourself - the exhibition is on until December during office hours.

If I can help you develop a link between art and architecture using my skills and my network, please get in touch.

31st August 2011 will be my last day at Bryant Priest Newman Architects.

I’ve had a fantastic time at BPN, but the time has finally come to say goodbye. I guess this might not come as a surprise to those who know me well and have been following my progress as a freelance consultant but a change has been brewing for a number of months, nay years, and I’ve just been waiting for the right time. As Moloko’s Róisín Murphy sang, the time is now.

Forgive me while I take a little trip down memory lane.

Back in the Spring of 2000, a mere slip of a lass was given a tip-off that an up-and-coming local practice were looking for a practice secretary. I was working for Glenn Howells at the time (during Glenn’s Custard Factory era) but I liked the taste of the industry and I was hankering after more responsibility. The 4-strong team of Bryant Priest Newman Architects sounded like an interesting option so I dropped them a line. In my ignorance, my CV and covering letter was written in everyone’s favourite font *cough*…. it looked friendly…. and I knew no better. Despite the Comic Sans, the invitation for an interview arrived and I went to meet the team.

Larry Priest greeted me at the door of the converted terrace house in leafy Bearwood with a warm smile and the words: “thank god you’re here, the last one was bonkers” and in a moment, I knew I’d fit right in. The job was mine and I loved it – the energy, the exciting projects, the staff reviews in the pub, the trips to Martin’s for a post-Bear curry. A few months later we were joined by technician Rob Smith and the team continued to grow. 2 years later and the practice had outgrown the house and relocated to The Flaghouse in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

More work arrived and yet again the practice outgrew its offices. This time, however, the move to bigger premises was slightly different. The practice had made the leap into property development and had bought a former jewellery workshop. Stripping back years of soot from the burners and removing ugly dividing walls created a light and airy open-plan office with the occasional nod to its industrial past.  Tastefully and respectfully refurbished, the building is a living working portfolio for the practice. Want to know what BPNs work is like? Go visit them – then you’ll *get it*.

Hiring bikes in Amsterdam

The room for further growth meant that in 2006, the practice reached the heady heights of 19 members of staff. Times were good, the work was great, we filled two floors of the building, we had an IT department, we took the practice to Amsterdam to gaze at the carefully designed Borneo Sporenburg housing project.  A year later and we took a trip to Madrid to be inspired by the green wall at Herzon & DeMeuron’s Caxiaforum.  Amazing memories.

Since then the practice has been through a huge amount. Disappointment of projects being halted. Coping with the trauma of Director Mark Bryant’s illness and helping him on the road to recovery. The difficulty of managing time and resources through a recession that affected the construction industry more than any other…. and yet they always come out the other side smiling and producing incredible work of an exceptionally high standard.

The offices at Mary Street have been a lovely building to work in and the energy in the building continues to grow as the top floor is now let to a number of creative start-ups. Things are moving on, the practice is responding to the economic climate, and I know they’ll continue to do well.

I’m humbled to have been a part of an amazing journey. I’ve got some fabulous memories and have made friends for life. If I’ve never shared the legendary Basket Story with you, remind me next time I see you. In fact, if I have shared it with you already, ask me to tell it again. It never gets tired.

So good luck BPN. Don’t forget:

• If you can’t find something in the stationery cupboard, you’re probably just not looking properly.
• If you find the tea towel walking round the kitchen, it’s definitely time to change it.
• If Richard goes AWOL, he’s probably hiding in a box

*sigh* Happy days……What’s that? …… No, I’ve just got something in my eye…..

So moving forward, my freelance work has been an exciting journey so far and it’s time to be a grown-up and pursue my own dreams. I need to use my skills and knowledge in the industry to start making a difference.

So you’re probably wondering what is it that I’m going to be doing….. and the answer isn’t clear yet. I’ve got a number of opportunities that I’m following up and I hope to eventually whittle this down to one thing. I guess the answer is to watch this space.

I’ll have more time available from September onwards so if you need my skills, knowledge or network, let me know. I’m always willing to meet up and discuss opportunities so if you’re thinking about getting in touch, I’d love to hear from you. Just drop me a line or Skype me.

I was lucky enough to be invited along to a tour of the site of the new Library of Birmingham last week (and they let me take my flip video with me – woo!).

The word ‘democratic’ is the operative one in that particular description. To expand a little further, the main change is that regional planning strategies are being scrapped.

“These regional strategies created in 2004 set out where new development needs to take place in each part of the country. They include housing targets for different areas, set by central government.”

So the Localism Bill turns this on its head and aims to make a major change in the way that local communities can influence development in their area.

“Instead of local people being told what to do, the Government thinks that local communities should have genuine opportunities to influence the future of the places where they live. The Bill will introduce a new right for communities to draw up a “neighbourhood development plan”.

That’s it in a nutshell. Local people can come together to create their own neighbourhood plan which, when approved in a local referendum, can then passed on to developers, thus ensuring that local people are getting exactly what they want. Sounds good, huh?

(If you were to ask anyone who works in Planning and the Built Environment about it, they would probably tell you that it has numerous flaws, but those particular clauses and revisions are being thrashed out in the House of Lords this very afternoon as I write this blog post. Latest news here.)

So what’s next? Well, the Bill is due to be passed and since it was introduced, the DCLG have already shared a pot of cash across 40 forward-thinking community groups to act as ‘Front Runners’ in drawing up a their Neighbourhood Plan – and there are more to come. The Government also understand that drawing up a plan is quite a task, and have appointed 4 support organisations. These are the people to go to to provide free guidance and support to communities when they are drawing up their plans

Previously, a developer might draw up plans with an architect, a planning consultant and an urban designer (and a whole host of other consultants too no doubt). They’d produce something that they deemed to be viable in terms of its context, design, commercial value, environmental impact etc. The plans would go to to the planning authority and local communities would be consulted as part of the planning process, however, as this system is essentially being reversed it means that those of us working in the built environment have to change tack.

This is where my current freelance project comes in.

I’m doing some work with Slider Studio. They have been successful in obtaining funding from the Government’s Technology Strategy Board to carry out a feasibility study into the use of digital platforms for Neighbourhood Planning. Slider Studio are a multi-disciplinary practice for architecture, software and digital media and this feasibility study will involve working with regional architecture centres, local authorities and community groups to develop ideas for web-based platforms that support the opportunities given to communities through the Bill.

We have spent the last few weeks investigating online tools that already exist to help enhance communication within community groups, and support consultation events so they reach as wide an audience as possible. As part of our research we are organising some workshops with community groups, planners and local authority represenatives, housing associations, the organisations who support neighbourhood planning and professional consultants. The workshops are taking place at MADE in Birmingham and we are encouraging anyone with any interest in Neighbourhood Planning to come along and talk to us about the process, their role and how a dedicated online platform could enhance and support a community group.

If you have an interest, do please sign up, come along and join in the conversation.

http://youcanplan.eventbrite.com/

If you can’t make it along to the workshops, we’re going to be holding an event at the end of July to share what we’ve learned along the way.

[update: we are also holding a London-based workshop on 15th July at Urban Design London. Book your place now: http://londonyoucanplan.eventbrite.com/]

Networking is odd… there’s a bit of acting involved (and sometimes people over-act and it comes across as disingenuous and I hate that and can’t wait to get away from them) but the majority of people are exactly the same as you and me in as much as it’s a little forced and uncomfortable at first but as soon as you get past the initial “hello I’m blah blah….”, it’s actually fine, and easy, and you can breathe again. If I’m honest, despite having had plenty of practice, I still feel very nervous at the idea of going into a room full of people, but i’m told I’m very good at networking. Go figure?! Also I’m a bit naughty and tend to speak to the people I already know – but I think we all do that….

Now that I’ve stepped down as chair of the FFT, I won’t have to do so much hosting. Which is a bit of a relief because hosting is hard. Very hard.

Typical scenario:

Me: “Hello there, I’m Lorna….. * outstretches hand*….Um hello…. *peers at woman’s chest* er…. *squints and frowns at woman’s chest whilst trying to work out how to pronounce the name printed in tiny lettering on badge*…. erm… *mumbles something which possibly sounds vaguely like the name on the badge which, incidentally, is far too low down on the woman’s chest and is weirdly distracting*…. erm…. yes, so… ha ha… so have you been to one of our events before?”

….to which they answer simply either:
a) “no”
or
b) “yes”
or more often than not
c) [with a look of mild disapproval on their face] “Yes Lorna, we sat next to each other at the last event and I gave you my card……?”

The ones who do networking well are those who carefully and slowly work their way from little group to little group and cleverly manage to also include people who are standing on their own. They also remember faces and names, without fail, and that’s what I aspire to be like.

The initial opener is a tricky one too. My friend K* is brilliant, she usually starts by telling people how she managed to put her top on back to front and has just had to go to the loo to swap it back round the right way, or about the time when she threw her drink in someone lap. Ice breakers ftw! I think the trick is not to feel like you have to talk about worky stuff. The most effective networking i’ve done starts out usually just finding something in common with the person I’m talking to – and it might be music or sport or hobbies or even something you both watched on TV.

Hey, I should turn this into a blog post!

So, some tips and experiences there that might or might not be useful. Practice makes perfect I guess. Oh and smile, a lot – that helps loads.

*initial may have been changed, or may not…. oooh, mysterious….