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  • FACS 300 Interior Design 3 | My Site 1

    FACS 300 Interior Design 3 At Water's Edge-- Smith Mountain Lake Retirement & Graduated Care Community Project This course consisted of a semester-long project dedicated to designing for older adults. Partnering with McBride Stephens, LLC with an end goal of successfully constructing an assisted living and memory care facility overlooking the scenic Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, I launched this project by first researching and compiling findings on the range of functional limitations that accompanies aging, and the design considerations that can be implemented to ensure a safe and welcoming environment. I then penned a proposal that pinpointed a site location on Smith Mountain Lake and outlined the scope of design features involved in the proposed design. From there, programming methods such as adjacency matrices, bubble diagrams, and blocking plans provided effective means of brainstorming and trial-and-error, and concept sketches assisted in solidifying a vision for At Water's Edge. The preliminary plan was reviewed and returned with feedback that was then incorporated into the finalized refined floor plan, which was the base for the 3D Model renderings as well as the residence and dining room layout. Research on effective designing for the aging informed design features, such as placement of interior courtyards, spacious gathering areas, and a wide array of luxury resort-style amenities, as well as selection of furniture, fixtures, and equipment. The project concluded with a final digital poster presentation highlighting the completed vision for At Water's Edge Smith Mountain Lake Retirement & Graduated Care Community. Adjacency Matrix, Autocad Bubble Diagram Option, hand-drawn Poster Presentation At Water's Edge Poster, Canva Research Writing The icons below provide access to pdf components of the project. Peruse the FACS 300 Research Paper (bottom left) for my findings on effective design considerations to accommodate older adults. The FACS 300 Client Proposal (bottom right) is the initial site location and written vision communicated to McBride Stephens, LLC regarding the design of this project. The FF&E pdf provides overarching design features such as flooring, furniture, fabrics, lighting, paint colors, and more, and the Poster Presentation is a downloadable version of the poster presentation boards seen above. Templates PDF.pdf FACS 300 Research Paper FF&E Templates PDF.pdf At Water's Edge Poster Presentation PDF FACS 300 Client Proposal Model 3D Model, Left Above View, Sketchup, Podium rendering 3D Model, Right Side View, Sketchup, Podium rendering 3D Model, Above View, Sketchup, Podium rendering 3D Model, Right View & Rooftop Balcony, Sketchup, Podium rendering 3D Model, Center View, Sketchup, Podium rendering ALF Residence, Sketchup, Podium rendering Dining Room, Sketchup, Podium rendering ALF Residence, Sketchup, Podium rendering Dining Room, Sketchup, Podium rendering Lobby/Reception, pen & ink Coffee Shop, pen & ink Barber Shop/Salon, pen & ink Nurse Station, pen & ink Dining Room, pen & ink Adjacency Matrix, Bubble Diagrams, & Blocking Plan Bubble Diagram Option, hand drawn Bubble Diagram Option, hand drawn Bubble Diagram Option, Autocad Bubble Diagram Option (used as guide for floor plans), Canva and Autocad Blocking, hand drawn Blocking, hand drawn Blocking, hand drawn Blocking Plan, Canva and Autocad Blocking Plan, Canva and Autocad Blocking, hand drawn Early Blocking, hand drawn Bubble Diagram Option

  • FACS 343 Digital Drafting 2 | My Site 1

    FACS 343 Digital Drafting 2 She-Shed Assignment One of the opening assignments for this course served as an introduction to utilizing Sketchup software. After researching ideas and inspiration, through Sketchup, I created a she-shed that was then 3-D printed (see model images below). To gain more experience with interfacing with this design software, I then rendered the she-shed through Podium and created a brief animation of the exterior. 3D Model Orbit, Sketchup 3D Model, Back Right 3D Model, Back 3D Model, Front 3D Model, Above 3D Model, Back Left 3D Model, Left 3D Model, Created in Sketchup, Rendered in Podium Christmas Ornament Assignment In the spirit of Christmas, one of the assignments for this semester was to design a Christmas ornament via Sketchup. My design features an English bulldog (our family pet) with some snowflakes in the backdrop. This design was 3D printed into the small model seen below. Church Project--Sketchup After the introductory process of creating the she-shed, I proceeded to begin the major element of this course: the church project. Given Autocad files detailing a church floor plan from one of Professor Layell's previous projects, I created the church three-dimensionally in Sketchup. Using the footprint, I determined window and door placement and room size and shape, then exercised some creative liberty in constructing detailed millwork for the church's exterior and interior, particularly in the sanctuary. The next step was executing FF&E for the church. Througha variety of textures I rendered the church so that it was fully furnished, presenting my vision for the building. I then created an animation that explored the exterior and a couple rooms of the church's interior. Church Sanctuary Millwork, Sketchup Church Millwork Exterior View, Sketchup Church Exterior FF&E, Sketchup Church Reception Area FF&E, Sketchup Church Reception Area FF&E, Sketchup Church Nursery FF&E, Sketchup Church Office Space FF&E, Sketchup Church Sanctuary FF&E, Sketchup Church Bathroom FF&E, Sketchup Church Classroom FF&E, Sketchup Church Sanctuary Above View, FF&E, Sketchup Church Animation FF&E, Sketchup Church Project--Revit After developing proficiency with Sketchup, I then moved on to Revit. Using the same church layout, I constructed the building to exact dimensions as detailed by the architect, then rendered the building and created a walkthrough animation of the church. Due to software compatibility and processing issues, unfortunately most of my rendered appearances are unable to be viewed and uploaded, but I've included walkthroughs of the building via several visual styles. I then created 3 pdf sheets to form a more finalized presentation of the church design. Images of a cover sheet, 2D floor plan, and 3D views of the model are located below, or click the icons to access the sheets as a pdf file. Church Walkthrough FF&E, hidden line, Revit Church Walkthrough FF&E, shaded, Revit Church Walkthrough FF&E, wireframe, Revit Church Walkthrough FF&E, consistent color, Revit Cover Sheet Church cover sheet, Revit Plan Sheet 3D Views Sheet Church plan view, Revit Church 3D views, Revit

  • PORTFOLIO | My Site 1

    Portfolio How should an artist begin to do his work as an artist? I would insist that he begin his work as an artist by setting out to make a work of art. -F Schaeffer ​ This curated collection showcases several keynote projects completed while at Liberty University, organized topically. ​ The more adventurous may peruse Zanna Unlocked to survey some of my personal creative designs and earlier independent works which have personal meaning to me. ARTS 113 Introduction to 2D Design ARTS 211 Drawing 1 ARTS 114 Introduction to 3D Design FACS 140 Space Planning & Building Codes FACS 241 Architectural Drafting FACS 243 Digital Drafting 1 FACS 200 Interior Design 1 FACS250 Interior Design 2

  • ARTS 113 Intro to 2D Design | My Site 1

    ARTS 113 Introduction to 2D Design Note: this course was substituted by the Advanced Placement (AP) Art: 2D Design course taken in high school (2018-2019). I earned a score of 4, which is described qualitatively as "very well qualified." AP Studio Art courses are based on a holistic digital portfolio submission comprised of three parts: 1. Range of approaches (breadth) 2. Selected works (quality) 3. Sustained investigation (concentration) These seek to display a "personal, unique artistic vision and understanding of 2D design issues" through application of 2D techniques and elements of design. The first 12 images showcase the breadth component and explore elements and principles of design. The next 12 images comprise my concentration subject. Images marked with an asterisk in the caption were submitted as part of the quality section, meaning they were submitted physically as a representation of my works that best conveyed the 2D design elements. Pup Portrait , watercolor* Night Is Coming , pen & ink and colored pencil* Scoped Helix , pen & ink and colored pencil Betwixt Star-Sewn Wings and Child-Like Dreams , acrylics and pen & ink 5 Stages of Grief , charcoal Hexangold , colored pencil* Wanderlust , colored pencil Gladiator , charcoal Sherbet Shell , acrylics Snow-Lit Dance , graphite Waxwyrm , graphite Persona 3 , watercolor Unstrung Home , watercolor* Watercolor This marks the beginning of my concentration component, a series of works centered around a single subject that explored elements of 2D design. My concentration focused on Kinhaven, a six-week residential music camp that occupied four of my high school summers. I portrayed various scenes and events from this Kinhaven that I found personally significant using a varied yet cohesive color palette. My submitted explanation of this concentration was as follows: Heart and Soul leverages design principles and elements to convey the connections and cultivation of musicianship and friendship at Kinahven Music School. Intentional use of unity, contrast, emphasis, rhythm, and color captures moments of ordinary events at Kinahven, exploring how friendships spark and flourish. The diverse yet complementary color scheme present in several pieces and the consistent repetition of unique figures across the concentration combine to convey cohesiveness utilizing watercolor, acrylic, and colored pencils. Each figure is distinguishable in early renderings through medium and color, representing the early days of camp as musicians first become acquainted. As weeks progress, music and social interests coalesce, reflected in softer and more unified mediums and the fading of individual characteristics to communicate these bonds. Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Colored pencil The Art of Music , watercolor and colored pencil* Watercolor on sheet music Acrylics Watercolor Other Work Receiving transfer credits in lieu of taking ARTS 113, the contents and foci of this portfolio likely differ from those associated with the Liberty University course. As such, I've included below a selection of my work with rendering in Sketchup, since rendering is a key component of ARTS 113. This rendering is based on my work in FACS 343: Digital Drafting 2 for a church renovation project. Here, I constructed the church based on the existing floor plan, then added millwork detailing and proceeded to render it. The images here display still shots of the rendering and the animation provides a brief walkthrough of the building. Church Exterior, Sketchup Reception Area, Sketchup Nursery, Sketchup Office, Sketchup Classroom, Sketchup Bathroom, Sketchup Church Sanctuary, Sketchup Church Sanctuary, Sketchup Church Animation, Sketchup

  • FACS 243 Digital Drafting 1 | My Site 1

    FACS 243 Digital Drafting 1 Hawthorne House Project Hawthorne House Demolition Plan, AutoCad software With a pleasantly proportioned exterior for compact living, the Hawthorne House was ready to live large on the inside. An AutoCad technology-assisted plan was cast to upgrade and renovate the facilities of the house for modern living. Alterations breathed life, function, and sunshine into the kitchen while removal of non-weight bearing walls rendered expansive, light-filled living spaces, readying the interior for further renovations. The construction plan features a generous, round dining table, a cozy den, and a spacious living room, each designed for community and offering a cohesive, open environment. Elevation snapshots of the remodeled kitchen showcase a richly-detailed traditional cabinet design with elegant touches to form a refined, pragmatic, and welcoming heart of the home. The vision of the kitchen was further developed through the details plan, outlining updated cabinet layout and incorporating preferred materials and finishes to complement the comfortable, homey aesthetic concept for the modernized Hawthorne Home. Hawthorne House Construction Plan, AutoCad software Hawthorne House Kitchen Elevation Plan, AutoCad software Hawthorne House Kitchen Detail Plan, AutoCad software Hawthorne House Kitchen Elevation Plan, AutoCad software Other Work Elevation and Line Weight Practice Assignment, AutoCad software

  • FACS 250 Interior Design 2 | My Site 1

    FACS 250 Interior Design 2 Saffer Family Home Project A key component of Interior Design 2--FACS 250 was a several-week endeavor creating the Saffer Home. This busy and active five-member family juggles school, work, and extracurriculars--they are searching for a contemporary yet comfortable home that will fit their needs and complement their lifestyle while also incorporating personal preferences such as their love for travel and entertaining others. My mission was to completely redesign a house from the studs, successfully designing it to personally fit the Saffer family. Preliminary Floor Plan, hand-drafted Preliminary & Refined Floor Plans After selecting a rough layout of the home following the brainstorming process, I translated the spaces onto the floor plan. I drew up a preliminary floor plan by hand, then carefully refined it to develop a finalized digital layout for the Saffer Family. The floor plan features an open layout with plenty of space for socializing and a spacious master bedroom and bathroom with his and hers closets. Through this plan I sought to maximize space efficiently while providing an open feel to complement the family's busy lifestyle and make guests feel welcome. Floor Plan, Autocad software Model Mood Board Model Top View, Foam Board Model Front View, Foam Board Model Right View, Foam Board Model Left View, Foam Board Model Back View, Foam Board After finalizing a digital floor plan, I set out to bring this layout to life by creating a three-dimensional model. Using foam board and glue, I created a small to-scale model that evidenced the efficient, free flow of space throughout the home and planned the shape and placement of windows to optimize natural light for the interior, resulting in an open, welcoming, and relaxing environment. FF&E Boards FF&E Board, part 1 FF&E Board, part 2 Furnitures, fixtures, and equipment are key elements in transforming a house into a home, and I made sure to carefully select materials and color schemes that would match the Saffer Family. I utilized a neutral base for durable wood flooring, tile, and carpet, identifying accent colors for bathroom walls based in blues and greens, a color scheme also echoed in the upholstery fabrics. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a dark quartz countertop with white maple cabinets and an eye-catching hexagonal tile backsplash. I incorporated bolder accents throughout the house, such as the Persian style area rug for the living room and striking artwork and accessory items. I sought to balance the comfortable with the contemporary through the warm color scheme and more modern lighting fixtures and furniture styles, ensuring that my color palette remained cohesive throughout each space for a welcoming and relaxing feel. Saffer Presentation PDF Saffer Family Presentation This project culminated in a final presentation that provided a sweeping overview of my vision for the Saffer Family Home. Click on the pdf attachment on the right to view the summary of my plan for the home. Templates PDF.pdf Adjacency Matrix, Bubble Diagrams, & Blocking Plan These images display the brainstorming work that led to a proposed layout for the Saffer Home. After carefully analyzing each space to determine optimal placements for an aesthetically functional and open home, I devised several options and ultimately created a formalized floor plan following this instructive process. Adjacency Matrix Bubble Diagram Option Bubble Diagram Option Bubble Diagram Option Bubble Diagram Option (used as guide for floor plans) Blocking Plan Group Lighting Project After being assigned a base floor plan, my class was split into groups to design a reflected ceiling plan for the home. My group identified a variety of transitional style lighting fixtures that formed a cohesive color scheme of black with antique gold accents. Through these selections, we ensured that the home would be well-lit and ambient, providing a solid foundation the design of welcoming home for the Saunders Family. My specific role for this group project comprised of crafting the design statement, collaborating to select specific light fixtures, and compiling the specifications book for each fixture. Click the icon below to access a pdf of our spec book of the lighting fixtures for the Saunders project. SPECbook.pdf Group Lighting Project Board

  • HOME | My Site 1

    Alexandra MK Trotter INTERIOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO Imagination creates reality. -R Wagner

  • FACS 460 Interior Design 4 | My Site 1

    FACS 460 Interior Design 4 Mixed-Use Urban Infill The final open lot located on the Main Street of downtown Lynchburg, Virginia, served as the location and objective for this senior capstone project. A mixed-use building was designed by analyzing the surrounding Lynchburg community and business locale, addressing gaps in businesses and residences. The primary goal for this project was to carefully assess, identify, and incorporate building occupancies that would complement and serve the thriving Lynchburg community. The finished product featured main-street access to a local grocery store accompanied by a quaint coffee and drinks shop, a basement gym, dog grooming and day care business, and twelve apartments (1 and 2 bedrooms). These mixed building uses were carefully designed for ADA compliance with a focus on general accessibility and functionality. Further, building materials and features throughout businesses and residences were selected with sustainable consideration, creating an environmentally-conscious structure singularly crafted to meld with and benefit the Lynchburg community.

  • ARTS 211 Drawing 1 | My Site 1

    ARTS 211 Drawing 1 As a high school senior, I enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) Art: Drawing and devoted that year to applying principles of design to a wide-ranging portfolio of mixed-media creations. In a year brought short by COVID-19 , I submitted the portfolio and earned a "very well-qualified" score. Here follows selections from that year of exploration and refinement. Fall Fades , watercolor and colored pencil Note: For the 2019-2020 school year, CollegeBoard, the organization that administers the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, debuted a major revision of their AP Art Portfolio Requirements. For this reason, the requirements and expectations for AP Drawing differ significantly from the AP 2D Design portfolio rubric employed in 2018-2019 (see ARTS 113: Introduction to 2D Design) and explains differences noted between them. ​ The focus of the AP Drawing portfolio included here explores "the use of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition through a sustained investigation of materials, process, and ideas through practice, experimentation, and revision." The portfolio required 15 digital images, however, this condition was decreased to 9 in response to the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Additional documentation explained the processs, responded to prompts, provided information about each subject to provide information about the subject and how each piece guided my exploration of advanced drawing techniques. ​ A key question I sought to answer through my investigation was: What if it was real? "It" refers to an imaginary land called Rhykör which serves as the setting for my oldest brother's latest writing endeavor. Through this sustained investigation, I sought to explore the multifaceted features of this fictional world. From landscapes and buildings to people and creatures, I concluded that reality is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. Molten Sea , acrylic pour Fjördall , acrylic pour Darkness Within , pen & ink and colored pencil Time in My Hands , charcoal Carthein , graphite​ Tower , acrylics Lake House , watercolor Spine of the World , pen & ink and colored pencil on coffee-stained paper Tail of Two Cities , alcohol ink and pen & ink Rhykör , pen & ink on coffee-stained paper Other Work Since I didn't take ARTS 211 at Liberty University, I realize that the contents and requirements of my projects may differ slightly from the contents of that course. As such, I have included below some sketches of perspective drawings, since that is listed as a key component of ARTS 211. Please click the image here to link to FACS 140 where these drawings are available.

  • FACS 241 Architectural Drafting | My Site 1

    FACS 241 Architectural Drafting The Palmer Home The focal project of this course centers around the Palmer family. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer live in a one-bedroom New York apartment and would like to remodel their home. Specifically, they plan to convert the study into a second bedroom and create an open-plan living area. The section bedroom conversation permitted the addition of a hall closet. The kitchen renovation (depicted in the demolition and floor plan sheets), features removal of walls, modest repositioning of appliances, and the incorporation of a peninsula sink area with bar-style countertop for additional seating and to achieve the open-plan living they desired. In addition to these layout changes, the Palmers are replacing the lighting and would like to add architectural features to the ceilings. I determined ideal light switch placement and location for lights in each room, as laid out in the reflected ceiling plan. Some key features include pendant lighting over the peninsula and countertop area and a chandelier with a dimmer switch in the dining room. As they both enjoy the aesthetic of exposed beams, I sought to incorporate that in the living room of my reflected ceiling plan, along with a stepped ceiling in their bedroom.This project possesses many phases and as the course is still in progress, the penultimate vision for the Palmer Home has not yet been realized. Demolition Plan, hand-drafted Floor Plan, hand-drafted Refleted Ceiling Plan, hand-drafted An initial, larger project for this course was the creation of a stair section. Given the floor plan layout and a section view (not to scale), I recreated the stairs to scale, utilizing hatching methods and labels to define the details of the structure. Stair Section, hand-drafted This assignment was a quick freehand drawing, in which I was given a section view of a building and recreated it freehand, trying to adhere to the natural proportions and accuracy using pen and ink. Building Section Freehand, pen and ink ADA Restroom Floor plan, hand-drafted The images to the left are the end product of the ADA restroom assignment, featuring a public bathroom with a women's bathroom of two toilet stalls, one ADA-compliant toilet stall, a baby changing station, and three sinks. The men's restroom includes two urinals, one ADA-compliant toilet stall, a baby changing station, and three sinks. Given a maximum dimensional footprint, I constructed a layout that prioritized ADA guidelines and accessibility. My experience with disabled older adults assisted me in prioritizing an ADA stall that minimized sharp turns and angles to acess/exit the stall and the broader restroom facility. Another aspect of this assignment included the creation of an elevation view of the toilets, again to show ADA compliancy and provide additional work with detailing and neatness. ADA Restroom Elevation, hand-drafted Doors & Windows Details , hand-drafted Wall Detail, hand-drafted Progressing into more specific project construction, I created a sheet that displayed two door types and one window type, complete with dimensions and labels of the components. The wall detail (right) is a section view of the many components that comprise the structure of a wall, also completed with specific labels. This introductory course to architectural drafting began with the basics--the alphabet! Focusing on making lines straight and neat, I formed a baseline for my lettering style. Lettering Practice, hand-drafted The next component of this course explored working through line weights. Lineweights are vital to conveying design elements and highlighting the significant details. In this assignment, I used three different lead types to draw straight and dashed lines, then to replicate slightly more detailed patterns. Line Weights Practice, hand-drafted

  • FACS 200 Interior Design 1 | My Site 1

    FACS 200 Interior Design 1 Group Project--Gestalt Theory In Action The first major project of this semester consisted of a group assignment in which I worked with three other students to create an object that exemplified an aspect of Gestalt Theory. This theory proposes that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." It possesses several sub-tenets, such as the law of closure, law of similarity, law of proximity, law of symmetry, law of continuation, and law of figure-ground. After collective brainstorming, our group constructed a clock tower. The primary aspects of Gestalt Theory that we sought to address through this project were the laws of symmetry and figure-ground. Indeed, the proportions of the tower present a symmetry that is aesthetically natural. The materials used for sections of the clock tower vary in transparency. Notably, the upper section of the tower where the time piece is positioned is constructed of translucent tissue paper and lighted within, so that an observer is able to perceive another view by looking through this section of the tower. Additional Gestalt features include positioning the clock tower on a turntable so that the viewer may rotate the project and gain a better appreciation of the law of figure-ground. A functioning bell is placed inside the top of the tower so that observers may more fully interact with and appreciate the laws of Gestalt Theory present in this project. Group Project--Theory As An Experience The next project was centered around the concept of theory as an experience, meaning the way that an environment can poignantly affect experience and memories. Presented with a broad subject, my group devoted time to brainstorming various interesting ideas, and as we were close to leaving for the end of the Fall semester, we decided upon a Christmas-themed display. Christmas is widely celebrated as a time of warmth, happiness, and family. To approximate this experience, the group selected various signature Christmas items, from a tree, gifts, and stockings to a constructed fireplace, cozy reupholstered chair, and Christmas-toned rug. For additional reinforcement of this seasonal experience and to reach some of the senses beyond sight, we brought in packaged Christmas cookies for visitors, and placed candy cane, peppermints, and pine scent sticks for wintery smells. Theory Applied to Interior Design The final project of this course was an individual assigment completed and presented at home because of COVID. It appropriately centered around considering the effects of COVID-19 on the structure and design of spaces. I began this project researching scholarly articles related to this topic and found a thought-provoking article that reported the ways in which apartment renter preferences had changed because of the pandemic. Some of these features included increased office space, an in-unit washer and dryer, a more generous balcony, and a kitchen with a countertop bar for expanded seating to accommodate the heightened frequency of in-home dining. After summarizing this article (can be referenced by clicking the pdf attachment above), I selected an apartment layout and proceeded to design a revised layout that was constructed using poster board and foam board in a manner that accommodated the space to these COVID-influenced renter preferences.

  • ABOUT ME | My Site 1

    About Me "The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." --Paul Strand ​ ​ My given name, Alexandra Marie Katherine Trotter, is long in sentiment and gratefully shortened to Zanna for those who find themselves in a hurry. ​ ​ In contemplating what brought me 'here' today, I've the standard resume for most artists: an interest in paints and pens and pencils from a young age; a propensity to doodle overmuch in the margins while note-taking in the classroom; a niggling habit of transforming the family table into an art desk for weeks; a pattern of enrolling in art classes both in (drawing) and out (sculpture) of my comfort zone. ​ The more I learned, the more I yearned to stretch myself in these creative endeavors. ​ Today, I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree in Interior Design at Liberty University, and am excited to see where this will take me. ​ When I'm not sketching projects in a quiet corner, I'm playing French horn, enjoying a run, or hitting the books at the coffee shop. Let's talk! Contact Me-- ​ Liberty University 1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, VA 24515 amtrotter@liberty.edu

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