My Experience in the Design Apprenticeship Program
An Interview with DAP Participant Zachary Jones
Interview by Jamee Telford, Outreach Programs Coordinator
November 2009
Participating in the DAP program for the first time is Zachary Jones, age 15. Zachary answers questions about why he signed up for the program, what his team project is, and how the Festival of the Building Arts influenced his thoughts on design.
National Building Museum Online (NBM): Why did you decide to participate in the Design Apprenticeship Program?
Zachary Jones: I wanted to participate in DAP because I wanted to learn more about architecture and also to see different activities dealing with design and to improve my skills and creativity.
NBM: What do you hope to gain from this experience?
Jones: I hope to learn the basic information, designs of objects, and more about architecture.
NBM: What is your team’s project for DAP I?
Jones: We are going to design and make a unique chair. We want a chair that is comfortable, low to the ground, with a canopy and a place for storage. Basically we have two designs of chairs and we are debating on whether we want one or the other or just to combine the two.
NBM: On the first day of DAP you were able to visit the Festival of the Building Arts (FOBA). How did seeing the exhibits and demonstrations help you think about your design?
Jones: It helped me think creatively with some of the designs, for example – the way they make the glass windows, and copper in the roof.
NBM: Which exhibit or activity did you enjoy the most at FOBA?
Jones: The exhibit that really interested me and was my favorite was the green roof. It had real plants on the roof. I thought it was a cool way to go green for your house.
NBM: What has been the most interesting or best learning experience so far in DAP?
Jones: It was when we did cool and fun activities such as designing the blueprint of a chair and then started making the actual chair out of homemade materials. Also learning about the three kinds of drawings (elevation, plan, and section), and when we went to go see a chair studio to see how chairs were made.
The DAP I: Building Block furniture projects will be unveiled during a final presentation and reception on Saturday, November 21 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. This event is open to public.
