Architecture Competition Legendary Bird Home 2020 Honorable mention - Jacob Tesmer

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Legendary Bird Home 2020” competition - Jacob Tesmer from the United States.

Jacob Tesmer from United States

I am an industrial designer based in Columbus, Ohio with experience in design consulting and education. I am a consultant working with firms, companies, and individuals where I collaborate with patent lawyers, inventors, and engineers using 2D and 3D media tools to illustrate valuable solutions. I also work as a teaching assistant at the International Center for Creativity. I lead classes and demonstrations in sketching, CAD design, and digital rendering for Industrial Design students from Cedarville University.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where company/ individuals have been involved?

I have worked on many projects involving consumer goods and intellectual property. I mainly work with individuals and inventors looking to develop their own products and businesses. I have also worked with clients ranging from commercial furniture manufacturers to research and engineering firms developing solutions for government agency support contracts. This wide variety of projects has introduced me to many different approaches to design.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

My background in industrial design and product development has led me to view architecture as large lived-in products. I see architects as designers. Designers take strong principles of design and apply them to objects, systems, or spaces. A designer can think creatively about any number of problems and develop visual solutions. Architecture is one facet of design--it's the approach and constraints that are different.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

This is my first architecture vision competition. I was previously working on a personal project of my own related to bird feeders. I felt that the ideas I was generating there could be implemented into the design of a birdhouse as well. The competition was a great opportunity to share my ideas and push myself to learn and apply new skills.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

I would tell individuals who are struggling to decide to think of the competition as a way to better themselves. Do not focus on winning or losing, but look at it as a way to hone your skills and push yourself creatively. It is also a great opportunity to get yourself out of a rut. A lot of the projects I start personally can go on forever. A competition pushes you to complete the project and prevents you from dwelling on your designs by creating deadlines and milestones for you to accomplish.