Watch a building come to life through drawing

"Drawings are to architecture what language is to humans."

– Joey Rivera, associate senior project designer

Joey Rivera, associate senior project designer at Group 4, uses drawings to create shared understanding at the beginning of the project.

In an office full of talented designers and architects, Rivera's work stands out thanks to its accuracy and beauty. 

"My whole being gets inspired." Rivera said. "There is a connection, my brain, my soul and my hand."

Rivera's drawings are rooted in research. He's inspired by a variety of architectural styles and is always scouring the Internet, reading, photographing or otherwise looking for new ideas.  

We asked Joey to give us some tips to create jaw-dropping drawings. 

Step 1: Get inspired

"I look up references and past precedents for inspiration. This is an essential step in staying true to an architectural style, like post-war modernism, art-nouveau or contemporary." 

Step 2: Get organized

"This is just a matter of assembling the materials and tools I will use to create the drawing or sketch or rendering. I use a mix of pens, pencils and markers. Will it be drawn on sketch paper, vellum or heavy stock paper. It all depends on the outcome the client needs."

Step 3: Turn up the jams

"I also need to put on my headphones and listen to my favorite music. It really helps me get in a creative mood. If the sketch is traditional, I listen to classical. If it is modern, I listen to dance music!"

We take drawing seriously. A detailed and accurate drawing keeps projects moving quickly. Poor drawings create confusion and delays. Want to work with Group 4? Contact us today.