2020 Annual Report

Another year, another animated donut graph: that’s right, it’s annual report time.

Business Analysis, FreelancingStephanie BraconnierAugust 18, 2021Income, pie chart, 2019, annual report, freelancer, businessComment

Dear Guest Critics: An open letter on design feedback

Dearest Guest Critics, do you have your spoonful of sugar handy? You might need it, because I’m about to offer you some medicine…

TeachingStephanie BraconnierDecember 8, 2020Design Criticism, Guest Critic, Landscape Architecture, Design School, Critique, Zoom Critique, Architecture Critique, Guest Panel, UBC, SALA Comments

2019 Annual Report

Why say it at all if you can’t say it with animated purple donut graphs? Welcome to my annual report.

Business Analysis, FreelancingStephanie BraconnierJuly 22, 2020Income, pie chart, 2019, annual report, freelancer, businessComment

Vancouver - The Best Bike City in Canada?

Misplaced civic pride leads to a lack of actual cycling infrastructure in Vancouver. Also, we confuse “good enough” for “superb urban planning decisions” to dangerous consequences.

Epic Rants, Landscape and Urban DesignStephanie BraconnierJune 20, 2019cycling, biking, commuting, commute, vancouver, british columbia, amsterdam, isabel, ruitenbeekComment

The Universe doesn't care about you (sorry).

Here is The Secret: there is no secret.

In place of a dangerous and corrosive philosophy that prizes suspension of disbelief, allow me to offer you a more practical way to achieve success.

Epic Rants, Valuable Life LessonsStephanie BraconnierMarch 14, 2019The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, Self-Help, Positive Thinking, Purpose, Derren Brown, Stoicism Comments

2018 Annual Report

I like math, graphs, and saying things. Welcome to my annual report.

Business Analysis, FreelancingStephanie BraconnierMarch 12, 2019Income, 2018, pie chart Comments

On The Necessity of Free Time

We all know that in order to be a successful designer, you need to be in the Club of the Perpetually Busy, membership of which entails feeling smug about the painfully long hours you work doing essentially the same tedious busy-work everyone else is doing. It’s what creatives do. Or is it? What happens when we stop being busy and let ourselves be bored?

Stephanie BraconnierFebruary 10, 2019 Comment

On Talent (Becoming a Designer)

Are architects and designers born with innate talent? Are you worried that you chose the wrong profession because you weren't born with 'it'? Do your instructors sigh and rub their eyes whenever you try to present your ideas to them? Have you failed a semester in architecture school?

Work, Unsolicited Advice, Valuable Life Lessons, Architecture and DesignStephanie BraconnierJune 11, 2018How to be an Architect, Talent, Developing Design Skills, FavoritesComment

Things they don't teach in architecture school #43000

That you will have to defend your masterpieces against online trolls.

Hilarity

Architecture and DesignStephanie BraconnierJuly 5, 2014Comment

The Architecture & Design Internships Guide

Should you take an unpaid internship? That all depends...

Unsolicited Advice, Work, Architecture and DesignStephanie BraconnierMarch 14, 2014How to be an Architect, Unpaid Internships, Job search, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, Internships, Traineeships, Mini-job, exploitation, studentComment

Design your way out of Climate Disaster.

Cementing our reputations as the Saviors of Humanity - the Landscape Architecture Edition.

Getting a Job: You need to take that shit seriously.

About to send off 500 mass applications to random firms all over Europe in the hopes that someone will offer you the position of your dreams (or at least a paid position)?

Stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and...

Work, Unsolicited Advice, Architecture and DesignStephanie BraconnierFebruary 12, 2014Job search, Favorites, architecture, urban design, job search, job, internships, graduate, curriculum vitae, portfolio Comments

Time

A short contemplation on time, or in other words: "What the hell am I doing with my life?"

Valuable Life LessonsStephanie BraconnierAugust 11, 2013TorontoGoals, Achievements, Millenials, FavoritesComment

Sugar Beach, Corktown Common and a rant about Condos.

Can downtown residential development (i.e., condos) happen in a sane, practical way that actually creates livable neighborhoods? Corktown Commons says YES. Also, a look at some of the signature waterfront urban parks in Toronto.

Toronto, Epic Rants, Landscape and Urban DesignStephanie BraconnierJuly 25, 2013Lower Don LandsCorktown Commons, Sugar Beach, Toronto Waterfront, Don River Valley, Lower Don Lands, Summer, Toronto East Comments

Myths about Public Space in Canada

In which Stephanie brings ruination, with a fury akin to hellfire, to the argument that Canada is 'too cold' to have walkable, livable neighborhoods.

Toronto, Epic Rants, Landscape and Urban DesignStephanie BraconnierApril 25, 2013Public Space, Favorites Comment

The Don Valley & Evergreen Brickworks

This weekend the sun poked its rays out from behind the never-ending grey clouds of spring and we went for a walk along the Don River. The river path, bordered on one side by the Don Valley Parkway (highway) and train tracks, isn't the most accessible or noise-free green zone in Toronto but I feel like with some attention it could be a great space.

Toronto, Nature, Urban Parks, Local Food, Landscape and Urban DesignStephanie BraconnierApril 19, 2013Evergreen BrickworksEvergreen Brickworks, Brownfield Remediation, Adaptive Reuse, Parks, Spring, Toronto, Toronto East Comments

Job Search Stats

ear Potential Employers,

I am a recent graduate and I have a list of things you should be doing before I become the least bit interested in working for you. I know this sounds prissy, but I promise it's for our mutual benefit.

Finding Work, Architecture and DesignStephanie BraconnierApril 1, 2013 Comments

Temporary Architecture & Architecture for the Temporary

A review of the final lecture in the Guggenheim Lab Architecture & Urbanism series, plus some witty commentary about stodgy Kreuzbergers and their unrelenting desire to create a relic of Berlin.