How to Handle Information Overload While Designing?

[Steambc]

I'm getting close to beginning the design phase of my build, and now that I've come back to this forum in 2023 I'm struck by how vast the knowledge base is. I find myself entering "Foggy Brain Land" when I try digest the information here.

I want to absorb every single post on this site and put together a game plan, but alas, my feeble little brain rebels and shuts down from overload after a while. Perhaps I have a low capacity for sorting through all this info and as the old phrase goes, chewing the meat and spitting our the bones.

I guess my real question is, Did most of you absorb all this info and then cull together various ideas and start designing from scratch, or is it more common to buy published plans and modify them according to one's needs? I'm up for either. I figured I'd ask you veterans how you go about design in view of the myriad of choices available.

[Mark Gunter]

I had a good idea of what I wanted so I just started building it. I had to design as I went to accommodate the frame I built on and the items I wanted to incorporate from a sacrificial pop up I bought.

Planning ahead is important whether you use actual drawings or drawings in your head. But whatever route you go, the way to get past analysis paralysis is to get started building.

[Tom&Shelly]

I'm getting close to beginning the design phase of my build, and now that I've come back to this forum in 2023 I'm struck by how vast the knowledge base is. I find myself entering "Foggy Brain Land" when I try digest the information here.

I want to absorb every single post on this site and put together a game plan, but alas, my feeble little brain rebels and shuts down from overload after a while. Perhaps I have a low capacity for sorting through all this info and as the old phrase goes, chewing the meat and spitting our the bones.

I guess my real question is, Did most of you absorb all this info and then cull together various ideas and start designing from scratch, or is it more common to buy published plans and modify them according to one's needs? I'm up for either. I figured I'd ask you veterans how you go about design in view of the myriad of choices available.

We designed ours from scratch, using Steven Fredrick's "Shop Manual" as a guide. (Tony Latham's book wasn't out yet. If it were, I'd've copied and modified his design. Similar "inside-out" building process in both resources.) Yes, definitely information overload. Our solution was to think through what was critical up front, and leave some of the design for when we got there. We left a space for our galley, but didn't design it until later, for example. Another example: I knew how big the clothes cabinet over our feet should be, and left hard points in the walls to mount them, but didn't figure out how, exactly, to make them until I was ready.

The biggest problem with this method was knowing or guessing where to put hard points in the walls and floor. We didn't always get it right, and it weighs a little more for that reason. Also, we had to make design compromises along the way, based on what we had previously done.

I used to be involved in satellite design, and it's basically the same, if that makes you feel any better.

Anyway, you may want to look at Tony's Burning Woman design here in this forum, and if you like it, buy his book. That's basically the "plans" option. However you go, best of luck!

Tom

PS--Building the teardrop was certainly one of the most rewarding projects I've ever accomplished. Learned and improved all sorts of skills. I'll count the design process as a big part of that. For all the minor issues, and need for work-arounds, I can't think of too many things we should have done differently.

[Steambc]

Thanks, guys. Great advice. Interestingly I just received Tony Latham's book for my birthday. It looks like a pretty broad overview but t definitely has lots of good information.

I'll definitely take your advice to heart. I'm sure this will be quite an adventure!

I appreciate your input.

[tony.latham]

I just received Tony Latham's book for my birthday.

Holler when you have questions.

Tony

[TimC]

I'm currently on build #4 and they have all differed in their design. The big thing is to step back before starting a step and think about what you are about to start and try to determine how that step effects other steps to come. You'll make mistakes and the forum will help you with corrections you might not think about. For instance, I'm building a foamie (sorry, no build journal this time) and after adding PMF to the interior and exterior walls I've discovered I forgot cleats (the hard points Tom mentions) to anchor my footboard cabinet frame. I'll work through that.

Take your time. A rushed job will result in more mistakes or missed opportunities to add or subtract features. And as Tony says, ask questions. In addition, if you create a build journal and keep it updated with photos and descriptions the forum members will answer questions and make unsolicited suggestions. Those answers will be mostly positive reinforcement that you are moving along as you should and may allow you to catch mistakes or make adjustments before the opportunity to make changes passes. Don't take it personally if someone criticizes your process or design.

Keep your camera handy, learn how to post photos, and add build details that will help other beginners. It's a give and take process which I have found, even after building three teardrops, helps immensely.

Tim

[twisted lines]

Buy one

[Modstock]

Or convert a cargo trailer. The shell is already built, just need to build the inside.

Sent from my SM-A115AP using Tapatalk

[Pmullen503]

It helps to make a list of everything you might want. Size, shape, finishes, accessories etc.

Then break down that list into "must haves", "wants" and "that might be nice". Design so get everything you need, as much of what you want as practical and some "that might be nice" if they are doable.

In other words, take some time to prioritize the things that are important to you. Complexity and expense can increase to the point the project isn't worth doing.

[friz]

Camp and figure out your needs and wants. I love my setup because it is perfect for me. Because I'm not hauling around anything I don't use, it's efficient also.

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[philpom]

I have a great ability to imagine complex 3D designs in my mind, I dreamed up what I wanted , made a sketch and started building. One thing I did do was order doors, WI does, and hatches in advance so I had exact deminsions on hand. From ther just carefully consider your order of operation so you don't put yourself in a pickle. I spent plenty of time staring and thinking about next steps..... but I like that!

Just have a strong vision before you begin and if you aren't sure about something look up ideas here.

Have fun!

[S. Heisley]

When I was dreaming up mine, I laid out my floor plan on the garage floor, using boxes to simulate cabinets and blue tape to designate the walls. Then, I actually went around, pretending to use each surface with fake sink, stove, potty, etc. I *almost* made a mistake anyway, but a quick switch-around fixed that. Whenever I had a problem, I would quit for the night and catch 8 hours of sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I'd have the answer. The brain works best on problems while the body sleeps.

No doubt.... You can do this.

[RBB]

It absolutely IS overwhelming if you try to think of it as a WHOLE project. Think of it is stages...

For example, don't fret about colors or cushions at the start... you won't need those until WAY later!

Ask yourself:
How many people to sleep?
Pets?
Kitchen / gally in the back?
Standing or sitting inside.

Ok... that should help you get a size.
Are you building a frame... or buying.
3 seasons or less ?
That helps determine wall type etc...

Just take it in chunks!

[yayeric]

I started designing 1.5 years ago, started building a year ago. Didn't know anything about Carpentry or welding and kept all my notes on graph paper, hand written. It was indeed a lot. The graph paper helped, but it's perishable. It will fold, wringkle, and eventually tear.

Now, all of my information is kept on Illustrator Files. Vectoring all my designs and being able to reference a file with precise measurements (no more ocunting squares on paper) has really helped ease the load on my brain. Additionally, I spend quite a bit of time creating a to-do list for every (arbitrary) phase of construction by considering what I need, writing it all out in a notebook, then reorganizing it in the order they need to happen.

Additionally, I've broken my planning into 'phases'. If you try to plan out 100% of everything in fine detail, you'll forget what you initially wrote down by the time you reach the end. So, plan 'coursely' at first, and fine tune as you move through your build. That's where most of my energy goes. I still periodically think of the future, such as, "Where is my wiring going to go?" now that I'm getting close to building my roof.

For example, I know my roof will consist of a layer of 1/8" baltice birch ribs of some thickness with foam in between, another layer of 1/8" baltic birch, another layer of 1/8" birch with CO2 laser designs cut into them, a layer of epoxy and fiberglass and a few coats of varnish. That's my 'coarse' planning, and gives me enough information for what I need, what I need to consider, etc... My 'fine' planning, which I'll start once I get to building the roof, will include my sky window, wiring location, width of roof ribs, how many roof ribs, amount of foam I need, type of varnish I want, stains, etc.... The 'fine' planning is very hard to do before you start (at least it is for me), but when everything is in front of you and you don't need to mentally conceptualize it, it's easier and doesn't put you in 'foggy brain land'.


A few other tips that I had to learn - I'm a bit of an overthinker, so my planning phases tend to take a while because I'm always wondering, "What am I not considering?". Now, instead of burning myself out by planning every-little-detail, I do a decent amount of planning of 'coarse' planning, leaving that bundle of information as-is until I get that phase of the build. I then consider my 'fine' details until I can't think of anything, then roll the dice moving forward. I can never think of everything, and little mistakes or oversights have all turned out to be easy to fix. Don't let 'good damn good' get in the way of 'perfect'.f

Lastly, I'm a perfectionist and spend too much time trying to get every cut, every measurement, as perfect as possible. Break down cuts and welds into 2 catagories; Course and Fine adjustments. Get close, then fine tune. Don't fine tune from the beginning (unless it's absolutely necessary). This goes for welding, dado's, anything. When I was cutting my dados, I spent a week measuring and trying to see how everything would fit together. It would have been a lot easier if I just 'coarse' cut my female dados smaller than they needed to be, then 'finely' adjust them with a chisel. Would have saved me several days.

[S. Heisley]

I believe this is spam. Please delete this entry when you delete the above, copied and pasted here.

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Wherfust
Teardrop Inspector

Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2023 10:53 am

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