Studio All-Nighters

Leo Bennett

Hey everyone, welcome back to Inside the Studio. I’m Leo Bennett, and I’m here with Krystin. Today, we’re talking about something that, honestly, is the heartbeat of architecture school—the design studio. Krystin, you remember those endless nights, right?

Krystin

Oh, absolutely. I mean, the studio is where you basically live. It’s not just a classroom, it’s like—well, it’s more like a lab, but for creativity. You’re surrounded by models, sketches, coffee cups, and, let’s be real, a lot of half-eaten snacks.

Leo Bennett

Yeah, and it’s not just about sitting and listening to lectures. You’re actually making things, testing ideas, failing a bunch, and then trying again. I remember my first overnight session at the University of Illinois. I think I survived on, like, two slices of cold pizza and a mountain of sketch models. I was so sure my concept was genius at 2 a.m.—by sunrise, not so much.

Krystin

That sounds about right. There’s something about being in the studio late at night, though. It’s when the weirdest, sometimes best, ideas come out. You’re bouncing thoughts off your classmates, and suddenly, you see your project in a totally new way.

Leo Bennett

Exactly. And it’s not just about the work, it’s the vibe. The energy in the studio is different. It’s like everyone’s in this together, figuring things out as they go. I mean, you learn by doing, not by memorizing facts for a test.

Krystin

Right, every semester is built around these design projects. No written exams, just you and your ideas, trying to make something real. It’s kind of terrifying, but also, I don’t know, addictive?

Leo Bennett

So, before you even start drawing, there’s this whole phase where you’re just... thinking. Like, what’s the story behind your project? What’s the user’s experience supposed to be? Sometimes I’d get stuck there for days, just noodling on a concept.

Krystin

Yeah, and those concepts can come from anywhere. I’ve seen students pull inspiration from music, or a piece of history, or even just the way people move through a space. It doesn’t have to be literal. Actually, I had this student I mentored—her project was inspired by Miles Davis’s jazz improvisation. She wanted her building to feel like a jazz solo, unpredictable but somehow still harmonious.

Leo Bennett

That’s awesome. I love when people bring in stuff that’s not, you know, “architecture-y.” Like, you hear a song or see a dance, and suddenly you’re thinking about rhythm and flow in a building. It’s not just about walls and roofs, it’s about emotion and movement.

Krystin

Exactly. And sometimes, the weirdest inspirations lead to the most interesting projects. I mean, I’ve seen people start with a feeling—like, “I want this space to feel like a sunrise”—and then work backwards to figure out how to make that happen with light and materials.

Leo Bennett

I might be wrong, but I think that’s what makes studio so different from other classes. You’re not just solving a problem, you’re telling a story. And sometimes, you don’t even know what the story is until you start making stuff.

Krystin

And that’s where the trial and error comes in. You make something, realize it doesn’t work, and then you try again. It’s all about iteration. I mean, I don’t think I ever finished a project in one go. Did you?

Leo Bennett

Oh, never. I’d make a model, hate it, rip it apart, and start over. Sometimes I’d go through, like, five or six versions before something clicked. It’s kind of brutal, but also, that’s where the magic happens, right?

Krystin

Totally. And the storytelling part is huge. You have to be able to explain why you made those choices, even if you changed your mind a dozen times. There’s this one project I always think about—the ‘Urban Rhythms’ project. It actually won an award, but only after, I don’t know, countless revisions. The student kept reworking it, responding to feedback, and every version got a little better.

Leo Bennett

Yeah, I remember that one! It started out as something totally different, right? But through all those iterations, it became something really special. That’s the thing about studio—you’re never really done, you just run out of time or, you know, the deadline hits.

Krystin

Exactly. And honestly, that’s what prepares you for the real world. You learn to take feedback, to keep pushing your ideas, and to not get too attached to your first draft. It’s tough, but it’s also what makes the studio such a unique place to learn and grow.

Leo Bennett

Couldn’t have said it better. Well, that’s all for today’s episode of Inside the Studio. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the heart of architecture school. Krystin, always a pleasure.

Krystin

Thanks, Leo. And thanks to everyone listening. See you next time!

Leo Bennett

Take care, everybody. Don’t forget to get some sleep—unless you’re in studio, then... good luck!