5 tips to have great model reviews

Here are 5 ways to avoid getting roasted during a model review 👇
1. Scale It Properly

Scale isn’t just about size — it’s about clarity.

Too small, and your spaces become unreadable. Too big, and it looks impressive but lacks control or cohesion.

Ask: what are you trying to communicate? Massing? Circulation? Interior sequence? Choose the scale that reinforces that — and if you can, label it visibly on the base.
2. Use Consistent Materials

Your model doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to be intentional.

A clear material language shows control and hierarchy. Try to limit yourself to 2–3 materials max (chipboard + basswood + acetate, for example).

If it’s abstract, go full abstract. If you’re showing program, choose materials that support your spatial logic. Mixed scraps = mixed signals.
3. Anticipate 360° Viewing

Your jury won’t view your model from just the angle you planned.

They’ll walk around it, flip it upside down (literally), and try to test its logic from every side. So before review, walk around your model as if you're the critic.

Ask yourself:

What’s the “money view”?

What feels unresolved?

Does this read clearly from top-down?
4. Know What Every Part Represents

If someone points at a part of your model and says:

“What’s this?” — and you say “uh…” — you're done.
Be able to articulate what every plane, void, and joint is doing — even if it’s abstract. You don’t need long answers, just intentional ones.

Also: know your process. Don’t say “I just liked how it looked.” Instead say:

“This curve emerged from a diagram I did on circulation overlap.”
5. Finish the Base

The number of otherwise-great models I’ve seen with half-glued foamboard bases…

Think of the base as the contextual anchor. Whether it’s site-specific or just a plinth, it sets the tone.
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Видео 5 tips to have great model reviews канала Clear Arch