BAC-DAC
Virtual Design Jam

Friday, December 17, 2021 7:00 pm ET to
Sunday, December 19, 2021 7:00 pm ET

Time to put those design muscles to work! Whether you’re an experienced architect, a student, an intern or anything in between, nothing is like an intense design session to get those creative juices flowing and re-energize and/or invigorate your love for design.

In partnership with O’Planet

 

The jam will be hosted on a Minecraft server (Java Edition - on Computer - current version: 17.1) with each team able to select a site from the procedurally generated map (note that teams may want the same site so be flexible!).

BAC-DAC is teaming up with O'Planet to bring this Jam to you! The theme of the jam is “Designing in the Era of Climate Change.” The intent is to explore this theme and what it means to the future of architecture. At the end of the jam, teams will be asked to stop building and leave their creations open to others to explore.

We will share the various designs online and send out a poll to participants to vote on their favourite designs. The top place team will receive a $1500 cash prize, with second and third place teams receiving $1000 and $750, respectively! Of course, the real prize is sharing ideas and your enthusiasm for design with others :)

Here’s how it will work:

 

  1. Form a team of 2-4 people.

  2. Register via Eventbrite. Cost is $50/team for BAC-DAC members and $100/team for non-members (note that when you pay for the $100 ticket that whoever registered will receive a BAC-DAC membership. If you're a member already a discount code will be emailed to you. Note that only members may use this discount code - may not be forwarded to someone else or used twice)! Ensure to include the username/Minecraft account name for each team member.

  3. We’ll send an email showing you screenshots of the virtual world (randomly selected from the procedurally generated map), along with a few basic instructions on how to use the gaming platform for the newbies! You can pick wherever you want to build but be a bit flexible as other teams may get there first! We will want a fair amount of space between sites

  4. Start brainstorming ideas to prepare for the jam! Think of what you will want to build and how to divide work ahead of time so that you can use your time effectively during the jam!

  5. Make sure you (and all your teammates) purchase and install Minecraft (Java Edition on Computer) if you don’t already own it and/or to install all updates!

  6. Jamming!

Schedule

 

  • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - 7:00 pm ET
    Jam officially starts with an opening presentation/discussion on Discord. (Note: you will receive access to the server 1 hour before the beginning of the jam. A link to the Discord channel will be sent to you as well)

  • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - 7:30 pm ET
    Jammers are unleashed to get going on their creations! Remember that you can always build up or remove material to build your design.

 

* * *

 
 

  • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 -11:59 pm ET — SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - 6:00 am ET
    Break time! All participants to leave the server and get some rest.

  • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 -11:59 pm ET — SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - 6:00 am ET
    Break time! All participants to leave the server and get some rest.

 

* * *

 
 

  • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - 4:00 pm ET
    Building time ends! Teams stop building and visit other teams’ creations on the server (Discussion will be held on discord where people can talk about their designs and share screens, while people wander around the server)

  • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - 7:00 pm ET
    Jam officially ends (A follow-up email will be sent to all participants with a link to a poll to vote on their favourite design)

Rules

 

  1. Teams are only allowed to work on their own creations. Do not interfere with other team’s builds (even after the jam officially ends); that’s just bad form.

  2. When building time ends, stop working on your creation. Even if it’s incomplete, it’s no big deal. The intent of the jam is to explore ideas, not to put together a design-build proposal.

  3. You can only start working on/building your creation once the jam officially starts. Also remember that you can not bring in models from other Minecraft servers (nor is that possible, we don’t think!). That said, you can do as much pre-planning as you want!

  4. You must work in the Minecraft server we set up. And don’t even think about going to Sketchup!

  5. No hate speech, abusive or disrespectful behaviour will be tolerated - and no swearing or inappropriate use of words. If you are having any issues with other participants, please email us at safe@bac-dac.ca or send us a message in Discord. A warning will be given for inappropriate behaviour and, if the issue persists or is a serious enough offense, the participant causing the issues will be removed from the server.

  6. Other than that, have fun!

Award Process

 

  1. First and Second place prizes ($1500 & $1000): We will send out a poll to participants to vote on what they feel is the top design (you cannot vote on your own!)

  2. Third place prize ($750): Determined by a Jury of O’Planet and BAC-DAC Directors.

  3. Disclaimer: number of prizes/amount for a given prize may vary depending on the number of teams registered.