Almost 50 Years a Civil Designer Much change or an old man's fond memories of the "good old days?" by Terry McIvor

Abstract

Contents 1. The early years as a raw cadet – what was it like? 2. What was a design office like fifty years ago? How did we produce a drawing? 3. The draftsman’s ladder – what was the progression, what were the projects, how did the office evolve? 4. Computer Software – Viva the Revolution!! 5. At the top? What now? 6. Has it become easier with time? 7. What about the engineers? 8. The “twilight years” (‘Mentor ’or ‘take the money and run!!’) The paper will show by way of photos and description the type of equipment a designer required in 1968 to produce a drawing. It will also compare the way council and the design office was in 1968 to today. The paper will also show the type of work that was undertaken and explore how computer software has changed the ways things are done today. The progression of a designer through the ranks in the 1970’s compared to the way staff progress today will also be described. The relationship between designers and engineers then and now will also be explained. The paper will demonstrate just how much designing has progressed during the past fifty years.