Life of an Architect

How much drafting does a fully licensed architect do? What is something you learned in the industry that you hadn’t been taught in school? Are you as condescending to your employees as your redlines let on? All this and potentially other hateful questions on today’s episode as Andrew and I answer discuss the questions submitted by the listeners. Welcome to episode 108: Ask the Show – Fall Edition. [Note: If you are reading this via email, click here to access the on-site audio player] [hoops name="top1"] Today’s show consists of questions that were submitted through my Instagram account – well, technically speaking, I asked people to submit questions, and we choose about 10 or so interesting ones that we thought we could effectively handle when only allotting ourselves about 5 minutes to answer. If you submitted a question and we didn’t answer it here, it’s probably because your question is either a topic that we plan on really focusing on in a later episode, was too complicated and specific to you that nobody else would really be invested in the answer, or it didn’t make sense – mostly because it wasn’t in the form of an actual question. In addition, we keep questions that were submitted for previous Ask the Show episodes and consider them as well – so some of these questions date back to episode 64. Should we be more realistic about true practice in school or keep up the romantic ideals? jump to 3:13 Question submitted by @allisonharris – Allison Harris Bob: If I can only choose between these two options, I would choose romantic ideals – mostly because I believe that you go to school to learn how to learn and for architects, this manifests itself in critical thinking. I know that is not the point of Allison’s question – it most likely has to do with making sure that architecture students come out of school equipped with the knowledge they need to not only be successful but to contribute in a meaningful way. For most of the roles that are possible, as far as careers in architecture go, most people do not go into school, nor do they come out of school with any real understanding of what those roles are or the part they play in the process. Andrew and I spent some time talking about the educational process and debating the merits of having the first year of an architectural education be more of a primer that introduces architecture students to the entire gamut of what traditionally exists in our industry. This might then allow students to choose a more focused path while in undergraduate school that allows them to zero in on the things that suit their interests and skill sets rather than potentially preparing them to perform a role that they are not suited to perform. Andrew: I think there needs to be a precise balance between the two options. After a few years in academia, I have changed my thoughts on this question, and they continue to evolve. I think the issue is that most schools seem to push to one option or the other when in my opinion, the sweet spot is in the middle ground. Architecture school is about learning how to think about architecture in a way that involves a process of critical evaluation and thought. That is a skill that you will utilize for the rest of your life in the profession. Yet, there is not enough information provided about the actual work that happens within the profession. I think some of this is just academia. Many of your professors, to be bluntly honest, may not know how the profession operates currently. Many have either been out of practice for many years or some never were in the practice at all. So the push to insert more of the “profession” into the curriculum is not always easy or possible. I hate to ride the middle ground here, but in reality, you need to learn the process of creating and thinking about architecture and also be made aware of the possibilities and operations of the practice. It is not an easy balance. I am still trying to find that balance in all the studios I teach. Again, part of your architectural education is meant to happen while working. Now this may not be the best model any longer, but that is still how the process works. (I could talk about that for much longer) Should architecture students go through all 6 years at once, or do 4 and then work for a few years to gain experience and then go for their masters? jump to 9:39 Question submitted by Colin Balbach [private account] Andrew: I think the best answer is “No.” There are many reasons to put some time between the 4-year undergrad and the 2-year master's if that is your path. Now, of course, not everyone has to take that path, but if you are already in it, then you should consider putting some time between them. I think the greatest benefit here is to go out and work in the industry for a few years to possibly discover your passion or areas of interest. This will then, in turn, make you more focused during your graduate school tenure. I think you may not have enough knowledge ab

Learn about what happens during the design development phase of a residential project when you hire an architect. This is typically the phase the clients enjoy the most as they see their project come to life and start to get an understanding of what their new home will look like once completed.

Around this time every year that a new crop of potential future architects are about to start their first year of architecture school, and they have questions. What equipment and supplies do I need? Well, get ready as we talk about everything you could possibly need in Episode 106: Architecture School Equipment.

Architecture is a field with a wide variety of possible pathways and careers. Today we will focus our attention on the closely related field of Interior Architecture. We have a conversation with award-winning architect Joey Shimoda to discuss all things interior architecture.

Depending on your age, sooner or later you will end up at one convention or another. For some people, this is a yearly migration full of can’t-miss opportunities. For others, it’s three days of questionable decisions and most likely, a lot of fun. Welcome to Episode 104: Conventions – The Best and Worst of Times

Architects and the Art of Being Happy is a difficult topic but there are some direct and simple steps you can take that will improve your daily experience.

Today, we are discussing the concepts around business development, which is something that, with almost 99% certainty, no architect was ever taught in school. So we invited our long-time friend, who has dedicated himself to improving the business aspects of small firms across the country, to join us in this conversation.

The design process for each person is different even though there will always be some similarities. I assembled my own sequence process of Discovery - Exploration – Presentation – Modification – and then Execution. This is a formulaic process that I use that allows creative people a methodology to going about their business without needing “inspiration.”

It's taken almost 4 years to get here, but the Life of an Architect is celebrating a milestone. Welcome to the 100th Episode where Andrew and I take exactly 100 minutes to tell you all the insider secrets as well as behind-the-scenes stories of things that went wrong.

Construction Drawings are the documents architects use to convey architectural intent - size, location, quantity - and learning how to properly prepare them is getting harder and harder.

Being an architect for some people means standing up in front of a bunch of people and talking about your architectural decisions. If you are a student, you definitely will be architecture presentations so you might as well learn some tips that will make those moments wildly more successful.

The architectural profession seems to unnecessarily romanticize the amount of work it takes to do our job so it was only a matter of time before we discussed "Burnout" in today's post and episode 97 of the Life of an Architect podcast.

Every good architecture project has a concept. Every. Single One. This is the Big Idea that you will build your entire project around and if you look at your project and can’t recognize it, you need to keep working until you’ve developed one. Today, Andrew and I will be discussing what this might mean and what it possibly looks like.

Whenever an architect sits down with a client on a new residential project, the first phase that happens is “Schematic Design”, the initial part of the process where everyone tries to figure out what exactly the project is supposed to accomplish.

Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins from Life of an Architect answer the most commonly asked questions about being an architect

Ever wondered if you should be an Architect? Here are the Top 10 Reasons NOT to be an Architect - revisiting the list I wrote 12 years ago.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons to be an Architect - a list that has been revisited since I originally wrote it 12 years ago.

Traveling is an important part of being an architect - Seeing different cultures, climates, materials, and spatial solutions is an ongoing life adventure. Welcome to Architects and Traveling.

Graphics are the language that architects use to communicate intent to the people we serve. We draw to explain our designs, to explain the materials, and much more ... so welcome to Episode 90: Architectural Graphics.

Can a large architecture firm operate with a small firm mentality? In this episode, we discuss this concept with Mike McGlone from Alamo Architects.

For the 12th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects.

Architectural model making is built into the creative process in school - so why do we quit once we leave school? Here is a case for making models:

Getting licensed as an architect is difficult. It requires considerable time and dedication but what if we reimagined the Path to Licensure

Design and fabrication is a topic that all architects discuss. How does it inform the creative process, who gets involved, why does it make sense?

There is a process in "Building an Architect" that starts when you are a shiny teenager, through college, with the process continuing for your entire career.

In today's 'Ask the Show' episode, we answer ten questions ranging from salary, quitting your job, the value of a prestigious degree, and more.

Do you know what a Side Hustle is? And if you are an architect, it isn't if you have one, it's how many of them are you likely to have?

Motivation is the ingredient that defines the difference between desire and will in the process of setting and attaining goals …

Is Architecture Art? THis is a question I have been asking architects for years and the answers are always interesting ...

Managing design vision, personalities, budget, and construction techniques are just a few things discussed today in Episode 79 “Designing a House”

“Redlines” is the word used by architects to reference the red ink that is used to mark up corrections that need to be made on architectural drawings.

Most architects design until the drawings leave the office so why is there so much bad architecture out there? We can all aspire to Design Better.

Here are the top 4 critical skills a person should have to experience success and satisfaction as a practicing architect.

When developing architectural skills, should you focus on a specific area of expertise or do you attempt to do it all? Ep 075: Should Architects Do It All?

There are a handful of moments in a person’s professional life that really make an impact, and today we are discussing "Architectural Memories That Matter"

Most architects dream of having their own architectural firm - There are many reasons why this makes sense, but it isn’t the right path for everyone.

We are going to be talking about the fantasy of being an architect versus reality. Welcome to episode 72 “Architectural Disconnect”

For an Architect, being on the job site is a vital part of their work process, but job site visits are a series of obligations fraught with increased liability.

When discussing the dirty side to clean buildings, we are focusing on Material Health and Transparency as it pertains to the practice of architecture

You've heard the phrase “Better, Faster, Cheaper, you can have 2” but is that true? This is really a conversation about quantity, quality, and ultimately value.

Becoming an architect is hard - You go to school for a long time and work and study but upon graduation, you are not an architect … so when does that moment happen? Welcome to episode 68 “Where is the Finish Line”

Should architects date one another? How do you get your first client? Your greatest challenge? We answer your questions today on Ep 067: Ask the Show.

There is a nostalgia associated with architects and sketching but is it still an integral part of the design process anymore?

It takes 5 people to answer 3 questions on this, The Hypothetical Show. Three questions of varying degrees of absurdity are discussed, but all will brighten up your Holiday week.

Answering the question of what exactly does a typical day in the life of an architect look like is nearly impossible - but we are going to give it a go. Typical days for an architect vary wildly and are more often than not a reflection of your role, where you work, the market sector, the size of the firm, and how far along in your career you have journeyed.

It’s that gift-giving time of the year and if you have an architect in your life, you know that getting them a gift is rough since they are sooo particular – but that’s why we’re here. Now in its 11th consecutive year, Life of an Architect is once again putting out the definitive gift guide for architects so you don’t have to figure these things out for yourself.

The phrase "Virtual Office" has a much different ring and connotation to it now than it did just a few months ago. As more and more people work from home (more times than not in a spare bedroom or from the dining room table) what changes will take place within the architectural profession moving forward? Has anyone else noticed that everyone seems to be nesting in their makeshift home offices these days?

When I say the word “architect” what do you imagine? It seems that most people imagine architects in black clothing, heavy rimmed glasses, and they most-likely possess other-worldly glue skills. We are going to set the record straight regarding the disconnect between the public’s perception and the reality of architects.

At one point or another, every architecture student or graduate has a portfolio of their work that they have agonized over creating. Portfolios are important, they demonstrate your range of skills and will most likely play a significant role in whether or not you land your dream job … so why are so many of them completely ineffective? Today we are talking about the “Perfect Portfolio” and what that actually means. [Note: If you are reading this via email, click here to access the on-site audio player] [hoops name="top1"] Depending on the time of the year, about 15% of the emails I receive have something to do with portfolios in some form or fashion. There are a handful of questions that get asked over and over again ... What do they look like? What sort of information do I put in them? What do people want to see? How much information should I put in them? How much text versus graphics? People have questions, and we are going to answer them. So where do you start? Let's start with what a portfolio is and why do we still use them - Portfolios are all about illustrating your proficiency in the various skills of the trade and demonstrating that you know how to think and process information. Sounds pretty simple and considering all the moving parts, it is really simple. Most people still don't seem to understand some very basic considerations that surround the process of building a portfolio. How is it reviewed? What are people like me looking for? jump to 5:00 The key to having a successful portfolio is to think about how it will be viewed, what messages you are sending based on the content you are providing, and to consider how much time someone will actually be looking at your portfolio. I can promise you it won’t even be a fraction of what you think it will be. The work you spent weeks or even months agonizing over and trying to skillfully articulate in the forms of diagrams, plans, perspectives, collages, etc. etc… won’t be looked at for more than a few moments when it crosses my desk. I’m looking for the tone, trying to see how your brain works, how you process information, how you articulate information – not the specifics of the content itself. On my first pass through your portfolio - which could be your only pass - I am not reviewing the quality of your design solutions of the items you are displaying within your portfolio. I am treating your portfolio as a standalone project and what I am reviewing is the actual portfolio. Curate the content jump to You need to carefully think about which projects, and how many, you want to include in your portfolio – pick only those that are supported with the visuals that tell the story you want to tell. The first time I look at someone’s portfolio, I might spend a maximum of 5 seconds on any given page - that's it - and that's not a lot of time to convey your message. What I do look for from your portfolio is how they are laid out on the page, the balance of positive and negative space, as well as the balance of white space versus the image you are putting on display. example from the portfolio of Prarthan Shah Let Your Images Tell the Story jump to 28:47 You should consider how much text you decide to include in your portfolio … because I probably won’t read it the first time I flip through your pages. This is something that I think about every time I look at a portfolio … or even write one of my blog posts. Most people like to look at the pictures, and if the images are evocative enough to catch someone’s attention, you might get them to go back and read the small bit of text associated with that image. The takeaway here is that you need to rely on your pictures and graphics to draw in the people who are reviewing your portfolio. Reading text comes later - maybe during pass number two or three. You should consider your text as a secondary or tertiary contributor at best. example from the portfolio of Danielle Anderson Demonstrate your Graphic Fluency jump to 31:02 Unless this is the first time you’ve ever read an article on my site, you already know that I am extremely particular in my use of graphics when it comes to drawing. The use of line weight is very important in architectural drawings and I can promise you that if you don’t use it, I’m not going to look at your drawings for very long. In addition, you need to be consistent in your graphics and layouts - there should be a pattern to how your information is displayed across your entire portfolio. Do NOT design a new layout for each project within your portfolio - remember that the people reviewing are looking at your portfolio as a single standalone design task, not a collection of individual designs. The other major consideration is the use of 3D modeling software and how it leads to the creation of unnecessary content. Now that entire projects are modeled 3-dimensionally, it is relatively easy to prepare untold millions of sections and elevations ... but not all of these are

Do you have architectural visualization skills? Maybe you’re asking yourself “what does even mean?” Well, you are in luck because today on the Life of an Architect Podcast we are dedicated to discussing all things related to architectural visualization and graphics and we have the perfect guest, Alex Hogrefe.