How to Prepare & Thrive in Architecture School
If you’re thinking of pursuing architecture, ready to start school, or just interested in what architecture is in general, here are my recommendations for how to prepare and thrive in architecture school! I did not know any of these before I pursued my passion for architecture but have realized how important they are! After years of experience in the academic and professional world, these are some of the things I wish someone would have told be to help me thrive as a student and as a designer!
Practice Your Software Skills
Knowledge is power! The more multifaceted you are within software programs, the more successful you'll be! It's one thing to have a comprehensive & compelling design proposal, but if you don't have the graphic ability to back it up your proposal can get lost in translation. I urge you to focus heavily on learning as many programs you can, finding which ones are your strong suits, and truly putting your heart into your work. In the beginning it can seem extremely scary to learn so many new things all at once. But, I’m here to tell you not to be scared and that with a lot of practice and attention to the details, you can create beautiful and compelling design proposals.
I recommend using multiple steps in your design process to make an excellent design presentation. For example, the more you begin to learn softwares the more you will realize you need to use multiple to make a great presentation deck.
For example, this is my process:
I draft in Revit or Rhino, this is typically 2d/3d design which tells the story of the form, program, and organizational aspects of the building design.
Once the overall design is complete, I export to 2d linework using Adobe Illustrator. 2D drawings typically include plans, sections, elevations, program diagrams, axonometric, etc.
From Adobe Illustrator I export the 2D linework to Adobe Photoshop. In Photoshop, you’re able to apply textures and manipulate the image to be completely creative. This is where you begin to add life to the drawings through use of color, texture, and graphic design. Once I complete the adjustments I export to a png and import that into Adobe Illustrator.
From Adobe Illustrator, I then save as a pdf.
To compile for presentations, I typically use Adobe Indesign. It’s great because you can apply a parent page so each page contains the same information (titles, page numbers, etc.)
for 3D renderings I apply textures in Sketchup & the plug-in Enscape. However, for post production I use photoshop to make the renderings look less hyperrealistic.
Of course there's tons of software’s out there, but I've found that there are 5 in particular that can create and enhance your design. the software’s I suggest you try to master are: Rhino, Revit, AutoCad, Sketchup, and the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, & Premier). If you’d like to learn more information on these software’s let me know in the comments and I can discuss these in the future!
Master Your Mindset
Develop mental toughness, perseverance, and the resilience to stay committed to your dreams. It’s a long & hard journey, but you can do this! Many people told me to give up to get to even where I am today, and I'm not even licensed yet. You are the master of your own mind. Architecture school is 5-7 years depending on if you attend an accredited bachelors program or not. I had to do a 4 year course (It took me 5 years) for my bachelors and 2 years for my masters. As long as you prioritize your mental well being and carry a positive mindset you can master anything you put your mind to!
Don't carry around an "I know that" mindset. Always absorb everything you learn! School will teach you how to think critically, but you learn the most on the job learning from those around you who have been in the profession. When you find yourself being the smartest one in the room, it's time to find another room. Be ambitious to learn & attain all the knowledge you need for a successful career.
Network
Network online! LinkedIn is a great networking resource to connect with professionals within the same field as you! I encourage everyone I meet in the field to create a LinkedIn to build connections & to have insights into the field of architecture. Not only can you connect with individuals, you can post thoughts, follow company pages for announcements, and find job offerings. It's a great tool that encompasses many tools for networking!
Network in person! I never joined any organizations in architecture school and I extremely regret it! Architecture school organizations are a great way to meet likeminded people in our field as well as mentors who have are further along in school
Develop Your Communication Skills
One of the key definers between a good design and an exceptional design is the ability to communicate. Architecture is a multifaceted field where you use the combination of design skill, written communication skills, verbal communication skills, and critical thinking skills. The ability to communicate will also help give you confidence in yourself as a designer. When you’re doing a design presentation, you want your presentation to be clear so that if you weren't presenting it the proposal would still make sense and be successful. When you’re creating a design proposal, I want you to think of questions such as these: Is your design proposal clear? What is your intention? What was your '“why” when designing? Who is the design for? What are the key elements to the design?
I encourage you to work on communication through your designs. Embody teamwork, leadership, & communication skills. Being able to work with others will serve you extremely well in the profession, since most firms operate in a team-like structure. In school you'll be tasked to work with classmates on projects or create design proposals together. This is a great way to discover your strong suits, your weaknesses, and what you can improve on to become an even better designer. It's always great to have leadership abilities, as well as a willingness to work hard. We must all begin somewhere. If you stay committed to developing yourself, you will only thrive as an individual and designer!
Create a Thriving School Environment
Surround yourself with encouraging people who want to see you succeed. College can a weird time in life because so many of us are at different stages in life. You will begin to notice that your friends will go off to study different areas, and may not understand your level of commitment to architecture school. And this is okay! I encourage you to find people who can relate to the level you're at, your priorities, and your goals. There will be times when things get hard and it helps to have people in your corner rooting for you.
Create an environment you work & study in to be functional, inspiring, and one that helps keep you focused. In architecture studio classes, you work in a studio format setting. Picture a large, open room with large tables grouped together so you can work on projects close to your peers. This is a great environment to connect creatively with your peers, learn from one another, and develop friendships early on in your academic career. If you’re like me, I tend to focus better in a quiet environment so I prioritized my home office early on to work on my projects. You want to create a space where you’re able to work on drawings, models, and your laptop. Whether this is a studio environment surrounded by others, or in the comfort of your own home, if space allows, find what works for you! A thriving environment will help keep you focused and inspired!
