If you are an aspiring architect, a “young” architect, a veteran architect, or a “I could be an architect, but I just don’t to, but I’m curious about what they do, so imma stay over here on the sidelines and peek in to see what’s up” non-architect (I’m out of breath trying to say that last one. whew!), this is a list – based on my own experience – that WILL make you better at what you do or don’t do, because don’t we all want to get better? Don’t we? Well, LET’S GO!
1. Inspiration
You have to always keep inspiration around when it comes to getting better at what you choose to do in life. Being in the field of architecture is no different. Inspiration provides you with the fuel to keep going because, let’s face it, the architectural profession is tough (don’t believe anyone who says it’s not). Personally, I remember being so consumed with the actual day-to-day work that I had to do that the effort to get inspired fell by the wayside. The result was that I lost sight of the purpose of my work; I lost my passion for the field; I got bored keeping my head down and just focusing on the work in front of me. How did I get my mojo back? I found ways to bring inspiration back into my life in the following ways:
- Social Media – That’s right! It is not always about the mindless swipe. There are some pretty amazing images and information out there from designs to presentations to graphic skills. We need them all; and, let’s be honest, this is something that can more often than not be easily accessible whenever wherever.
- Magazines – Yes, filling your eyes and your mind with the potential of architectural works out there works wonders with sparking your own imagination.
- Books – Feed your mind, people! Biographies, coffee table books, technical books (even books about Building Science), audiobooks included, all provide inspiration to get better at our craft.
- Miscellaneous – This is an “everything in the pot” part of the list for me. YouTube channels, podcasts, websites, traveling, and simply walking outside. Soak it all in.
I have my own list of go-to items spanning the subcategories above that give me joy. If you are curious about seeing what a few of those are you can check out my Resources page right HERE.
Visual Inspiration. Kaohsuing National Stadium, Taiwan.
Sketch Study of Adjacent Space Interactions
2. Education
Education is an absolute necessity to being a better architect. The same places that you get inspiration from are places that can provide education. It is a mindset. Absorb things as they are, find those moments to meditate on experience, but do not forget to ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can I incorporate this into my own work? Everything is a learning experience. So where can you step up in your education?
- Study what inspires you – Where can you get inspiration? Go back to point #1 (It’s not an exhaustive list, but a good place to start).
- School and/or College – There is something about the world of academia that forces your brain to think bigger than your immediate surroundings. This has never rung as true to me as it has at this very moment in my life. How? I’ve been through college, received my degrees, worked in the profession for years, and have convinced myself to go back to college to take additional classes to eventually get my Masters. The surprising thing is that I absolutely LOVE it. I know. I’m just as shocked as you.
- Studying for Exams or Certifications – Let me just tell you right now, studying for exams of any kind is a BEAST. I am not a fan of test-taking at all, buuuttt I have to admit that by studying for the exams that would allow me to get my Architecture License, I learned more about what my role as an architect involved more than from anything else in my whole experience up to that point in my life. A lot of good came from that kind of painful experience.
- Completing your CEUs – Completing your what? CEUs = Continuing Education Units. Yep. Our requirement to keep abreast of the ongoing updated information does not stop once we obtain our license or certification. It is not a choice for us if you want to keep your license or certification. But don’t view this as a burden. It is this kind of push that helps us to keep getting better and better at what we do.
- At your place of employment – Wherever it is that you work, you can learn something, but you have to pay attention, ask questions, and listen to the answers. Most importantly, KEEP asking questions. Keep your ego out of it! If you don’t know, look for the answers (google is my first friend) and then go ask for additional clarification. There is never a time in your whole life when you will know the answer to everything. Shoot. I’m still figuring things out.
3. Communication
This is a constant work in progress for me, I will 100% wholeheartedly admit. There are so many avenues that improving in communicating with others is and will continue making me a better architect.
- Client – They just want to know what’s going on and see the money that they are spending being put into action. A weekly progress update via an email or call (followed by a follow-up email, cuz, you know, records) is the least you can do. And now, let me go practice what I preach.
- Contractor – These lovely beings come into your life at all possible stages of a project depending on what the final delivery model of the project ends up being. None of that matters. The top thing that you need to remember is that they are a part of the total team, so do not let them go all willy nilly on their own for any extended period of time and then act shocked that items don’t quite match with the overall plan. Check in with them just like you would the client. In fact have a brief call when the contractor is on board that includes you, the owner, and the contractor together. Everybody needs to be on the same page.
- Consultants – Consultants encompass the rest of your design team including the engineers (structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, acoustics, building envelope, accessibility, interior designer, and sometimes civil & landscape. oh and any employee and/or contract drafters). Check-in with these folks. They are working on more than your project and if you don’t touch base, your project may end up slipping down the priority list with a huge make-up time push that could end up with sub-par coordination of all the drawings.
- AHJ group – AHJ?! What’s that? I am talking about “Authorities Having Jurisdiction.” These are the groups that have any kind of say over what is going on with your project and have the power to accept or reject it becoming a reality. We are talking about the Building Code Enforcement Department, Planning Department, Health Department, any commissions or neighborhood associations, and depending on your project even banks or other financial or governmental institutions. Find out early on what it is that they need from you to allow your project the biggest chance of success.
Now that we are at the end of this list of mine that itemizes what I believe would make a person a better architect (particularly pointing a finger to myself), I invite others to go ahead and let me know what else can be added to the list. Maybe we can come up with a follow-up list of three more ways to push us to be a better architect.
~ JSLove
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