A turning point in any architecture students’ life, these 5 crucial years which change the student from top to bottom in any architecture school is much different than any other course. It is a long haul and everyone knows it. Architecture school teaches much more beyond education, that is some important life lessons to the student. It is much more than learning to design great spaces and create structures. All the non-academic skills attained during this tenure becomes an asset in the outside world of academics.
Whether one chooses a five-year professional degree in architecture or takes a few years of graduate school in architecture design or both, it’s a strenuous journey. But at the end of the day, it’s worth it for the knowledge which is gained throughout these years including the connections, contacts and friendships one forms in the studios.
To start with patience, which becomes the primary skill which the student adheres in the whole journey. Patience to accept that the first design is never going to work on the first go. Patience to listen to all the critical remarks given by the jurors. Patience to coordinate in teamwork.
Time management– Even though the workload is immense in this field, the student can complete all of the drawings, presentation and the assignment by the deadline given. In this way, they get a good opportunity to learn to prioritize their tasks and manage the time accordingly. So even if in future, in a given time frame, an architecture student will be able to do the work efficiently even if it’s just about working the night before the deadline (because architects are used to working all night).
Teamwork– The most important thing which is learned in any architecture school is how to work in a team. Even in architecture firms, one has to work with the team without which the project cannot be successful. Architecture is not a one-man army. It takes in a group of people and their ideas which needs to be executed on the site, be it from a builder to the mason, the architect needs to collaborate with each one of them. Doing projects in a team in the architecture school makes us understand how to deal with different kinds of people and figure out their potentials and skills and get them involved with that.
Accepting criticism– Every architecture student has faced criticism in their juries. Critics make us aware of our faults and strengthen our design ideas. Until and unless we get to know the bad points of our project, we cannot succeed. Hence criticism becomes a crucial part in the life of an architecture student. It is another way to learn the most out of something. Criticism should always be taken into a positive manner which needs to be applied in the work. Even though it is tough to see an outsider tearing apart the sheets in which we have put in our heart and sweat if the criticism is taken in the wrong way, students become argumentative about their work and this becomes of no use at some extent. Architecture school is full of opportunities for the critiques and feedback for the designs. Because of this one is able to understand and integrate constructive criticism in their designs.
Presentation skills are something which is given as a gift to an architecture student by the course. Juries and reviews are all about presentation and speaking skills. One who has both of them is more likely to win the hearts of the jurors. Only in the rare cases will they get critical comments. Whether you’re explaining your ideas to sceptical group members, trying to convince your professor that you know what you’re talking about, or defending your design in your final review, architecture school is full of presentations of all kinds and sizes.
Observing minute details in everything due to continuous exposure towards new ideas, architecture students start finding satisfaction in the details.
Staying connected to the softwares for hours. Softwares become the best friends for them. Architects can be in front of the screen for almost 24 hours continuously until they find perfection in their work.
Never fall in love with your designs and having the soul to throw away your loved designs
Through repeated process and lots of practice, the students get consistency in the work at the end of the day. More you work, research, read, and implement – the more you succeed. There is no shortcut for designs – hard work is the only key to success in architecture.
The major thing that has changed from the first year is the love to travel and explore more and more. Travelling has become all the more inquisitive as architects learn to explore, find new in everything they see and observe. Thus they are always in the process of learning.
Other things learned from an architecture school is to think outside the box and find happiness in what you do. The concept is the most important stage in any design process. Space and user experience should be the prime focus.
The design field is very subjective hence the clients and boss won’t always agree just like the architecture professor. But the undeniable fact here is that if the comments are taken as a strict barrier and not understood for their greater purpose, the chances to win in this field decreases. Not all risks pay off in design or in life, but if you understand the full extent and implications of the risk before you take the leap, you have a better chance of surviving the fall and you may just find your way to true innovation.
