Apart from learning about the difference between principles of design and elements of design, and religiously reciting design edicts like “form follows function” and “less is more”, at architecture school I had the opportunity to learn many a valuable lesson, some of which prepared me for life outside of architecture and design while some others, for realities of the trade.
Eat. Sleep. Hustle. Repeat.
Arguably the most valuable lesson I have learned in college is the power of a balanced diet and a good night’s sleep. My first year of college is a nightmare filled with frequent visits to the hospital to resolve a myriad of issues like gastroenteritis, low blood pressure, anemia, and so on. I had been skipping meals, pulling all-nighters, and slouching away like a couch potato, causing irreversible damage to my body that has persisted through the years, due to which I have now radically changed my diet, sleeping patterns and workout routine. Nothing is worth sacrificing these for!
Constant reviewing with people; the more the merrier
One expensive mistake that I made in college was waiting until all my drawings were complete and perfect to review them with my professors. Sometimes I wasn’t satisfied with my work, other times I feared criticism, or even feared being given too many corrections.
Consistent constructive criticism is always healthy. The more people we have commenting on our work, the more insight we get, the more issues we address, and the broader our perspectives are.
Fast and consistent wins the race, not slow and steady
In my building construction studio, I always struggled to meet the submission deadlines because I spent too much time perfecting my drafting. Although the work I produce would be near flawless, I would seldom be able to deliver anything on time. This reduced my efficiency considerably and has been the reason for my having to attend arrear exams one too many. Since I never consciously tried to make amendments at the time, time management is something I struggle with to date.
Excuses, no matter how big or small, are a letdown
On returning to college after one of my spells being hospitalized (which was usual in my first year, thanks to my lifestyle), my professor told me that I was to present my design the very next day and that there would be no excuses. At the time, I was furious and disheartened by his apathy. But in hindsight, he was simply setting an example for how the real world is going to treat me. Excuses, no matter how reasonable, make one come off as whiny and undependable. One must either avoid situations that call for making excuses or be willing to face the consequences of his inability to perform well in a given situation to catch up later and compensate for the same.
Zoom out on the big picture
A lot of us often tend to glorify and be fixated on a single idea. Once working on design sheets that were to be submitted the next morning, I was particularly obsessed with a garden space that I had designed. As a result, I spent hours refining my representation of that single design feature at the cost of at least completing the rest of my work. It is as important to have the necessary material to express one’s design as it is to present them meaningfully. Quantity and quality are both important in competitive times such as today.
Delegation in teamwork
In every group project, there are one or two people who naturally assume the role of leader at the beginning of the project and do nothing other than divide the work and make sure things are done. Although this attitude is generally considered cunning and manipulative, once we are out in the real world, it can be very resourceful. Striking the right balance between being the boss and being the leader completes the art of delegation. The boss directs while the leader inspires.
“Mastering the rules and then breaking them”
Different schools or their representatives may tend to follow different trends, philosophies, and styles in architecture, and in the process impose them on students. But the system is not necessarily always right. Students need to keep reminding themselves that on-campus learning is restrictive in this way and that none of these ideologies are the ultimate design commandments but are rather opinions that may be questioned at any point in time. It is best to stay receptive to all information, learn as much as one can, process them, experiment, and then formulate one’s process and style.
Staying organized is the first step in time management
Being systematic and methodical in things like the naming and saving of files and folders, to following strict schedules and work timetables increases efficiency manifold. Fumbling between copies of the same AutoCAD drawing named “Final”, “Final_Final”, “Ultimate_Final” and so on, is almost a rite of passage for architecture students. After about a dozen printing mishaps owing to confusion in which file was the real file, I started maintaining my folders with better care and also accounting for time to print and then recheck the drawings, and this habit made my life much easier.
Find time to have fun & for personal development
One of the biggest overachievers I know is a classmate from architecture school who always made sure she had enough on her plate to keep her buzzing throughout the day. She would be performing theatre, taking part in social service, writing poetry, going on trips, constantly making new friends, keeping in touch with old ones, partying hard all while managing to ace at college work. She was so engaged with living each day to the fullest that she couldn’t stay idle for long. This helped her stay proactive and energetic at everything she was part of.
