The experience of every Architecture student is truly unique. My journey through college has left a lasting impact on me that has influenced almost every part of my life. Ask any architect, and they will tell you the same – there are some lessons learned during the course of Architecture college that stay with you for the rest of your life. These lessons not only help you in your career as an architect, but also if you decide to venture into other careers.
- Your concept is your guiding light.
For any project you do, your concept is the overarching theme or idea that explains your outlook on the project. It is easy to get lost in the details while developing and refining a project, and your concept helps you get back to the basics, and remind you what you are trying to accomplish, and will keep you from deviating from it.
- Problem Solving
Learning to think like a designer has been one of my biggest takeaways from college. We were not only expected, but also encouraged to think about problems in an abstract manner. Brainstorming concepts, ideating, and creating different prototypes/ models were all part of the process of defining our ideas and coming up with solutions. We learned to take into consideration various aspects of a problem, consider multiple scenarios for each potential solution, give importance to the entire process of arriving at the final design, and carry out thorough analysis with regards to the end result.
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©Freepik Research is key
While I dreaded case studies initially, they became a crucial part of my design process very quickly. For me, being an architect means being a lifelong learner. It Is important for an architect to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics – and that all comes from research. Reading and learning about architectural styles from the past, buildings in different countries, design trends has allowed me to continuously broaden my horizons, inspire me, and helped me grow as a designer.
- Sketching out ideas
Putting pen to paper lets me think and process my thoughts about any problem, particularly when it comes to my projects. What started out as an assignment requirement in college, soon became my go-to method of ideating. Sketching allows me to envision my ideas, and create visuals for what I am trying to accomplish and create. It also allows me to explain my thoughts and ideas in a simple and clear manner to colleagues and clients.
The meaning of Architecture has continued to evolve, grow, and change for me throughout college, and after graduating while working in the capacity of an Architect. While a lot of lessons from college have stayed with me till now, a lot of my presumptions about Architecture, and my work in the field are drastically different from what they were back in my first year in college.
- I can, and like to work alone – But you shouldn’t!
As an introvert, team projects were the bane of my college life. Found it really hard to communicate with my team members, and share my opinions freely. I thought it was completely okay to work on every single project alone, regardless of the size or complexity of the project. Nothing is further than the truth for me today. Architecture is a collaborative field that requires knowledge and viewpoints from people with different expertise and skills. I thoroughly enjoy discussing and brainstorming with a team of architects from different backgrounds that allow the development of a project that is unique and holistic.
- A good idea has to be completely unique – Not every idea needs to be disruptive!
In college, other students and I were under the constant pressure of coming up with a ‘unique’ idea, one I thought should be completely different than everyone else’s, and something that was never done before. But this was an illogical idea. Architecture is for the people, and people in the world have similar needs, wants, and problems, that we as architects are trying to address. While doing so, it ispossible for different projects to have similar architectural designs, styles, and elements.
- Your presentation and communication skills don’t matter – Yes they do for your career!
Since public speaking terrified me, I found it difficult to convey my ideas and project ten assumed that if I had an amazing idea and concept for a project, and all my drawings were perfect, I did not need to worry about my presentation skills. Working as an architect in the field cleared out that misconception for me. I learned that if I could not communicate and market my idea to the client, however great it may be, it would not be selected, and in turn not be built. As important as it is to have a strong design, it is equally important to be able to effectively convey the intent to your clients and audience.
- Good designs are a result of a sudden brilliant idea – No, inspiration is infinite.
Coming up with a concept design in college was an endless struggle. It felt as though the best concepts always came from a burst of brilliant ideas – random and unexpected. Over time I realized that inspiration for projects come from all around us – as a result of our experiences and unique point of views – that inspiration could strike from watching a movie, reading a book, exploring a random city, or from conversing with a stranger. I learned that inspiration and Architecture are both infinite and limitless.
