It can be daunting to step into the architectural industry due to its depth and fast pace, as someone who has been there in recent years both as an undergrad and for my first postgraduate job, I have accumulated some tips on how to enjoy learning architecture – both in studying and working.
What content do you consume that enables you to enjoy learning architecture and maintain your interest?
- Content
The best way to learn architecture is through content. Accumalate ways to receive content through avenues that you enjoy and respond to. This will enable you to integrate these content streams into your habits as a way to maintain and deepen your understanding of topics especially as things progress and change – as they often do in this industry.
The truth is there are so many ways to learn architecture that if you try to keep up with them all it will drive you mad and often lead to extreme frustrations and giving up instead of being able to enjoy the process and study architecture in a better way.
I would suggest that you choose two or three main ways that you receive information, whether that be through networking, youtube, or even your favourite magazine (;)). Now I am not saying you should eliminate all other avenues of information. Just ensure you have your top three that you consume on a daily or weekly basis and any others are additional. This way you maintain avenues to best learn and study architecture in ways that you also enjoy.
This will take some trial and error for you to choose, and it may even change over the years but it is a helpful way to reduce feeling overwhelmed and ensure you continue to maintain your interest in architecture without it feeling like a chore.
My personal favourite avenues are:
- Podcasts: Easy to access and keep on the go, even on a commute or whilst you make your lunch. My personal favourite is @theinteriordesignbusiness (see Link at bottom of this post)
- Articles: Physical or digital, articles are a great way to stay informed as they are short enough to read in one-sitting and include visuals to help.
- A good book: Slightly against my previous point as they cannot be read in one sitting but I do always have one architecture or design specific book that I am working through (usually physical so I can make notes, highlight..etc within the book). Currently I am reading through ‘Architectural Styles A Visual Guide by Margaret Fletcher’. These are excellent ways to learn about a specific subject within the industry all within one product.
2. Networking
Now, I’m sure you have probably all heard how important networking is for perhaps forming new friendships, acquaintance and sometimes even being able to assist in future jobs or endeavours. However, it is also a wonderful way to learn about architecture and could lead to peaking your interest in topics of architecture that you were unaware of. Networking is essentially a place for you to receive an abundance of information about a variety of aspects of the industry – the free drinks and food are also great too 🙂
Often networking events are an accumulation of people with different backgrounds and experiences who have seen places you may have never even heard of and designed fascinating projects. Therefore, these events are a great place to learn about upcoming projects, innovative technology and new ways of thinking or designing to keep you up-to-date regarding the industry in a way that you can enjoy.
These events are also generally set in places that either demonstrate new products and pieces or even new projects – which is of course a great way to get first hand experience.
How to find networking events?
- google your local area and city, the industry you are looking for and at ‘networking event’ to the end. E.g. Ealing, Interior Design, Networking Event
- Search for showrooms, specifically for ones in specialties you are interested in
- You may be able to get to a networking event through the company you work for or university you study at so be sure to check
- If you have a favourite studio or company search if they have any events you could go to or even call/ email – preferably call as emails are likely to slips past. It is harder to ignore someone who is already on the phone to you.
- Attend lectures or CPD events. Check on the websites such as the BIID (see links at bottom of this post) for such events
- If you have speciality you are interested in, such as hospitality, find events specific to them. For example, in a case like hospitality, find or go to a hotel tour. You can often call up and book as most are open to the public. This is a great way to meet new people and admire the design of something you are already interested in. Even if you don’t manage to network with many people, at least you will have something to post on your LinkedIn.
- Instagram and LinkedIn: Follow people and studios within the industry, stay in the loop and you will often find out about events e.g Clerkenwell Design Week and the Festival of Hospitality (see links at the bottom of this post).
3. Experiment
Definitely saved my favourite until last but an extremely important tip to learn architecture is to EXPERIMENT. PLAY. TRY. Now this is a tip to be for your whole career, but specifically at the beginning when almost everything will be new and overwhelming to you. You have to try! This also enables you to figure out what you enjoy most about the architectural industry and maintain your interest.
Try different skills, play with new softwares, experiment with an idea. The whole point of these industries is to enable a creative outlet. After all, creativity is the essence of the human spirit.
Presumably you are studying or working in this industry because you enjoy architecture – even if you only enjoy a couple aspects of it. Therefore, start with the things you know you already enjoy whether that be sketching, digital art, photography or even starting out with softwares. Delve into these and then branch out. For example, if you love photography, start with that, then continue on to trying photoshop, which could then lead to attempting Midjourney. This is a great way to get started and learn architecture throughout your career. It is also a wonderful way to ensure you maintain your interest.
This doesn’t mean you can ignore the aspects you don’t like, but it does not need to feel like a chore. If, for example you hate 2D softwares such as AutoCAD then perhaps for every hour you practice with AutoCAD, you can do an hour of something you enjoy – industry related or not.
Now, you are not going to be the best at everything on your first go, and often things take a lot of practice and patience before you get them right. Instead of focusing in the result, enjoy the journey, and be proud of every step you take in learning about architecture and also designing.
I am not going to ignore the fact that many softwares are expensive. So either do a free trial and delve into the software during that trial or find a cheaper alternative. For example, an alternative to SketchUp would be Live Home 3D. Be aware they will not have the exact same features and there will be a learning curve, but generally once you get the gist of a few softwares, you can jump into other ones quite seamlessly -more on softwares in the next post, so look out for that one.
In summary, the primary ways to learn and study architecture are through the content you intake, networking and through experimentation. These will not only allow you to grow but also enjoy your growth in architecture.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it 🙂
See you in the next one,
Curated Design Magazine
Links
The interior design business:
The BIID website:
Architectural Styles A Visual Guide by Margaret Fletcher:
Clerkenwell Design Week website:
Festival of Hospitality website: