the-studious-archie

[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #66

It’s okay to swap out or combine drawings - if it helps to tell the story better.

Final requirements for studio projects can tend to be pretty standard. So many sections, plans, elevations, perspectives, etc... And sometimes, that standard list of drawings seems like busy work that can prevent you from creating drawings that actually tell the story of your project. If that seems to be the case, talking with your professor about swapping, omitting, or combining drawings is completely allowed. 

Is there a requirement for four elevations that you think would be better presented as two exterior perspectives? Bring it up.

Need a section and a perspective of the same space? Boom! Section perspective.

Have a section and a diagram pertaining to that vertical space? Layer that info up!

Base requirements are there to make sure you hit everything, but they are usually flexible, especially as you move up the years and come to better understand the power of different drawings. You shouldn’t combine or omit drawings just for the sake of having to do less drawings, but if it genuinely helps to tell the story and keeps you from spending unnecessary time on drawings that don’t, then go for it. As my first studio prof always said: “Break the rules, but do it well.”

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Archie Survival Tip #65

Don’t overload your board.

It can be really tempting - and really easy - to provide too much information on your boards. It can also be easy to provide the wrong kind of information. 

Say you’ve got a project with a dozen or so easily renderable shots that would be absolutely beautiful. You may think that those dozen renderings provide more information and more story than plain ol’ 2D drawings, and maybe they do, but it can also be difficult to tell what’s what without those 2D drawings. Having, at minimum, a plan to tie 3 dimensional spaces to seriously helps to walk jurors through the project.

Having that many renderings on your board(s) also runs the risk of making them too busy. Boards are presentation tools, and their layouts should be just as well thought-out and well designed as the project itself. Respect the white space - give your drawings some breathing room. If all of your images run right up next to one another, they can be difficult to read, making it all the harder for jurors to follow your thinking. Yes, there’s times and spaces for drawings to blend, but that shouldn’t be the entire board.

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[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #64

It’s okay to be productive in a different way than you’d planned.

What exactly do I mean by this? Well, say your to-do list for the day consists of getting your plans, sections, and elevations done, but instead, you wind up spending the day finishing a detailed model of your project.

Was this what you intended to do with your day? No. Was this still incredibly useful? Absolutely!

With a more detailed model, you can easily cut more detailed 2D and 3D drawings that won’t need as much post-processing work. In the end, you’ve probably saved yourself some time and effort, especially if you prefer 3D modeling over creating 2D drawings. More time spent on the thing you love, and less on the things you don’t care as much about.

It may not feel like you’ve made any progress, but trust me, you did. Just because you didn’t get done what you’d planned on doing, doesn’t mean you didn’t get done what you needed to do. Checking off a list doesn’t make you productive. Doing things that make positive progress towards the end goal does.

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[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #63

Split costs on bulk supplies.

It’s no secret that architecture is one of the most expensive majors. On top of usually having higher tuition costs, there’s costs for books, prints, cuts, and supplies. 

One of the ways to cut supply costs, at least, is to split costs with other studio mates on bulk buys. My first year, instead of buying our chipboard individually, one person found a deal for so many sheets for a lower bulk price, so each person in the studio paid around $7 for four or five large sheets, saving around 20-30 cents per sheet.

Similarly, maybe you need a certain kind of paper for a drawing class, but you only need so many sheets, and the smallest pad of it is nearly double that amount. Splitting the cost with a friend or classmate means you get what you need, without paying for extra materials you don’t plan on using.

Have an Archie Survival Tip? Submit it here!

[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #62

Find your preferred workflow.

While it’s important to have a basic understanding of a wide variety of programs, it’s arguably even more important - especially in school - to figure out a workflow that is most efficient for you. Everyone prefers different programs, and finding the ones that work best for you can help you to create better work in less time.

For me, this usually looks like starting in Sketchup, and then moving to different programs depending on the drawing. For 2D and 3D linework drawings (plans, sections, elevations, axons, etc.), I take the linework into AutoCAD, clean it up, then take it into Adobe (Illustrator to keep the linework vector/editable, then linked in Photoshop to add color/effects). For renderings, I livesync with Lumion, churn out the main image, and then add people in Photoshop. Overall, I use about five of the ten or so programs I listed in AT#61.

Other people I know prefer to do all their modeling and linework in Revit, then do some quick edits in Photoshop. Some use VRay for renders. Some don’t even know how to do much of anything with Illustrator. We all may have different workflows, and that will most likely be reflected in our drawing styles, but it doesn’t necessarily make one flow or another bad or good. Just different. 

Find what works, and stick with it.

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[the-studious-archie]

Laying out these boards was a lot of fun; it was the first semester that I actually had renderings I was really proud of, so I wanted to give them the most hierarchy on the boards.

[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #61

Know the commonly-used programs.

There is a group of programs that you’re likely to encounter in any given architecture firm. The list generally consists of:

-AutoCAD -Revit -SketchUp -Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign primarily) -3DS Max (Not as common now, but I’m still seeing it listed in job postings!) -VRay -Lumion

Now, that doesn’t mean you need to be an expert in all of these programs; the likelihood that you’ll actually wind up using all of them at any given job is next to none. But, it’s a good idea to have some experience with each of them, enough that you could hold your own if you were asked to use one, even if it’s one you maybe haven’t touched since the start of school. Being able to claim some experience with all of these main programs makes you more marketable when searching for a job.

A few other programs that aren’t as commonly used, but you may want to familiarize yourself with anyway:

-DiaLUX -Sefaira -Climate Consultant -Rhino Have an Archie Survival Tip? Submit it here!

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Hello! You'll get that job soon, just keep going! Believe and you shall receive! Keep checking on job sites, and sending those emails! You got this!

Aww, thanks!

Believe you me, I am scouring Glassdoor and Indeed on almost a daily basis. The only thing is with our state still mostly shut down, there isn’t much open, so there aren’t many job listings within architecture or design right now other than senior positions, which I obviously don’t qualify for being a fresh grad.

I’m not too worried about it yet. With the pandemic bonus for unemployment, I’m still bringing in a decent amount of income until I can get something. It’s just weird, in the past four years, I’ve not gone more than a month at a time without active employment (and most of that was timing leaves so I’d have a few weeks off between work and the start or end of a school year as a break), so so much time spent at home feels odd. 

I am excited about a project I’ve got in the works at the moment though, sort of an art activism thing. I’m still working out some details, and I need to get in contact with some people about possibly partnering with some organizations for outreach purposes, but if it works out how I’m hoping, it should bring some attention to both my architectural art and some struggling communities. So hopefully that will be filling more of my time very soon.

[the-studious-archie]

Two of my main goals with this project were reconnecting with the largely unused site, and creating more usable space to be shared between students and community members alike. Every space holds some educational value - even outdoors - from culinary arts to natural sciences to mechanical skills. At the same time, it serves the community's economic and entrepreneurship needs with the maker space, restaurant, and pop up shop. And every space has a clear view of the grounds, if not direct access. 

Even though this wasn't my last project for school, I think it's my favorite. It's my most well rounded project in terms of design, space planning, and site utilization and integration. It seems the most realistic. I can't wait for the day that I get to work on more projects like this and actually see them come to fruition.

[the-studious-archie]

Hi! Not a question but a thank you message. Thank you so much! I've been accepted for my first internship! You've been very helpful in your tips, insights and your survival tips. I feel very supported with your replies. I hope you're also doing okay. Have a good day! Thank you!

Congratulations!!! Ahh, I’m so happy for you!

Honestly, helping others is the whole reason I started this blog. Most of that help comes passively with content like the Archie Survival Guide, but I really live for moments like these when I can offer more active and situation-specific help. I enjoy fielding questions and interacting with others, so thank you! 

I’m doing alright, just keeping up the job hunt in the midst of a hiring freeze. My state is still mostly shut down, so ya girl is on unemployment until things start opening up again. Not the way I’d planned to start life after college, but   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[the-studious-archie]

Quick blog update!

Last week, I decided to split the_studious_archie Instagram in two:

-the_studious_archie will continue to include posts pertinent to architecture and arch education. There will be more sketches, case studies, as well as the Archie Survival Guide being adapted to a visual format to reach the audience that follows there and not here.

-the_artsy_archie will be focusing on my more creative pursuits - paintings, bullet journal, non-architectural sketches and drawings, etc. 

I made this decision in order to keep The Studious Archie as a “brand” in line with its original intention. I created this blog to be the resource and point of inspiration that I didn’t have as a prospective and early arch student, and I want the Instagram to reflect that as well. That said, the Instagram had started to become much more arts-focused, and I’ve been, in the background, trying to gear up to find ways to make some side cash from my art, especially now with the current hiring freeze we’re seeing. The last thing I wanted was for The Studious Archie to become a marketing scheme for my personal gain. It means too much to me for that. Hence the split. The Studious Archie maintains its mission, and The Artsy Archie is its own branch that, while affiliated with The Studious Archie, does not interrupt the regular content.

So what does that mean for the blog? Well, virtually nothing. I haven’t been posting my journal or other non-arch art here for some time now, so things will be pretty similar to how they have been since the end of last summer. The only difference you may notice is the new logo/account icon I just updated, which is the same as the main Instagram account. There will potentially be upcoming products that will be cross posted on both Instas as well as here, but other than that, things will be business as usual!

As always, thanks for supporting, and here’s to the next step forward for The Studious Archie!

[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #60

Have a backup plan.

I’ve said before that an architecture degree doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go into architecture. It’s also true, that sometimes you won’t be able to get into an architecture position, even with a degree. 2008 saw a major drop in arch positions, and we’re going through a similar hiring freeze right now with the pandemic.

Architecture hiring lulls are going to happen whether we like it or not, and having a backup plan in place is a good idea. The beauty of a degree in architecture is that you learn the basic principles of design that apply to any design or art-related field. Yes, application of those principles may be a bit different, but so long as the fields are related enough, making that jump is easy with a little personal effort.

This also plays into last week’s tip: If you find your passion early on enough, you can build that up to be your backup plan. For me, I really enjoy creating visual pieces that tell a story. They may be hand drawn, watercolored, or created digitally. I can take those skills in a variety of directions. I could do graphic design; I can sell my art online; I can create illustrations; etc. Feed your passions, and build them in a way that they can be your saving grace if the architecture market goes south.

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For anyone who’s interested, the Neil Gaiman quote I referenced in the last ask comes from this speech. It’s a commencement address given about working in the arts. I highly recommend giving it a listen; not only is it hilarious, but it’s very insightful. I listen to it every time I remember it exists, and I really appreciate the advice he gives, even if it’s not all pertinent to my specific situation.

[the-studious-archie]

Hi! I just wanna ask how do you prepare for an interview? Specifically for college internship. And what's the difference between real job interview and internship interview? Ps. Thank you for answering my previous question, helped a lot!

Hi again! I’m so glad to hear that answer was helpful. 

To start with this one, there’s not too much difference between regular and internship interviews. There are two main things I can think of:

1. Be sure to establish that the position is temporary. Give the potential employer your range of dates that you’ll be there, establishing a clear end date. Even if you may return to that position later on down the road (like after graduation), it’s important to acknowledge current time limits and boundaries from day 1 so no one is caught by surprise when all of a sudden it’s your last day and they’re like “but I need you to finish this project.” If that limit is established from the start, it gives everyone time to establish plans for after your position ends. 

2. Job expectations. Naturally, someone who has just graduated or has some experience under their belt is going to be expected to be able to do more and need less training than an underclassman just going into their first internship. Chances are, if you’re applying specifically for internships, they’re going to already expect this, but it’s still good to manage expectations. Make sure you’re not getting into more you can handle. Now, I’d say it’s okay to embellish your skills a little bit, but ONLY if it’s something you’re capable of figuring out in a few minutes with a Google search. For instance, if a position requires proficiency with Microsoft Office, and you haven’t touched Excel in close to a decade, but you could easily figure out how to do what you need to with a few Google searches, then you’re probably okay.

As far as preparing for an interview, it’s pretty much the same between internships and regular positions. 

1. Be sure to dress professionally. Even if the office has a more casual everyday dress code, it’s still a good idea to show up well groomed and in your best business attire. It’s all about making a good first impression. 

A caveat for video interviews since they’re more common right now: Be aware of your background. You can do everything possible to make yourself look nice, but if your background is showing your mile high laundry pile and unmade bed, you should either change locations or find a way to block that out. 

2. Even if the interviewer probably has a digital copy of your resume and portfolio from your application, bring a printed copy of both with you. It shows foresight on your part, and bringing your own lets you control how it’s seen. Ideally, you’ve thought out your portfolio and resume’s colors, printing, and binding carefully, and the only way to ensure an employer gets to see that thought is to bring a hard copy with you. If they print a copy for the interview, it won’t be bound, and the colors and paper quality won’t be as good. You want to show your work in the best light possible.

3. Take a little time before the interview to learn about the firm. You don’t have to know their bottom line inside and out, but it’s a good idea to have an idea of the work they do and the mission statement at the least if it’s available. Just enough to show that you’re interested in the firm, and aren’t just applying for the sake of having a job. Also have an idea of what similar positions usually pay, even if it’s not with that firm specifically, because they’ll probably ask you what you’re looking for in terms of pay, and it’s good to have a range that isn’t selling yourself out, but also isn’t unreasonable high for that position and firm. 

4. My biggest tip: prepare for the “so, tell us about yourself.” I always know it’s coming, and I never know what to say at the time. And know that this question is really searching for your professional interests, skills, compatibility with their office and workflow, not who your best friend is and what you do in your free time (unless it’s relevant to the position!)

One of my favorite quotes from Neil Gaiman is about working in freelance, but I think it applies to most positions. It’s this:

“People keep working, in a freelance world, and more and more of today’s world is freelance, because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.”

Overall, be punctual, be prepared, do good work, and be kind. Good luck on your interviews, you got this!

[the-studious-archie]

Archie Survival Tip #59

Find your passion.

While some people may enjoy all aspects of architecture, most of us lean more towards one side or the other. Some are more artistically inclined, while others are fascinated by the technical details that go into making a concept realistically possible. 

Whatever your interest, learn to harness that interest and build those skills up as much as you can while in school. Almost all of us are going to graduate with a similar base set of skills - AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Suite, sketching, etc. But by taking the time to build up a certain skill, you are setting yourself apart from the endless sea of identical resumes.

Following your passions also helps to narrow down potential long-term jobs. If your passion (like mine) is along the graphic/rendering end of things, a position for CAD drafting may be alright for a summer, but it may not be the position you want to pursue once you graduate and are looking for long-term work. Likewise, if you excel in the more technical areas (structures, acoustics, sustainability, etc.), a job mostly focused on graphic storytelling and renderings probably isn’t for you.

Architecture, as a field - of study, of work, etc. - can be stressful and tiring, but when you prioritize the aspects that you’re passionate about, it’s that much easier to breathe life into a project.

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Hey! Not sure if you have answered this before, but what’s your opinion on posting one’s projects drawings and other architectural work on Instagram ? Does it really help to build up an “image”/portfolio, especially if your profile gets popular? Because when it is time to send portfolios to firms it seems like insta doesn’t really matter (+your posted work can be copied/stolen at some point) what do you think?

Hi there!

This isn’t something I’ve explicitly talked about before, but it is actually somewhat of an underlying drive of both this blog and the corresponding Insta account as well.

Don’t get me wrong; the first and foremost intention of this blog is, and always will be, providing info, advice, and community to current and prospective architecture students. That’s the heart and founding purpose, and will remain so even as I now prepare to move into the workforce full time. However, I also view these accounts as networking and showcasing opportunities, and have both listed on my resume. I do this for two reasons:

1. It gives me more opportunities to showcase my work, especially work that, while I may be proud of it, I may not include in my actual portfolio. Things like process sketches, non-architecture art, and photography.

2. So many firms are starting to interact with social media on a larger scale. Building up your social media skills gives you yet another selling point, especially if applying for firms that are trying to build a stronger online presence, but maybe don’t know exactly how to go about it. It also shows your communication and presentation skills. It shows leadership skills. It shows your ability to sell an idea with just a few images and some words.

Granted, firms might not ever look at those accounts, at least not based on it being in your resume or portfolio alone. You may have to find other ways to draw their attention to them. For instance, I originally started my Insta to post my drawings for Inktober 2018. I chose to put a few of the better and/or more architectural drawings in my portfolio, making sure to add a note of where more similar work could be found. Another way of grabbing attention is by simply following the accounts of firms you’re interested in. A lot of times, that opens the doors for communication.

And ultimately, I think if you’re going to go this route, it’s important to not just post your work, but really build your own personal brand. "The Studious Archie” is my brand, built on my own personal effort and content. It shows who I am, and what my style is. I believe being true to those qualities is what will draw potential employers to you.

Now as far as content being copied/stolen, I do recognize how big of an issue this is on Instagram. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know whether your content has been copied unless you see it for yourself, or if someone else lets you know. However, using techniques like watermarks (which can easily be layered on in Photoshop) can ensure that your work is still easily recognizable as yours, even if someone does repost it without your permission or proper credit.

Ultimately, Instagram can be a useful networking and marketing tool, if you use it right.

[the-studious-archie]

#throwbackthursday to part 1 of my process sketches from last semester, including roof/light studies, plan diagrams, and translations into vertical space. The project was an adaptive reuse of an existing elementary school. I chose to keep the elementary function, and focus more on making it functional and inviting, and finding ways it could double as a community hub. Second half coming next week!

#architecturestudent #artistsoninstagram #sketching #sketchstudies #penandink

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_6K9oXnJdM/?igshid=v3q7znxfqpip