dear future architects

words of wisdom :: friendly advice :: aphorisms :: warnings cautions :: who knows?

If you don’t listen to others who came before you, you’ll make their same mistakes. One of mine is on this post – I didn’t listen to the one about editing. I have 100 comments, questions and suggestions here. You’ve been warned, so you can leave now or read to the end.

1. you will practice differently than we do today, or at least how I do today
2. don’t ignore the legacy of how we got here
3. be an architect, don’t just do things that architects do
4. there are more important things than architecture
5. not everything needs to be digital – you are human, use your hands
6. if architecture isn’t important to you, don’t do it; go find out what is important to you – you’ll be happier
7. promote the profession first, then promote yourself
8. learn to draw…with a pencil on paper, not because you need to be an artist, but you need to think and you need to communicate in person
9. your clients won’t be as impressed that you can make digital images as they are that you can draw on a napkin in front of them…while you’re speaking
10. make digital tools more usable, more human, more intuitive
11. be ready to explain why it is there
12. don’t be preachy…be a leader
13. don’t be silent, don’t be loud, be heard
14. allow people to disagree with you
15. people make decisions from their values…their values are not yours…it’s ok
16. if you want people to be tolerant of you, you must be tolerant of them, regardless
17. cubes are good, start there
18. a leader is different than a boss
19. smile at everyone
20. practice good hand lettering skills, it’s our legacy
21. your handwriting does matter; you’ll need to write out something someday
22. people are watching you; give them something to applaud
23. get involved in your community, give and volunteer
24. learn how to put a building together – all of it
25. learn how to edit
26. give critique and accept critique
27. think critically
28. don’t tell them how it functions, tell them how it works
29. go get coffee and breathe…take a long walk on a warm day
30. there is no form or function, there’s architecture
31. what you like now will seem trivial and trendy in twenty years
32. build something with your own hands, get dirty, scrape your knuckles
33. power tools are really cool; learn to use them
34. you will face new issues but have to contend with old ones
35. fix what we broke, learn from what we fixed
36. old buildings are beautiful…find a way to keep it before you demolish it
37. write new history; learn history too
38. concrete will always be beautiful
39. you may never see the change you effect…keep going
40. ask the right questions
41. things will change rapidly but some things will never change
42. some things should never change
43. futuristic architecture will always be more radical than current architecture
44. not everyone wants things to change; deal with that
45. find better questions
46. learn which structures have real character and keep them
47. reuse what we have, adapt it, modify it, but respect it
48. understand that many people like suburbia, find out why
49. don’t criticize them, make it better, teach them, show them alternatives
50. understand why people like rural environments
51. learn how to plant a garden
52. be adept at building codes
53. everyone can benefit from architecture, how can you show that?
54. never make excuses, just apologize and stop talking
55. learn how to sketch upside down
56. being an architect should fill you with pride that comes out as humility
57. get your license…no more excuses…none
58. stop complaining, start doing
59. be articulate
60. carry a sketchbook…everywhere
61. have friends that are not architects
62. get to know people just because they’re people
63. be mature, grow up, take responsibility
64. own it, then repent or celebrate
65. people like bricks, it keeps the wolf away
66. be authentic, design authentic, use authentic materials
67. no one owes you anything – go earn it
68. the best things in life come after years of hard work
69. it is worth it; it does matter – someone will eventually notice
70. why is that there? if you don’t know, get rid of it
71. who cares that it’s not your fault, move on
72. find more than one solution – the first one is either brilliant or terrible
73. accept that not everyone cares as much as you do, but find out why
74. passion is your fuel even more than coffee
75. eat healthy and exercise in your 20’s
76. if it isn’t your best, do it again
77. be patient, this will take a very long time
78. find out what you don’t know, don’t accept that you don’t know
79. learn how to detail really well, be good at creating details clearly
80. put on a black shirt and pants and save your creative energy for your work
81. a Sharpie marker will always help you find a solution
82. sketch everyday
83. master something
84. who cares if your feelings are hurt, did it challenge your thinking?
85. use a pencil or pen to think…it’s quicker and you can do it anywhere
86. don’t be that architect that contractors and clients complain about to me
87. find the right tool for the job…it might be a computer, a laptop or your phone or a tape measure (or paper clips, gum and a pack of matches)
88. understand why people are resistant to change
89. the sun got the man to take off his coat, not the wind…live that
90. don’t get jaded, it’s supposed to be hard
91. I doubt you’re ready to have your own firm – you’ll know when it’s right
92. if you’re not going to pursue being good at this, go do something else that you can be good at doing
93. make them value the profession
94. no one else can do what you can do
95. listen to music from your parent’s era and imagine them at your age
96. seek out someone who is good and study them
97. read
98. study
99. practice
100. think

Please read what my friends have to say to future architects. I’m sure it’s worth reading. #Architalks

Lora Teagarden – L² Design, LLC (@L2DesignLLC)
Dear Future Architects: 3 letters

Jeremiah Russell, AIA – ROGUE Architecture (@rogue_architect)
future architects: #architalks

Jes Stafford – MODwelling (@modarchitect)
Dear Future Architect, Listen Here

Keith Palma – Architect’s Trace (@cogitatedesign)
Dear future architects, are you credible?

Michele Grace Hottel – Michele Grace Hottel, Architect (@mghottel)
“Dear Future Architects,”

Stephen Ramos – BUILDINGS ARE COOL (@sramos_BAC)
Dear Future Architects: Don’t makes these 4 Mistakes

brady ernst – Soapbox Architect (@bradyernstAIA)
Dear Boy in the Plastic Bubble,

Michael LaValley – Evolving Architect (@archivalley)
Dear Future Architects, Be Authentic

Marica McKeel – Studio MM (@ArchitectMM)
Dear Future Architects: 4 Perspectives

Evan Troxel – Archispeak Podcast / TRXL (@etroxel)
Dear Future Architects

Greg Croft – Sage Leaf Group (@croft_gregory)
Dear Future Architect,

Meghana Joshi – IRA Consultants, LLC (@MeghanaIRA)
Dear Future Architects..

Michael Riscica – Young Architect (@YoungArchitxPDX)
Dear Future Young Architects… Please Quit Screwing Around!?!!

Enoch Sears – Business of Architecture (@businessofarch)
Dear Future Architects: A Confession

Bob Borson – Life of An Architect (@bobborson)
http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/dear-future-architects-you-need-to-hear-this/

Jared W. Smith – Architect OWL (@ArchitectOWL)
Dear Future Architects…

Jim Mehaffey – Yeoman Architect (@jamesmehaffey)
Dear Future Architects…