Expert: Paul S. Brown, AIA - 8/7/2007

Question
Hi currently I am in High school and I am interested in being an Architect. Next year I am going to a special school for architecture but I am wondering from another persons point of view what being an Architect is like. Do you enjoy your work? Do you get to be creative and express your thoughts? And also i was wondering what are the most important things to learn and think about when you are in school to become an Architect and when you are trying to find a job? Also one other thing that has been on my mind is what would be a good field of architecture would be the best if you really wanted to be creative? Thank you so much for spending time answering my question. And I hope that I made myself as clear as possible. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Katie:
Architecture is a great career choice.
The most important thing for someone who is interested in creative expression, is to work hard to develop your freehand sketching skills.  Not all architects have the ability to quickly and easily express their 3-dimensional vision in a sketch.  And, even compared to computers, there is nothing faster and more expressive than a quick sketch.  Particularly if you can do it on a scrap of paper sitting at a meeting with a client.  You gain a tremendous advantage that way.  The advantage of speedy, clear, expressive design communication, gives you leverage to be in control of the design process.  Even in a firm owned by someone else; if you can toss off the quick accurate and attractive sketch, the owner of the firm will turn to you when they need the skill, and you will be able to tweak aspects of the design to the way you think they should be.
There are two avenues for you:  work for a prominent firm, or work for yourself.
I recommend working hard in school, so that you can join a good firm.  But only long enough to take your exams and get registered.  Then, before you get married and have a family, start your own firm.  Don't wait.  I made this mistake myself.  Once you have a family, it becomes very hard to break away from a steady job and start your own shop.  I am just now able to start thinking about that again, now that my kids are graduating from college, and it only leaves me with about 10-15 years of good productive time left.
Good luck,
PB