Do All Architects Work as Architects?
Did you know there are so many Architecture aspirants and graduates who after completing Architecture chose different path?
Some of the Big Names include Ratan Tata (Industralist), Aishwarya Rai (Actor), Courteney Cox (Actor), Ritesh Deshmukh (Actor), Nick Mason, Roger Walters and Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), Bill Gaytten (Fashion designer), Ice Cube (Rapper) Samuel Jackson (Actor), Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister)
Although most of the famous searches land you towards Actors and Musicians because of their wide influence. There are many other paths that can be adhered to.
Studying Architecture gets you filled with a variety of skills. Designing, critical thinking, psychology, anthropology, software skills and many more. These skills when set with a deep core desire and interest of an individual can get them to various paths.
Here are 23 Alternative Career Options, Architects and Architecture Students Can Go For With The Skills Developed in Architecture Education.
1. Interior Design
Almost all Architects go for interior designing. In fact both the fields are not different at all. They go hand in hand. Most Architecture offices have more interior projects than Architecture ones. This is because of the abundance of projects in Interiors.
So if you look at an example, 1 Architecture project can create 100 interior project opportunities. So there’s a huge number of interiors that can be worked upon. Also there’s always a requirement for renovations.
An interior designer aspirant can also go deep and select a particular niche of their own. Eg: You can be a Restaurant design specialist, Salon design expert, boutique design specialist, office interior designer and many more.
Selecting a niche gets you to place yourself as an expert because of the awareness of problems and opportunities while designing similar spaces. Helping out clients becomes easier for your niche and you can get known as a special personality for the niche you’re working on.
2. Furniture Designer
Furniture designs from Architects like Zaha Hadid, Daniel Lebiskind, Mies Van Der Rohe, Arne Jacobsen, etc, have made a deep recognition in the furniture industry.
While studying Architecture you come across situations where you have to play with furniture designs. Every age group feels comfortable with a different kind of furniture. Also every interior setting has their own needs and requirement for furniture based on the style and taste of design.
If you are able to notice a problem to any style, age group or setting and come up with a solution, you could also become a furniture designer with the skill sets of an Architect. This could be your Alternative Career option.
Also you would be in a network of other Architects and Interior designers to market your products and get known in the industry.
3. Set Design
A good Movie builds a connection with its viewers. This connection of emotions requires a good environment an apt setting for the scene.
Movie production houses always require good sets designed to meet the requirements for the scenes where architecture skills act as a perfect fix to the puzzle.
As an Architect You have the required skills to design, draft, model and 3d visualize a set. The best part about this is the speed. You can get things done with a greater designing speed. As Architects you already have an understanding with anthropology and space standards.
This could be an Alternative career for You if you’re a movie lover and wish to make this your future job.
4. Exhibition and Installation Design
Art installations and Exhibition events have a constant requirement of designers. Product, Music, Art and Industrial events and exhibitions provide a large scope of opportunities for designs in multiple events in a variety of event niches.
Your designing skill, spatial knowledge, drafting and visualizing skills can help to create beautiful installations that attract crowd and brands and help these events become a major success.
This Alternative Career stream can be very interesting as exhibitions need to look really compelling and attractive to the audience. A lot of big brands have their exhibitions who pour in the capital to make this happen.
If you’re interested in dynamic designs, this is the field to get in. Also it is a recurring thing as exhibitions keep happening during their specific seasons.
5. Game Set Design
Previous
Next
All the gamers out there. You know how important a game set really is. From Counter-strike and God of War to PUBG, every game has an environment along which the game revolves around.
If you are an architect gamer, this could be your Alternative Career. If you have skills of 3D modelling and rendering this is something you can look for.
Studying in architecture schools gets you familiar with the spatial know how and design standards which you can apply for game set designing.
You would need to learn game designing software and advanced modelling software like Blender, Unreal Engine to sharpen your visualizing skills. Since architects are familiar with basic 3D modelling this lets you lower the learning curve and speed up the ladder towards game environment design.
6. Landscape Design
Landscape design is a prime requirement in Architecture in order to reduce carbon footprints and improve the quality and emotion of a space. Every Large scale Architecture project has to compulsorily dedicate some space towards landscape design.
If you’re a nature lover and want to create a difference in the Architectural world with sustainability and greenery. You could go for landscape designing as your Alternative Career.
There are Architects who specialize in Landscape design as there is so much to go deep into the field.
7. Industrial Design
Previous
Next
Although this niche is handled by Architects, there are firms specializing in construction of Industries and Factories. The construction of factories offers a completely different experience altogether and is much dependent on the equipment and the systems of a factory or industry setting.
Architects willing to go more deep into this niche can enroll in further master studies and courses for industrial architecture as an Alternate Career path.
8. Product Design
Product designing is also termed as industrial designing. Here the focus is more on designing a product and the user experience associated with it. Architecture and product designing if you observe are very similar.
If You’re studying architecture and have an interest in designing any product, be it shoes, phone cases, electronics, etc. This is something you can look up to.
Skills like sketching, critical thinking, 3D modelling and visualization can really come in handy for these kind of works.
9. Graphic Design
Graphic designing is a booming industry. With the rise of the internet and social media in the recent years there’s a huge requirement for graphic designers in the market.
Every business requires graphics for marketing. Be it online marketing, product packaging, brochure design, logo or presentation design, graphic designers help every business with all their graphical requirements.
Studying in Architecture schools you are always encouraged to create graphical representations of drawings. 5 years of practicing graphics get’s you hands on with the skills required of a professional graphic designer.
If you’re someone who’s interested into digital graphics and helping business with growth their presentation requirements using graphics, This is the Alternative Career Stream you could opt for.
Along with 2d and 3d graphics, videos also have a booming requirement. Motion graphics and Video editing skills are very important in the digital age and you can upskill yourselves with software like Adobe PS, AE, Illustrator, In design, Premier Pro and master graphics.
10. Web Design
Websites are an integral part of a Business. Designing and maintaining websites is a full-time job.
Now, designing websites has become pretty easy, quick and cheap with WordPress. A website can be created in just an hour’s time. But what is difficult is designing and composing these websites properly to get the best user attraction and experience.
Architects along their entire learning journey always have to compose sheets. Graphical representation of drawings and composing skill is developed over time into architecture professionals. You can use this power combined with the simplicity to WordPress to create wonderful websites with a beautiful experience and in super speed.
So If you’re someone trying to get into the digital space, You could be a web designer and developer.
11. Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing is another booming business requirement which every modern and old business would be adapting to over time. Marketing is a primary necessity of a business that can get a boost with Digital and Internet marketing.
With the above skills of Graphic designing and Web designing and development, Digital marketing gets easier to perform and could possibly become an Alternative Career Option for you.
Definitely you would have to upskill in marketing and business growth strategies but the overall learning gets easier and interesting with the acquired skills from Architecture education.
12. Estimation and Costing
Cost estimation is very important when it comes to Architectural and Interior projects. In any project, there’s numerous materials used from various different vendors. Getting the approximate amount and drafting a proper estimation defines the escalation of a project.
So if You’re someone who is interested in calculations, numbers and love doing math. This is the job for you. This way you’re connected to the field where you’ll have to look into the accounting part of materials and services while doing what you love.
13. Architecture Journalism
All the writers in Architecture, this field is for you. And even if you aren’t one but have an interest in writing and creating blogs and digital content can take this up.
Architecture magazines, require content writers on a constant basis. There are 2 parts to a content writer. One is a creative writer and the other is a copywriter.
Both have different perspectives on what emotion they want to evoke with the reader. You can write creative essays on Architecture stuff and also sales copies for real estate, Builders and Developers.
Since you are already from an Architectural background it gets easy to understand and put in words that connect with the right emotions.
So if You want to make a career in writing, Architecture Journalism can also be your Alternate Career path to take.
14. Architectural and Interior Visualizer
Previous
Next
Visualizing Designs is an important aspect of Architecture. Not just to visualize to the clients but also for the Architects Digital portfolio and Online Marketing.
Architects, builders and Developers are in regular need for 3D Visualizers. Most of them have inhouse visualizers while a lot of them even outsource to freelancers and 3D Visualizing firms.
So if you are someone who’s good with architecture software like sketchup, 3ds max, rhino, vray, lumion etc, and are able to produce amazing renders, you can go for Architecture and interior visualization.
15. Model Maker
Physical Models are an important part of Architecture. Although we have software that can quickly create models, physical models are still used.
More prominently in Sales offices to Showcase the structure to prospective property buyers in a smaller scale with a direct physical view.
Most architecture offices make models in house although there are many freelancers and small businesses outsourcing this requirement. So if you are interested in making models and if you’re really good at it, this Alternative Career stream is what you could try for.
16. Architectural and Interior Photographer
Previous
Next
Architects, Magazines and Builders are always in need of professional Architectural photographs. These perfectly captured images form the portfolios and are also used for digital platforms for marketing purposes.
If you are an architect interested in Photography, this is what you can go for. Interior photographers are also known for styling. Setting up the perfect props and elements and to take an amazing view is an art in itself.
17. Construction Management
Construction managers are the on site leaders responsible for the actual construction. They have to address and solve all the problems emerging on the construction site.
From managing the on site workers to getting approvals from architects and builders, Construction managers serve as a very important pillar in the Architecture world.
If you are good at people skills, solving problems and leadership, this is something you are required for. Construction managers job is one crucial job and filled with responsibilities.
18. Real Estate Manager
Real Estate Managers are responsible towards managing the back end work of construction. There are a number of professionals and other site workers involved in a project.
There are Design Architects, Licensing Architects, Landscape Architects, Structural Engineer, Vendors, Services consultant and many more working together on a construction project.
Real Estate management is responsible for managing and maintaining a disciplined work to set the right and quick direction of a construction project.
So if you’re good at the soft skills like time management, people skills, problem solving etc, while working at the back end, You can go for real estate management as an Alternative Career.
19. MBA
A Business has 7 key aspects. Marketing, Sales, Operations, HR, R&D, Accounts and Management. When you are working as an employee in an Architectural firm with typical architectural work like designing, presentation, client handling etc. All this comes under Operations.
So there’s other 6 parts to a business that also needs to be taken care of for a business which most of the time the entrepreneur takes care of in case for small businesses. Where as in big business, these jobs are delegated into a system.
So there’s these other sectors to which you can add value and work upon. An MBA gives you clarity on all these sectors and how to grow a business.
So if you’re interested in the business part of Architecture and want to help businesses grow, this is something you can aspire for.
20. Teaching
The coaching and training industry is set to change and the field of architecture also requires more teachers and trainers with modern experiences. And trainers who are more tech savvy to perform and manage online education.
It’s also important that you gain some kind of an experience in the field before you teach. The best way is to practice what you teach and be a constant learner in the process.
Teaching is a great option if you actually want to really go deep into any topic. Because when you learn to teach, that is the best form of learning one can get.
21. Material Vendor
Wide range of Materials are required when it comes to Architecture and Interior design. Every space has its own suitable material mood board and these keep changing with change in designing styles.
Basically, there’s tones of material choices to look upon and being an Architect, if you are able to identify and resonate with a particular material for solving a design problem or serving as aesthetical element, you can start a material business.
Since you would have an idea of requirements and approximate feasibility for a type of project this might help you to stand out among other vendors and also you would have a better connection with your clients since they would be architects themselves.
22. Naval Architecture
Naval Architecture deals with the spaces and construction of ships and other water transportation. This is also very similar to the construction of buildings. A cruise ship has multiple spaces. Luxury suits, restaurants, recreational spaces and many more.
If you are interested into ship designing and naval architecture, this is also an option you can opt in for.
There’s much more to learn but there are a few basic design concepts, software and standards you would be aware of before hand to make your journey faster.
23. BIM
Building Information Management is the future of Architecture and construction. This process helps to determine the architectural design values like sustainability, services, thermal comfortability and feasible construction through 3D modelling and the data derived from it.
If you are interested in 3D Modelling and stuff this is the alternative career you can opt for.
