Starting a career in architecture

The road is long

Becoming an architect usually takes many years of study and supervised experience, and, in most countries, professional registration. The exact route differs from country to country, so find out what your own country requires early, from the professional body or the regulator. In many places other professions in the same field, such as engineering, interiors, landscape and urban design, offer different but related paths.

Learn to draw, by hand and on screen

Hand drawing teaches you to see, and it is still the fastest way to think. Digital tools, such as CAD, BIM and rendering, are essential to modern practice, and so is the ability to understand what AI tools do. Learn all three, and understand why you use each. See also Drawing, then AI and Models: why we still build them.

Becoming an architect usually takes many years of study and supervised experience, and, in most countries, professional registration.

Understand how buildings are made

Good designers know how buildings stand up, keep out the rain and are put together. Visit sites. Talk to builders and engineers. Look closely at details. See also Detail: why edges matter and What an architect does, and what an engineer does.

Look at everything

Walk through cities. Visit buildings. Sketch them. Pay attention to how light moves, how people use a place and what makes a street feel safe or pleasant. Read about places you have never been. Curiosity is the most useful quality in a designer.

Build a portfolio that tells a story

A portfolio should show how you think, not just what you made.

• Choose a few pieces, and do them well. Quality counts more than quantity.
• Show your process. Sketches, models, mistakes and what you learned.
• Be clear. Explain each project in a few lines: the brief, your idea and your role.
• Be honest. Say what is your work and what is a group's. Credit others.
• Show range. Drawing, models, writing and some real-world work, if you have it.
• Keep it tidy. Careful layout and short text show care.

Write and speak well

Architects spend much of their time explaining. Practise writing clearly, presenting ideas and listening. A good idea that cannot be explained rarely gets built.

Work in teams

Buildings are made by many people. Learn to work with others, take feedback and give it kindly. You will often be the person who connects the engineers, the client, the builder and the neighbours.

Be patient

Early jobs may be modest, and you will learn a lot from small tasks: drawing details, making models, visiting sites. Skills build slowly. Look for places where you can learn from experienced people and get responsibility as you grow.

Look after yourself

Studios can be demanding. Sleep, exercise and time away from the screen help your work as well as your health. A career is long.

Find the right place

Different practices suit different people. Some are small and personal, some large and corporate. Look at the work they do, how they treat their people and whether you share their values.

How to approach us

If you would like to talk to us, see Graduates and Careers. We cannot promise vacancies.

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