Learning how to design buildings is very different than learning how to build ones! This may seem obvious, but it’s important to understand.

As you can probably tell, we love architects here at Spark! We admire them and want to be like them. But too often, people get confused because they are thinking about designing something that doesn’t exist yet.

That’s not bad, of course! It’s just hard to relate.

So what should you do if you’re really passionate about architecture? What if you could actually make your dream job as an architect possible?

The good news is that it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when starting out as an architectural student.

It’s completely natural to wonder if this is truly for you.

But don’t worry, you're not alone! There are many ways to deal with these feelings so that you can learn more about building designs.

You can start by reading professional Architectural Journals or talking to older students in your field to see what resources are available to use.

Make a good list of authors and topics that inspire you

While there are many great architects, not all know who the important people in architecture have been- nor do they ever talk about them.

Architects’ names come from something called the field or discipline of art. Artists look at other artists’ work and learn how to create pictures and scenes inspired by those paintings.

Artists also study nature, where we get our basic ideas for buildings coming from. For instance, take a look at the way leaves grow towards the sun during springtime!

In order to be an architect, you must understand these artistic concepts and apply them to your designs!

That is why it is so important to make a good list of writers and books which influence you as an artist.

Try to be realistic

It is very important to know what you can learn from us, real life architects. People who actually practice architecture are not necessarily trained in how to make buildings using pure geometry and formulas.

They may not have gone to an architectural school either. They do not need to take courses about proportions or theory of building structures.

What they usually do though, is look at lots of examples of well designed buildings and try to understand why these designs work.

By studying design from this source, you will develop your eye for good composition, proportion, and overall aesthetics.

These qualities are extremely valuable to aspiring architects as it gives them a basic framework to start working within.

Buy a notebook

A notebook is one of the most important things you will buy for learning architecture. You can use it for any style, but there are some basics that apply to almost every type.

You get extra points if you do your research and find out how different architects organize their notes, drawings, and models. Some keep organized notes in index cards or using bullet point lists, while others have elaborate systems.

Whatever method works best for you, make sure to manage all of this information properly! Don’t just put everything into an old leather book and forget about it. Keep up with updates and don’t let anything go to waste.

To really take advantage of the knowledge in our field, we must maintain at least basic proficiency in several styles and periods. So aside from buying new books, spend time studying older ones as well.

Take notes

Even if you can already draw, or have artistic talent, learning how to design buildings is still possible! Taking good quality notes will help you later when you’re studying architecture. You could make your own notebook with lined and un-lined pages, index cards, or even use an app like Annotate that allows you to add pictures and other media.

You should try to be as detailed as you can while listening to lectures and tutorials. The easier you are able to organize what you read, the faster you will learn. Try not to get distracted too much, however, as this would negatively affect your study time.

Learn to use the basics

There are many ways to learn how to draw, but some of the most effective methods do not require you to go beyond learning the basic shapes.

Many people start with lines and squares before moving onto more complicated forms. By starting with simple shapes, you can slowly add layers to your drawing skills as you desire!

There are several sites that offer free tutorials for beginners in both digital and traditional art media. These resources are perfect for those who cannot afford paid lessons or want to hone their painting or sketching techniques without paying too much money.

The internet is a rich source of information for anyone who wants it. Many schools and universities make their educational material available online so that students anywhere in the world have access to them. Technology has made these materials easy to find and follow along with virtually anytime and any place.

Learn some basics of architecture

Even if you don’t plan to be an architect, learning about the field of architectural design can help you in other areas. For example, interior designers are paid very well because they are educated in color theory and how colors influence moods and perception.

Architecture is also a basis for many other fields such as engineering or construction. So even if you never want to work directly with architects, there are still plenty of opportunities to apply what you have learned.

Furthermore, being able to describe what different shapes look like and why they are used in designs makes you more intelligent than most people. This contributes not only to your career but also to the general population, since most people who say they like art really mean painting.

There are several ways to learn about architecture. You could take an introductory course at university, find a local college or museum that offers classes, or pick up a book or two.

Learn some basic design principles

The first step in becoming an architect is learning how to visualize space and structure, which are fundamental concepts to understanding architecture. These are also key components of creating architectural designs.

Most architects need to understand Euclide-geometry at least superficially, if not deeply. This geometry teaches you the basics of proportion, parallel lines, and perpendiculars, all of which play important roles in designing structures and spaces.

Other fundamentals include typography (the way fonts look and what uses they have) and color theory (explaining why certain colors work well together). Both of these apply directly to interior and exterior decoration as well as to graphic design, which many architects do today.

There are several good sources that can teach you this early groundwork. You may already know some of these, like books or YouTube videos about typography or color theory.

Learn some historical styles

While not every architect has to design buildings, you do need to be familiar with several architectural styles. These include such classics as Neoclassicism, Renaissance Revival, Chippendale, Art Deco, and so on!

Neoclassical architecture was built starting in the 18th century through today. This style is characterized by large columns or walls that get thinner towards the top, and elaborate decorations and styling. Famous examples of this are The Chrysler Building in New York City and the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Renaissance revival started around 1800 and quickly became popular. Part of what made this style famous was its use of proportion. Proportion here refers not only to how tall something is, but also how wide it is, how much space it takes up, and even how many windows it has.

Chippenhamdle style began appearing during the late 1700s and early 1800s and remained popular until after World War II. This style is known for having strong vertical lines and proportions, along with heavy decoration and textures. Examples of this style can be seen at the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. and the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany.

Art deco took off around 1920 and remained popular into the mid-20th century. One of the main features of art déco is bright, bold colors used extensively. Another feature is curved shapes, which makes things like cars and airplanes look cool.