As architects, we often times get into debates about whether or not architecture is worth it. Some people believe that once you graduate from school, your career as an architect is over. They feel that there are too many opportunities for non-architects to pursue careers in design so why should they invest in architectural training if they will never use what they learned?

If this sounds like something that has ever been said to you then I would suggest giving up on educating yourself about how important architects have helped shape our society. We all need areas of the world where people can call themselves architects!

It seems every day another article comes across my desk announcing some new way architects have wasted money and resources. A recent example being when a famous architect was photographed eating lunch at Taco Bell with his children. He argued that since he spent money buying food for himself while working, he had the right to eat food during off hours.

This argument really highlights one of the major benefits of becoming an architect – the knowledge. If someone could do what you do but paid no formal price for their education, then how valuable is your education? This person clearly thought it wasn’t very much because they felt that spending money on food was worth it.

It’s all about the process

In this era of technology where almost everything can be done via touch screen or computer, people have lost sight of what it means to be professional.

In our society today, professionals are admired for their technological prowess, not necessarily for how well they use tools to achieve a goal but rather because they are good at using tools.

This shift away from an appreciation of the skillful use of tools is like watching someone eat fast food every day and thinking that they must be hungry!

Architecture is more than just creating buildings; it is a way of thinking that transcends media through space, proportion, and influence.

It takes into account aesthetics, function, and moral principles in order to succeed.

I will go so far as to say that it is a profession that has moral underpinnings. If you want to call yourself an architect then you should know that being one implies responsibility for the design of things that have lasting impact-buildings, neighborhoods, even cities.

Get it right the first time

As architects, we spend a lot of time talking about what makes an architect special or different from other professionals. But you don’t need to be all talk when it comes down to it.

Architects are unique because we devote ourselves to understanding how things work. We apply that knowledge to create spaces and systems that function effectively and beautifully.

We also take our responsibility as leaders in our field seriously by educating others on those functions.

That is why most people who choose to become licensed as architects are at least familiar with some basic concepts like space planning and designing kitchens.

But they may not know exactly why these things matter and how to use them in their own designs.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming if you are looking to improve your architectural skills or just want to get into architecture professionally. There are so many ways to learn, but nothing really teaches you anything unless you apply it somewhere.

The best way to truly understand something is to do it for a while. You have to put it into practice to see its true potential.

Plan everything out

As we discussed before, architecture can be a lucrative career if you are passionate about it. But being an architect means more than designing beautiful buildings!

Architects must have in-depth knowledge of business, psychology, engineering, and mathematics to name a few. Beyond that, they must be good at drawing and creating aesthetically pleasing designs.

These skills are important to ensuring the success of your department or firm as architects need to design beautifully designed spaces and layouts to inspire other designers and art directors.

They also need to create effective interior space dividers and furniture layouts to facilitate work for others.

But what kind of person becomes an architect? Who wants to spend their life making things that look pretty when all too often people use ugly ones?!

That is definitely not why most people choose this profession!

A lot of times people get discouraged by the length of time it takes to become an architect due to the fact that there are so many different areas involved.

However, these differences make the job unique and worth it. An architect’s responsibility goes beyond aesthetic touches and decorations. They strive to improve organizational efficiency, facilitate communication, and promote teamwork.

Given all of this, how do you know if someone is really planning to be an architect? You don’t but here’s a tip — check out our top 5 signs.

Document your work

A lot of people talk about how important it is to understand architecture, but very few do it well. If you want to be considered an architect, you have to document your skills and process professionally.

Examine yourself- what projects have you completed? What materials did you use? How did you organize elements in space? These are all part of documenting your craft as an artist.

Your potential employers will look at these documents to get a sense of who you are as an individual and professional. They’ll also evaluate whether or not they feel that you can take direction and contribute towards creating effective designs.

Architects must have a thorough understanding of both form and function of spaces, material properties, basic construction techniques, and systematic thinking processes. All of this makes them good designers!

It is totally acceptable to never design anything beyond a logo or a small pamphlet, but even those things show that you have mastered some key fundamentals of the field.

Keep your work visible

As with any profession, being exposed to your work helps others understand you as an artist and person. If people are able to see your creations, they can refer to it for ideas or even copy some of what you have done.

Running into someone who is very passionate about architecture will most definitely influence them to pursue their dreams as artists or architects themselves.

Architects’ works should be easily accessible to the public. Some may feel that attending an event hosted by an architect is too expensive, but this is totally untrue!

Most major architectural events offer tickets in the thousands of dollars. These events are open to the general public so there is no reason to pay more than what someone else paid.

Get a partner

As mentioned earlier, becoming an architect is a expensive business! This is particularly true if you are trying to break into the field or even keep up with other architects in the profession. If you are interested in pursuing it as a career, then investing in some professional guidance is important.

Finding an architect that you connect with will help you achieve your goal of working in architecture. They may even become a friend who you visit outside of work.

Architects have a lot of conversations about themselves and their careers which can be helpful for you to learn from. Becoming friends with someone whose job you admire can only benefit you.

Most architects begin by assisting junior colleagues before being promoted onto their own projects. By offering yourself as an assistant, you will be proving that you are willing to put in the effort needed to succeed.

Some senior members will always have a few openings in their schedule so they can teach new professionals the ins and outs of the trade.

Get a business bank account

A lot of people get creative about how to spend their money, but keeping up with financial responsibilities is one of the major hurdles that career oriented individuals face.

Running into issues with paying bills on time can sometimes be due to not having enough income coming in!

Architects are often times given credit for being “good with numbers” or “paying well” but what most people don’t know is that many architects have no formal banking relationships.

Most banks will only offer limited services to professionals (like payroll management) so it makes sense that they wouldn’t give you an open checking account either.

That doesn’t mean you can’t manage your money yourself though! You can use online tools to do this, but why not go all-in and get a professional grade bank account? This way you won’t have to worry about things like transaction fees or overdraft protection.

Apply for insurance

As we mentioned before, being an architect is a very expensive career! This means that most architects must be paid through employment or freelancing. If you are ever asked if it is worth it to become an architect, the honest answer is definitely yes!

Most people assume that becoming an architect is a lucrative career, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, many students are in debt due to the cost of tuition and living expenses.

It is important to remember that even though it may not be easy to find jobs as an architect, it will still pay your bills. You should apply for as many job opportunities as possible because no one knows when someone will ask about whether or not being an architect is a good profession.

Hopefully you have gathered by now that being an architect can be very profitable, but only if you are looking for it.