Architectural studies is a rollercoaster worth riding.
So before you start you first year, there a five things I thought I’d let you know. Practically. Emotionally. All the good stuff. And what to expect from the bad (even though the good does outweigh the bad, eventually).
1. Don’t buy everything on the equipment and reading list.
You’ll be doing various different tasks, from drawing to model-making and the resource list will feel endless. Some things will seem expensive (yep…the reality) but some things are essential. It can be overwhelming when you see that according to the list you’ll need certain rulers, pencils and pens but fear not, if you have studied art prior to getting onto this course you’ll already have the basics such as a sketchbook, pencils, rubbers (erasers) and probably rulers too.
Over the year(s) you’ll find what works for you and what doesn’t (i.e. whether clutch pencils are better than mechanical pencils for instance). You probably have all you need already, and will soon come to realise that what is on the list isn’t essential, well most of it anyway. Paper, pencil and rulers in the many forms that they come in is all you need to start. What to keep out for is Student Days at various art stores, they are the perfect opportunity to get your essentials (at great discounts!), whilst also getting some free things along the way! That is how I discovered Moleskine notebooks and I’ve fallen in love ever since! (Note: You don’t need a moleskine notebook as a sketchbook, there are a lot of affordable sketchbook brands that your local art store will supply, but unless you want to they are very good quality and durable). The course material can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be, so keep these things in mind when stocking up on you basic materials to start the year equipped and ready for all your assignments.
Stay tuned for next week’s article where I’ll be detailing the 5 essentials you’ll need for drawing…yes, you heard me right 5 essential tools you’ll need for all your drawing tasks (surprise, you will probably have already used them and they’ll be essential for other tasks too!)
2. You will have to write essays. And read books, obviously.
Yes, they still exist, so you’ll most definitely find yourself in the university library. That ladies and gents is just part of academia. If you thought A-levels and/or your Btec was the last time you would have to hand in written work, you are very wrong. It is a life skill after all, and if you aren’t good at writing essays you will no doubt find the resources and help you need to write good essays if you are someone who strives to do well overall. For me, this was the chance to better understand the world around me through architecture. Besides there is no right way of doing essays, only that the clearer you argument is, the more reliable your sources are and the more drafts you hand in before the submission deadline, the better you’ll be at writing. You may even start to see that essay writing isn’t so different from communicating your studio projects.
It might even help you get better with your clarity of expression which will definitely be a bonus when you are talking about your ideas. You’ll learn very quickly that to communicate whether through visuals or through writing is a crucial skill, and they go hand in hand no matter what you are doing.
3. You’ll have to get comfortable presenting your work, all the time.
Presentations is a way to develop the dialogue your project has with the real world. It gets easier over time. You’ll learn to get comfortable with being uncomfortable about presentations to anyone other than your tutors. But please don’t avoid them, it is very easy to get consumed by the idea that your project is unfinished or that you aren’t ready. In fact, every time someone asked me if I was ready for any presentation, not matter how much work and prep I had done prior never left me feeling ready. And that is okay.
It is a great opportunity to receive feedback or to find the gaps within your visual narrative that your verbal storytelling has brought to light. At every chance for a presentation (whether they are marked or not!) you will benefit from them greatly. As scary and anxiety inducing it may be, it is a chance for you to learn from what others have to say about the story you are trying to tell. What I enjoyed the most about these was that I got to help my peers and they had a chance to help me, there was always an exchange of ideas. I walked out of the presentation sessions feeling inspired whether it was I or someone else who had been presenting.
But sometimes, they might not go well. It just means that you will have to work on your communication skills., whether verbally or visually. Sometimes you are left confused, which is something that can and does happen, don’t shy away from talking to you tutors for clarity. The biggest lesson you’ll have to learn is not to take things so personally, even if they compliment some of your work. It seems easier to take things to heart when your work or presentation doesn’t go as well as planned. But like I said before, don’t let this stop you from seeking help or feedback, let it be a moment for you to reflect on your work and find strategies to help you get to where you want to go in your design briefs. If you want to grow and become a better designer you will have to present, for the most part that is part of what architects - everyone will do. Presenting is a life skill that will only enrich you and improve your communication no matter what the circumstance, so hold on this one, you’ll be glad to have spoken and learnt to be vocal about your ideas.
4. All nighters don’t make you productive, they are last resorts. Always.
You’ll be pulling all-nighters all the time is the myth I heard the most before starting. So is it true? With a loaded timetable of tutorials, workshops, lectures and seminars I can see why someone would do them. But I’m here to let you know that like most things, if you leave them to the last minute, you will in fact sacrifice your sleep. For some people it seems productive, because you can find yourself in long stretch of time completely immersed in your work. In that case, you may find yourself working into the late hours of the night, that will happen. You might find yourself doing a few here and there during the year, not consecutively. You need your sleep, you need it to function, to make better decisions, to keep yourself away from injury (you want all your fingers when model making).
There is a saying that goes if you set time for specific task, your are likely to complete it in that given time but if you don’t you just waste long stretches of time doings small concentrations of work. I’m not saying that you won’t have a lot of work to do, you will. Especially if you have various deadlines to work towards, but forcing yourself to have focused time or as Cal Newport the author of Deep Work puts it, deep focus on a set task will mean that over time you’ll complete more quality work over a longer period of time. This is exactly what you’ll need to be a successful designer, not just a student. It is very much possible to get a healthy 8 or so hours of sleep and still be on top of your work, especially if you become disciplined in the art of deep focus when you are tackling your projects. I’m not going to pretend like that was me, because it wasn’t up until 3rd year but when I discovered that I really did need my sleep and that it was possible, I became more productive. Isn’t that what we want?
5. Don’t take your work with you home, you won’t complete it there
After spending hours in the studio you still haven’t completed a model or this really complicated drawing but it is already six o’clock, do you take your work with you? You tell yourself that somehow you will get it done when you arrive home.
Stop lying to yourself, you won’t get it done.
Even worse, you’ll have to carry it back to the studio the next working day. You’ll kick yourself in the foot for taking it with you when it would have been better to leave it in the studio. Especially if you have to commute on public transport. Sigh. I know the struggle so save yourself the effort and leave it in the studio. You fear all your work will be ruined by someone else’s accidents or misplaced to never see the light of day until after your final submission. (Yes, it has happened before)
Be prepared to take precautions beforehand. Label your sheets, tubes, boxes, portfolio cases wherever you store your work using PERMANENT MARKER in a colour that only someone who can’t see wouldn’t see it. Oh and photograph them too. Photograph them well, especially when your work is unattended to. It will save you so much hassle in the long run.
Even being a night owl, you will get tired so don’t burn yourself out too early. Besides you won’t need to take your work home, manage your time so that you get your work done in the time you allocate it, otherwise nothing will ever get done. Be organised and focused during these allocated work times, being disciplined is hard to begin with, but make it a habit and you’ll thank yourself for it. You’ll find that over time this discipline will allow you to get more work done overall, which equates to better work overall, and somewhat of a work life balance. It is a life skill after all, and I wish I did it more in the first two years. It will force you to find a balance, and you might even skimp on all-nighters because you can submit your best work, on time.
I hope you have found these tips useful!
It was challenging to narrow it all down to five, which is why the next few weeks I’ll be elaborating more on these topics individually so sign up to my email list for more (I’ll be sharing some free resources along the way too, to make sure your start is as smooth as it can possible be).
What are some of things you things you wished you’d known before starting architecture school?
I look forward to hearing what you have to say in the comments below, let’s help each other out!