2 answers
Christopher
Student
Rincón, Rincón
2
Questions
Asked
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What skills should I start building now if I want to become an architect?
I’m a high school student from Puerto Rico, and I know that requirements and architecture laws can vary depending on where you live. I want to make sure I’m preparing the right way before entering college. What skills or habits should I start developing now so I’m ready for an architecture program?
#Fall25
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2 answers
Henry Ling
Architect
44
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Henry’s Answer
Hi Christopher,
It's great to focus on improving your hand rendering and diagramming skills. These are valuable everywhere, whether in college or at work. Clients and instructors often ask, "What does it look like?" and "How does it work?" A clear and well-done drawing is the best way to answer these questions. Keep practicing, and you'll do great!
It's great to focus on improving your hand rendering and diagramming skills. These are valuable everywhere, whether in college or at work. Clients and instructors often ask, "What does it look like?" and "How does it work?" A clear and well-done drawing is the best way to answer these questions. Keep practicing, and you'll do great!
Alright, thank you so much, I'm excited to put your advice to good use!
Christopher
Maria Rehmet
Architect
26
Answers
Plano, Texas
Updated
Maria’s Answer
Hi Christopher!
Two very useful skills are quick iterations and being able to speak about your design.
Quick iterations:
When working through a design problem, you may be tempted to work on one grand solution that will solve everything. But many times, this can be overwhelming and slow down the design process. Instead, work on creating multiple solutions that can each solve maybe a portion of the problem and then take a higher-level look at all of them and you will see what you can keep from each iteration and build a new one from those! Using brainstorming to get ideas out quickly will help you move forward with the design more efficiently and save you so much headache.
Speaking about your design:
Creating a narrative for your design is so important. But first you must understand your design before you can explain it to others. What is the overarching parti/idea? Ask yourself: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How Example: Who is this building serving? What will the construction method be? Where is it located? Why does it look the way it does? How does it fit into the context? Having a story to tell will make it that much stronger for your presentations in school, with colleagues, professors and one day future clients!
Two very useful skills are quick iterations and being able to speak about your design.
Quick iterations:
When working through a design problem, you may be tempted to work on one grand solution that will solve everything. But many times, this can be overwhelming and slow down the design process. Instead, work on creating multiple solutions that can each solve maybe a portion of the problem and then take a higher-level look at all of them and you will see what you can keep from each iteration and build a new one from those! Using brainstorming to get ideas out quickly will help you move forward with the design more efficiently and save you so much headache.
Speaking about your design:
Creating a narrative for your design is so important. But first you must understand your design before you can explain it to others. What is the overarching parti/idea? Ask yourself: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How Example: Who is this building serving? What will the construction method be? Where is it located? Why does it look the way it does? How does it fit into the context? Having a story to tell will make it that much stronger for your presentations in school, with colleagues, professors and one day future clients!