Archinect - Features

Ali Chen, Architect-Turned-Multidisciplinary Designer, Wants to Help You Pass the ARE

2022-05-19T08:59:00-04:00

An architecture background offers individuals skills to thrive in disciplines outside of traditional architecture roles. As evident in our Working Out of the Box series and Archinect's Interesting Jobs series, we highlight examples of how architects and design professionals use their backgrounds in different industries.

With design expertise continuously evolving, our editorial team has connected with those who have applied their architectural backgrounds to alternative career paths. One such example is multi-disciplinary designer Ali Chen. A licensed architect and visualization expert, her interests evolved into packaging design, UX/UI design, and app development.

For this exclusive interview, we connected with Chen to learn more about her multifaceted career path, her experience with architecture licensure, and the launch of her IOS app that aids in studying for the ARE called ARE Inquizition.

The ARE Anxiety Phenomenon

2019-10-14T12:00:00-04:00

The Architectural Registration Exam is the gateway to licensure for thousands of aspiring architects across the country. Six divisions, hours of studying, years of schooling, and practice. It's an undertaking both exhilarating and debilitating, but at the same time, in its achievement, rewarding. For many candidates, however, preparation and study aren't the hurdle, but instead, it's the inescapable emotional obstacles that hold us back: the anxieties, distractions, and uncertainties surrounding the exam. We think of failing and try to fight off the fear that follows. "Everyone will think I don't have what it takes. I'll look like a fool," we might imagine. Why do things like this, and so many others cripple us? And how can we think about it in a new way?

How to Pass the Architectural Registration Exam

2019-05-31T11:51:00-04:00

The Architectural Registration Exam (ARE). It’s the culmination of years of study, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next; six grueling tests that push most young designers to their limit. The studying is strenuous, the fear of failure unbearable, and yet those of us seeking the coveted title of Architect endure the fire. Your only concern until you complete the exams is, “how do I pass them?” Answering this would be your saving grace. Let’s look at how to overcome this mountain and move to the next phase in our careers, but be warned, this isn’t a “follow these steps, and you’ll pass” kind of a thing. Ask any licensed architect, and they’ll be the first to tell you — it takes hard work. This article will give you some tools to embrace that simple fact and move forward confidently in your endeavor.