I have nearly 7 years of experience in the field, of which the latter years I've focused on residential (single family) architecture. Although I have gotten to do more sketchup modeling and rendering lately, my primary expertise is in production on Revit. I am T I R E D - primarily of being on the computer for most of the day, doing the same kind of work over and over again, like a machine. I feel as if I was losing my humanity. I started painting classes on the weekends, enrolled in online art courses at nights, to get in touch with my more artistic/free/creative side. It has helped, but I still feel stuck. I like the work we do at my current firm, but there seems to be no real opportunities for growth.
I am a registered architect, and I even have enough savings to quit my full-time job and sustain myself for some months. I've thought many times of finally going solo, thinking I could hire out the drafting work on Fiverr (or similar platform), but my CA experience and code knowledge is very minimal, and it leaves me insecure about finally taking the leap. I'm afraid of getting sued, or a building falling apart because of me (lol).
I've tried taking on some small side jobs (drafting mostly), but I am not interested in adding more working hours to my week - I cannot sustain it.
Any thoughts on how to 'unstuck' myself??
I like architecture, and don't want to necessarily change career paths, but at the same time, the current work I'm doing doesn't seem as fulfilling.
Do you want to be a "designer" where your job is something like you draw on tracing paper with a fat pen and then hand off the sketches to production people to make into CD's? Or maybe you give Sketchup models to your Revit drafting people. Anyway, you need to figure out a way to either turn your current job into the above thing or find another employer that will let you be the designer. Do you have a portfolio of your own design work? If not, you better make one. You will need to prove to people you can do the creative stuff.
From your described skills and experience, I don't think you going solo is a good idea at this point.
Production role with minimal exp in code and construction is a recipe for disaster. Get out into the field and get down and dirty with the construction process. Not only will it give you a break from the office, but it will significantly increase the quality of your design/drawings.
Thank you for confirming my gut feeling - with it being so popular these days, it's harder to discern whether or not is the
many people I've talked to seem to always encourage me in the direction of entrepreneurship (too popular these days). But This has been my intent for the past few years, however the opportunity never comes in my current firm. I've considered working for a design builder for a time...
Nov 7, 24 11:33 am ·
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reallynotmyname
I like the idea of design-build for you. The right one would be a place where you have big role in the early design stages. The CD demands can a lot less in a design-build setting. There may even be drafters there who just do pure production based on what you give them. This is different form most arch firms where just about everybody, overtly or covertly, wants creative control.
Working closely with the people on the "build" side of the operation will really round out your skills.
Nov 7, 24 12:25 pm ·
·
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Stuck (Tired of 'production' work)
Hello,
I have nearly 7 years of experience in the field, of which the latter years I've focused on residential (single family) architecture. Although I have gotten to do more sketchup modeling and rendering lately, my primary expertise is in production on Revit. I am T I R E D - primarily of being on the computer for most of the day, doing the same kind of work over and over again, like a machine. I feel as if I was losing my humanity. I started painting classes on the weekends, enrolled in online art courses at nights, to get in touch with my more artistic/free/creative side. It has helped, but I still feel stuck. I like the work we do at my current firm, but there seems to be no real opportunities for growth.
I am a registered architect, and I even have enough savings to quit my full-time job and sustain myself for some months. I've thought many times of finally going solo, thinking I could hire out the drafting work on Fiverr (or similar platform), but my CA experience and code knowledge is very minimal, and it leaves me insecure about finally taking the leap. I'm afraid of getting sued, or a building falling apart because of me (lol).
I've tried taking on some small side jobs (drafting mostly), but I am not interested in adding more working hours to my week - I cannot sustain it.
Any thoughts on how to 'unstuck' myself??
I like architecture, and don't want to necessarily change career paths, but at the same time, the current work I'm doing doesn't seem as fulfilling.
Any insight is appreciated - thank you.
Do you want to be a "designer" where your job is something like you draw on tracing paper with a fat pen and then hand off the sketches to production people to make into CD's? Or maybe you give Sketchup models to your Revit drafting people. Anyway, you need to figure out a way to either turn your current job into the above thing or find another employer that will let you be the designer. Do you have a portfolio of your own design work? If not, you better make one. You will need to prove to people you can do the creative stuff.
From your described skills and experience, I don't think you going solo is a good idea at this point.
Production role with minimal exp in code and construction is a recipe for disaster. Get out into the field and get down and dirty with the construction process. Not only will it give you a break from the office, but it will significantly increase the quality of your design/drawings.
Thank you for confirming my gut feeling - with it being so popular these days, it's harder to discern whether or not is the many people I've talked to seem to always encourage me in the direction of entrepreneurship (too popular these days). But This has been my intent for the past few years, however the opportunity never comes in my current firm. I've considered working for a design builder for a time...
I like the idea of design-build for you. The right one would be a place where you have big role in the early design stages. The CD demands can a lot less in a design-build setting. There may even be drafters there who just do pure production based on what you give them. This is different form most arch firms where just about everybody, overtly or covertly, wants creative control. Working closely with the people on the "build" side of the operation will really round out your skills.
Block this user
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