I just graduated with my bachelors degree and unfortunately missed the cutoff to apply to an architecture program this coming year. I dont have a portfolio ready anyway, seeing how I graduated with a bachelors in environmental planning , so I wouldn't have been able to just apply to a program. I am planning on taking this year to work on my portfolio, but I felt it would be smart to continue growing and learning. I originally wanted to maybe get a job in some kind of architecture related work, but without some knowledge in the field already I dont see how this is possible. Than I thought I should try and look for work that would put some money in my pocket and might help me pay of grad school, but this is not exactly an easy task also. So instead I figured my best bet was to attend my local community college full time while working on my artistic skills and my portfolio. While this was not my first choice, I feel this might be very beneficial because the community college I will be attending offers a number of courses and certificate programs. One of the certificates I have been contemplating working toward is a certificate in business entrepreneurship because I feel that once I get my architecture masters degree and work in the field I will eventually want to take it to the next level and possibly start my own firm. I feel the business knowledge from this certificate will come in handy in pursuing this goal. On the other hand the community college also offers a certificate in CAD. I thought this might be extremely useful seeing how I eventually want to become and architect and CAD is a big part of that work. But than I was also thinking it might be overkill because I have heard that architecture programs already focus on this, so I might be learning this again in graduate school, but than again I dont know if they will go into as much depth as this certificate program will offer? Any guidance would be very appreciated. Thanks.
I'd get that business certificate...CAD is something you can pick up on your own. If you have your MArch someday no firm is going to require a CAD certificate on top of your degree for hire.
Go for the business, but keep in mind the "certificate" will not get you far by itself (the knowledge might).
as aqua notes, CAD and most software are things you can learn on your own. Get a few books, Lynda.com is great, start learning 3D, Photoshop, Illustrator.
I (proudly) made it through school with barely knowing any CAD (I focused on 3D). That helped me get jobs and work on design, and since I do not enjoy drafting it worked out very well.
CAD won't really help you get into a school. Art classes, sketching, photography, painting or anything creative will go a billion miles farther.
Great guys, thanks so much for the tips... I completely agree with you trace... I feel "certificates" are good for people to add an extra little thing on their resume or just show that they have that extra piece of experience. I, on the other hand, would just be working toward that certificate to get that "knowledge" and to really better myself. I dont mean to sound arrogant in the slightest, but I am proud to say that I am at a point right now where my work ethic is the strongest its ever been, and I realize the importance of education and learning and growing. That is why I feel this extra business knowledge might be useful in the future.
I feel like everyone in the architecture related field keeps saying CAD is something I can just pick up on my own, or is something I can learn another time. I signed up for an intro to CAD course as well as all the other business courses I am taking, but with what you guys and alot of other people are saying, my time might be better spent doing something else. I will already be taking 20 credits, but if I drop this CAD course I will be down to 16, so I will be able to fit in another 4 credits. I already took a class this summer which taught the basic ins and outs of how to use adobe photoshop, illustrator, and indesign. BUT there are Advanced courses in these specific programs which I have been thinking about taking this fall that might help me master the program more and might help me with creating my portfolio for the MArch program. The one I have been considering is the Advanced Illustrator class which is only 2 credits so I could possibly even take another art class. 3D design is also offered at the community college and thats only 2 credits also, so it would fit in perfectly to equal up to 20 credits...
After learning Illustrator I feel it would help me make this portfolio for the architecture program. But TRACE, if you dont mind me asking why did you recommend that program and photoshop? those programs will help me in my future architectural endeavors?
Also this community college does offer like painting, figure drawing, sculpture, photo techniques, etc... do you think instead of taking the advanced illustrator class I should take a different art class? I feel the 3D design class is a must but I just want to see what anyone thought of the other option. Thanks
im sorry to keep reposting, I know this is very unprofessional in the archinect world, I am just about to go off to work but am kind of excited to rearange my schedule to add these new things in so I keep looking at the college website.... They also offer the advanced photoshop class this semester... soooo.... advanced illustrator, photoshop, or a different art class?? suggestions are open, thanks?
take all the freehand drawing and hands-on art classes you can work in. these are important skills and too many young professionals seriously lack the ability to draw any place that a computer is not present.
drawing is about communicating. as your career progresses, the ability to communicate graphically on a napkin or the back of an envelope during a lunch meeting with your client or consultant grows in importance.
Jul 14, 09 11:08 am ·
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Need advice please...
I just graduated with my bachelors degree and unfortunately missed the cutoff to apply to an architecture program this coming year. I dont have a portfolio ready anyway, seeing how I graduated with a bachelors in environmental planning , so I wouldn't have been able to just apply to a program. I am planning on taking this year to work on my portfolio, but I felt it would be smart to continue growing and learning. I originally wanted to maybe get a job in some kind of architecture related work, but without some knowledge in the field already I dont see how this is possible. Than I thought I should try and look for work that would put some money in my pocket and might help me pay of grad school, but this is not exactly an easy task also. So instead I figured my best bet was to attend my local community college full time while working on my artistic skills and my portfolio. While this was not my first choice, I feel this might be very beneficial because the community college I will be attending offers a number of courses and certificate programs. One of the certificates I have been contemplating working toward is a certificate in business entrepreneurship because I feel that once I get my architecture masters degree and work in the field I will eventually want to take it to the next level and possibly start my own firm. I feel the business knowledge from this certificate will come in handy in pursuing this goal. On the other hand the community college also offers a certificate in CAD. I thought this might be extremely useful seeing how I eventually want to become and architect and CAD is a big part of that work. But than I was also thinking it might be overkill because I have heard that architecture programs already focus on this, so I might be learning this again in graduate school, but than again I dont know if they will go into as much depth as this certificate program will offer? Any guidance would be very appreciated. Thanks.
I'd get that business certificate...CAD is something you can pick up on your own. If you have your MArch someday no firm is going to require a CAD certificate on top of your degree for hire.
Go for the business, but keep in mind the "certificate" will not get you far by itself (the knowledge might).
as aqua notes, CAD and most software are things you can learn on your own. Get a few books, Lynda.com is great, start learning 3D, Photoshop, Illustrator.
I (proudly) made it through school with barely knowing any CAD (I focused on 3D). That helped me get jobs and work on design, and since I do not enjoy drafting it worked out very well.
CAD won't really help you get into a school. Art classes, sketching, photography, painting or anything creative will go a billion miles farther.
Great guys, thanks so much for the tips... I completely agree with you trace... I feel "certificates" are good for people to add an extra little thing on their resume or just show that they have that extra piece of experience. I, on the other hand, would just be working toward that certificate to get that "knowledge" and to really better myself. I dont mean to sound arrogant in the slightest, but I am proud to say that I am at a point right now where my work ethic is the strongest its ever been, and I realize the importance of education and learning and growing. That is why I feel this extra business knowledge might be useful in the future.
I feel like everyone in the architecture related field keeps saying CAD is something I can just pick up on my own, or is something I can learn another time. I signed up for an intro to CAD course as well as all the other business courses I am taking, but with what you guys and alot of other people are saying, my time might be better spent doing something else. I will already be taking 20 credits, but if I drop this CAD course I will be down to 16, so I will be able to fit in another 4 credits. I already took a class this summer which taught the basic ins and outs of how to use adobe photoshop, illustrator, and indesign. BUT there are Advanced courses in these specific programs which I have been thinking about taking this fall that might help me master the program more and might help me with creating my portfolio for the MArch program. The one I have been considering is the Advanced Illustrator class which is only 2 credits so I could possibly even take another art class. 3D design is also offered at the community college and thats only 2 credits also, so it would fit in perfectly to equal up to 20 credits...
After learning Illustrator I feel it would help me make this portfolio for the architecture program. But TRACE, if you dont mind me asking why did you recommend that program and photoshop? those programs will help me in my future architectural endeavors?
Also this community college does offer like painting, figure drawing, sculpture, photo techniques, etc... do you think instead of taking the advanced illustrator class I should take a different art class? I feel the 3D design class is a must but I just want to see what anyone thought of the other option. Thanks
im sorry to keep reposting, I know this is very unprofessional in the archinect world, I am just about to go off to work but am kind of excited to rearange my schedule to add these new things in so I keep looking at the college website.... They also offer the advanced photoshop class this semester... soooo.... advanced illustrator, photoshop, or a different art class?? suggestions are open, thanks?
take all the freehand drawing and hands-on art classes you can work in. these are important skills and too many young professionals seriously lack the ability to draw any place that a computer is not present.
drawing is about communicating. as your career progresses, the ability to communicate graphically on a napkin or the back of an envelope during a lunch meeting with your client or consultant grows in importance.
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