Here are some great words of wisdom from Roger K. Lewis, FAIA to young architects and students of architecture. Published in Architect Magazine which is the official publication of AIA.
"Are you wondering what lies in store for you given the current state of the profession and the recent, profoundly stressful challenges faced by your generation of designers—the Great Recession, work slowdowns, unemployment, stagnant incomes? Beyond economic uncertainties, you face other significant challenges: choosing among ever more diverse career paths and roles; thinking critically about always shifting and often short-lived aesthetic trends, such as ersatz, postmodernist historicism; satisfying increasingly stringent project needs and constraints; and keeping abreast of rapidly evolving, innovative technologies.
Yet the basic mission of architecture, considered the world’s second oldest profession, has not changed. Although modern technologies, specialization, and design theories have transformed how architects are educated and practice, most practitioners still do essentially what the Greeks and Romans did: design buildings.
Nevertheless, it’s no surprise that in this uncertain age you may be angst-ridden as you ponder your future in the profession. If you are an intern, you may already feel put upon by the ordeal of accumulating thousands of hours of experience and having it validated to satisfy licensing requirements. You may even be considering deferring your path to licensure.
But do not despair. I assure you that despite any frustration or skepticism you may feel, architecture is still an extraordinarily stimulating calling, offering artistic and intellectual fulfillment unmatched by any other profession. Architects not only create visual poetry embodied in beautiful structures and urban settings, they also deal with pressing, real-world issues such as climate change, sprawl, affordable housing needs, and urban revitalization. We always serve two clients: those who hire us and those who inhabit or interact with the architecture we make, and who worry about safety, accessibility, traffic, and aesthetics. By designing architecture of lasting value for all stakeholders, we enable social, economic, and cultural progress. This will be your ultimate reward."
More from Architect Magazine
posted by: O.A
"Are you wondering what lies in store for you given the current state of the profession and the recent, profoundly stressful challenges faced by your generation of designers—the Great Recession, work slowdowns, unemployment, stagnant incomes? Beyond economic uncertainties, you face other significant challenges: choosing among ever more diverse career paths and roles; thinking critically about always shifting and often short-lived aesthetic trends, such as ersatz, postmodernist historicism; satisfying increasingly stringent project needs and constraints; and keeping abreast of rapidly evolving, innovative technologies.
Yet the basic mission of architecture, considered the world’s second oldest profession, has not changed. Although modern technologies, specialization, and design theories have transformed how architects are educated and practice, most practitioners still do essentially what the Greeks and Romans did: design buildings.
Nevertheless, it’s no surprise that in this uncertain age you may be angst-ridden as you ponder your future in the profession. If you are an intern, you may already feel put upon by the ordeal of accumulating thousands of hours of experience and having it validated to satisfy licensing requirements. You may even be considering deferring your path to licensure.
But do not despair. I assure you that despite any frustration or skepticism you may feel, architecture is still an extraordinarily stimulating calling, offering artistic and intellectual fulfillment unmatched by any other profession. Architects not only create visual poetry embodied in beautiful structures and urban settings, they also deal with pressing, real-world issues such as climate change, sprawl, affordable housing needs, and urban revitalization. We always serve two clients: those who hire us and those who inhabit or interact with the architecture we make, and who worry about safety, accessibility, traffic, and aesthetics. By designing architecture of lasting value for all stakeholders, we enable social, economic, and cultural progress. This will be your ultimate reward."
More from Architect Magazine
posted by: O.A
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