As we threw our graduation caps up into the air in celebration of graduating, my brain finally started to sink in that everyone will be going their own ways from here on. We all entered to a world of architecture, feeling clueless, and we all graduated as refined and well-polished designers ready to enter into their next chapters.
One day, I bumped into my construction tutor at a social work event. We conversed about uni and work, laughed over the fun moments during class. One thing he shared about that was particularly insightful to me was that he finds joy to see his students continue to develop into outstanding architects. But beyond that, the most rewarding experience to being a tutor is to be able to see students grow away from the education bubble and becoming good mentors for other students as well.
The friends I once sat beside in studio class and pulled all-nighters with are now a diaspora scattered across the globe, each pursuing their own dreams. Some are studying, taking a break traveling, doing a whole different degree and so much more. It’s interesting to see all individuals embarking their own paths, growing in their own ways.
I’m interested to hear their stories again in ten years time. And how will my journey continue?
Lily Jiang
10 things I learned after Architecture School
1. Working full time is completely different to studying
(L) How different is work in comparison to school? Everything. I never had a full-time job until I graduated my bachelors, so it took me a long time to adjust to the workplace lifestyle of eat, sleep, work, repeat. Sometimes I would get notified a deadline that’s due in a few hours, or in a week, whereas in uni there were deadlines set up from the beginning of the semester. I do enjoy working because once I go home, I leave my work worries behind. On the other hand the stress from uni assignments were always at the back of my mind. Ultimately, it takes a good few months to adapt to your new lifestyle.
Give yourself time, it will get better.
2. It is okay to not be diving straight into architecture
(K) It can be architecture related, otherwise it can be something completely different!
During my time in Hong Kong – I was involved in a design foundation that didn’t necessarily use architecture all the time, however it gave me the ability to develop other skills and gave me some confidence in other areas as well.
3. Trial & error
(L) Sometimes I have second thoughts to becoming an architect, I ask myself “can I imagine myself doing architecture for the rest of my life”? At the moment, no. Some people are dead set committed, unlike me my heart wavers quite easily. I want to open up a florist shop at some point, but I am not ready to throw away my career. That’s why I tried out graphics design, and failed. I thought graphics design could potentially be an alternative career but my passion in architecture was much stronger.
A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.
4. Set your own career path
(L) During my university times, the hot topic of doing masters and eventually becoming registered was the ultimate dream. At the time, I planned on going straight into masters then aim for registration by 30. I always feel like I am racing against time and need to get my titles and qualification done as soon as possible. Now that I started working, I no longer have the rush to do so. In fact, I’m glad I am taking a break from studies to learn more about myself.
Time is just a made-up concept by us humans, I learnt that by trying out different things helped me define my own path.
5. You will forget some of the skills you have recently learned - and that’s okay
(K) Honestly, this could be applied during architecture school. I taught myself Sketchup when I was in my first year of architecture and thankfully was able to practice it at my part time job (we had to provide plans for them to relocate our shop). When I tried picking it back up two years later – I almost forgot all my commands. It was the same with me and Rhino when I didn’t touch it for three months after graduating from architecture school. So make it a goal to stay up to date with what you’ve learnt to keep the motivation!
6. Keep learning, stay a student, and be a good mentor
(K) During my training on becoming a fencing coach – we were told by our teacher that we would be a beginner anything we try to improved, once we’ve mastered a technique comes refinement and new skills. Looking at the rapid evolution from a technological and cultural standpoint, we are continuously seeking new ideas, new innovations and different discussions to create something better. I can’t stress enough the importance on being open to sharing ideas with others – not everything, but topics and discussions that become more valuable when passed on.
7. There will be times where you find yourself losing your own creative self, rediscover that somewhere else
(K) Art as therapy – recently, a lot of my friends have turned their minds to the pottery wheel, otherwise painting with a glass of wine. I turned to film cameras snapping away any interesting angles I could find and developing each roll. I also started to immerse myself in painting with water colours to give myself some creative outlet. It’s hard when the scheduled part of your life can box away your creativity – perhaps finding another outlet to let it flow again.
Design, I believe should be fun and comforting in some ways.
8. Stay inspired, keep pursuing your passion for architecture
(L) Now that I’m no longer in uni, it feels great! Nobody forces me to study anymore, no deadlines, no nerve wrecking critiques. But! It is much harder to maintain my motivation and inspiration for architecture. I started uni with full of hope and determination, yet as I went on the perseverance drained away. This isn’t supposed to happen, in fact it should be the opposite. What has helped me to stay in touch was to create and Instagram account solely for architecture. Follow your favourite architects, local architecture firms around you in order to stay up to date to what they are doing. It is a matter of balance in taking a break from which you grind on every day, so that you can take on architecture again with a fresh set of eyes.
9. Time is precious; free time is priceless
(L) I started my first full-time job right after I graduated from uni. Initially it was really tough to adjust to this routine, it is like back to school again. I came to a realisation that I never felt a real sense of accomplishment from work, and my free time was limited. I try not to be so caught up with work and focus my happiness on other things. I use free time as an opportunity to do other interests. Over the past few months I tried out all sorts of exercise like yoga, pilates, barre etc. I am hoping to do floristry and pottery too! I can understand why people write a bucket list every year, it feels great to tick things off from a list that you always wanted to do!
10. Take care of yourself
(K) This was something I didn’t really accept when I left architecture school – I went overseas, came back and was baring some issues that I didn’t’ realise that was still affecting me. No matter what happens, if you ever encounter something that has affected you deeply, find ways to talk it out – whether it’d be writing it down, otherwise talk to someone who you can trust. I find that, even though it is publicly raised – mental health isn’t something we’ve spoken much in the architecture industry. So please, be able to spend time on yourself whether it’d be concentrating on your own hobbies, or exercise – so long as you are aware of where you are with yourself right now, that’s what matters.
Also try to minimise the amount of comparison you have with others – otherwise you will end up killing yourself emotionally.
In Response to:
101 Things I Learned in Architecture School - Matthew Frederick, 2007, MIT Press, China
“Patrik Schumacher outlines the crisis in architecture education” - Dezeen, Tom Ravenscroft, 9 July, 2019
About Lily Jiang // @lilyj_studio //
Lily graduated from University of Queensland in Bachelor of Architectural Design. She previously undertook two and a half years studying a Bachelor of Interior Architecture at Monash University in Melbourne.
She enjoys graphic design, and upon completing a Certificate IV in Graphic Design, she has been working as a freelance graphic designer.
Lily enjoys travelling and is always searching out new perspectives on the world. She is interested in modular architecture, and the expression of narrative stories and bodily experiences within spatial design. She believes that without the interior and event spaces, there is no architecture.
More on her works can be found here.
*Special thanks to Lily for the collaboration!