I would like advice on getting a job?

[Sawyer]

One thing to keep in mind about having an architectural background:

 

Most of your competition will have it. They also have an artistic background. Good technical illustrators know their subject very well and are good artisits.

I use my technical background daily and it is very important to me. Some jobs are boxes and thats it. A simple house is a simple house, there might be errors drafting (elevations don't align or whatever) but you can work them out. They often fix themselves in the modeling.

Some projects require hours of dissecting the plan to understand how everything goes together. And then there is a mistake in the drawing or something is missing it really helps to have an understanding of how buildings are put together to understand what is supposed to happen.

 

Recently I had a cad file from an out of state client. I looked over the files and they were so incomplete (everything was drafted on the 0 layer no names) I had to create a system of diagrams in photoshop to explain my questions. The architect told me he hadn't drawn the elevation correctly that he used "architectural liscence" to fudge the elevation. I couldn't go into the architects office I had to e-mail everything and it had to be very clear. I had to basically draft the missing elements, color and annotate it in ps, have him approve my interpratation and them I could model it.

 

The other main aspect that working in an office helps is that you know what you need from a cad file. You can keep what you need and get rid of the rest.

[stevewright]

I do sympathize with u, im 24, out of uni 2 yrs, and still struggling to find new work . I studied commercial Interior Design, and visualising was only a sideline, that i used as a back door into real work whilst i studied, and kind of took off from there.

 

Unfortunately, you have a distinct disadvantage studying only 3d, as you really do need more knowledge of buildings.

 

Its not impossible, but its just very difficult in general.

 

ive got the background, ive got 3 yrs experience visualising for a range of companies and projects, but i cant yet use 3ds max, so im at a disadvantage.

 

I dont know if its the same elsewhere, but it feels like in the uk if u dont have every skill required ticked off in the box, places arent interested.

 

They want someone with an architectural background, whos amazing with 3d studio max, lots of commercial experience, can get it done in 2 days and only pay you 16 grand!!!

[Iain Denby]

Possibly true, as one who has never studied architecture and turned down offors to study architecture, it has never gotten in my way, infact I have gotten jobs over architects because of this, and this was early in my career.

What this industry is poorly lacking is people who can render, and I mean in the artistic sence. Over the years I have interviewed many people who can build a great model, read plans, help design but very few of them can create a beautiful image. Very few of them have the "eye" to create well composed scenes that tell the story and engages the viewer, getting them excited about the project. Just as designers are dime a dozen but great designers are rear as hens teeth so are great renderers.

I earn the big bucks because of my artistic skills and not for an architectural degree. To get into and ahead of this game you have to set yourself apart from the rest and get noticed.

JHV

I could have written this myself, word for word. Totally agree.

Let's be honest, to 3D model, you don't need to be talented. It's a technical procees that anyone can learn. You just need the knowledge, and the desire. As for Degrees, you don't need one in anything, let alone Architecture. You do need an understanding of architectural terms and be able to read the drawings.

[Justin Hunt]

In this game its your portfolio and not a degree that gets you a job .

 

-Only show your best work, no prospective employer is interested in how much you have improved since you started. Rather show one fantastic image that 20 "see how I have improved" images.

- Even if you are not the best in the market, if your portfolio shows potential, it will be noticed.

- Have it in print and leave copies behind, remeamber to add your contact details. Spend some money and have good quality prints done, nothing smaller than A4, or larger that A3. Prints from the you local digital photographic shop is problably the easiest, cost effective way and the quality is excellent.

-Frame them and put them into a plastic sleeve. Keep it simple and uncluttered. Remeamber its the images that are important, and not the decorations on the folder.

-Your resume should also be clear and simple, do NOT waffle, do not add too much about what school activities you did. Make sure your contact details are easy to find and in the begining, in bold if needs be.

-Apply to everything, even if its not what you realy want to do, your dream job will only come up much later in your career.

 

My first job was for an architectural firm that wanted to get into 3D. I was freash out of a 3 month multi-media course that I did after a failed 2 year advertising diploma. I knew very little to nothing about architecture. Luckily they new nothing about 3D;). We used each other, me to learn about visualisation and them to get the edge over the competition.It worked out very well. When I got to London, I only had 2 years experience and all of it was using 3DS R4, I had only opened Max2.5 and played with it. My portfolio was basic and small. I went to many interviews and eventually landed a job with one of the top Visualisation firms in London. A couple of years later when I left London, as studio manager, to come to Australia I asked my boss why he gave me the job. He told me it was because he saw potential, he did not care that I didn't know the software because software can be learnt. What he wanted was someone who would grow into the job, had passion and "the eye". It turned out to be a very good oportunity and to this day still say that during that time I was producing my best work. It was during this time that I learnt the trade. All my I know about architecture has been learnt on the job, reading magazines and taking interest in the projects beyond the visualisation part that I was doing.

 

JHV

[FlytE]

Whats obvious is that generally speaking, those who have an architectural background feel its the right thing to have it, and those who dont have it also feel that its fine to not have it. So from your perspective, if you dont have an architectural background you are best take the advice of those who are in a similar position as yourself in terms of background.

 

Saying this, I believe you are best suited to working for a visualisation firm rather than an architects office because if its anything like mine, there is alot of architectural design modelling and technical 'reading between the lines' which my right honourable friend points out above.

[STRAT]

all good advise.

 

bottom line is if you have at least a basic architectural backround you stand 10 times more chance of landing a paid job in the UK than if you dont.