Licensed Architect & 3d Visualizer at the same time?

[lukeLT7]

Hi Guy & Gals,

 

I am an "architect" looking for some feedback on a major issue with our profession: Can I do 3d visualizations & archictural design as a focus: or should they be separate persuits? I have a very vast experience base using 3d packages, and I have completed 3 divisions of the ARE for licensure. I am 34 years old, and I currently use Maya to create visualizations. I started my own firm about 9 months ago. It started off great, getting payed by developers and real estate people to create images for high end residential. But I feel like it's easier to make money creating cad plans, sections, elevations etc. To me it's more fun creating the 3d imagery, but it takes way longer and is harder earned money. After all I did not get 2 degrees in archiecture to sit around and create boring contract documents. But that's exactly what happens after grad school and IDP. I guess what I am looking for is some feedback from some of you that have gone down this road as I have. Is there anyone out there making good money creating 3d media, and having more fun doing that than running a traditional design office? Any input would be great guys, thanks for your time.

[bricklyne]

I think it all boils down to what you want to do, or rather what you feel you'll be most comfortable doing down the road. Of course income-generation is always a mitigating factor, but at some point you'll have to decide for yourself whether you prefer working in a relatively stable and financially secure, but insipid and uninspiring vocational choice or slaving away long hours on other people's designs but in a path that constantly challenges you creatively and artistically. I think you might see where I'm headed with this.

 

Basically, I think your fear is that you might find yourself having wasted an expensive architectural education with 2 degrees as well as all the costs (both monetary, effort and time) for the licensure exams, by suddenly jumping ship to a field you never initially saw yourself working in. Versus the situation intimated that which you currently find yourself in i.e. doing what you trained for ( essentially), as an architect, but working on the "more" boring aspects of the field such as contract documents, detail drawings, Change orders and all that sort of stuff.

 

I realize I'm may not be helping much, in expressing it this way, but personally I tend to believe that doing both can be possible even though you'll eventualy find yourself leaning or heading one way or the other depending on your prevailing circumstances (family,location, money-wise). Visualization , especially from a freelancing POV, offers you the flexibility of taking on occasional jobs which would no doubt be rewarding experiences, although at some point it could conflict with the 9-5 lifestyle of working in an traditional Arch design firm.

 

When it all comes down to it, my advise would be that you follow your heart. At the end of the day, if your not happy doing what you find yourself doing, there's typically only one person to blame. There's bound to be sacrifices and long hours either way, anyways.

[BrianKitts]

I think it is possible "to make them a similar pursuit" and that's the road I plan on heading down. I'm 26 with a four year degree and still enjoying the vis industry. But I fully intend to return for my masters in the comming years, and stay with the great firm I'm with now to knock out IDP... Beyond that I want to go full architectural design with mad vis skills to work with it. In our firm, its common for designers to spend hours over sketches or working over our sholders (the vis guys) on designs. I'd love to remove that step from the process, and use the visualization capabilities full out for design purposes. Although not liscensed we have one designer who used to run his own rendering company and he uses his skills quite a bit in his everyday work.

 

Although I do get the tingle in the back of my head sometimes that wants me to think about moving over into the movie side of the industry but thats just a battle that will play out in the next few years.....

[aaron-cds]

I'm on this path. I started my firm, Conceptual Design Studio, in November. I've been licensed for two years. I do 80 - 90% renderings and the rest residential architecture.

 

The reason for leaving the big comfy firm was that I knew I could make more money on my own. So far, that's been true.

 

My advice would be to complete the exams and get your license. Doing a small house addition on the side here and there will line your pockets with money for a new computer to add to the ole render farm. It will also keep your skills as an architect sharp if you spend a little too much time in the rendering rutts. I think it also can be an advantage for getting work from other architecture firms. They're more likely to trust that you know how to interpret their drawings. Putting the word architect or AIA after your name on a business card probably leaves a certain impression with clients, I would assume.

 

On the negative end, who knows if there's going to be a demand for arch-viz ten years down the road. Or, who knows if you'll still want to do it. At least you'll be able to get a job again as a designer, project manager or even principal at an architecture firm. Good luck finding a good job at 40 without your license.

[brightlight]

I'm an interior designer and architectural illustrator and would love to find a company that could use all my skills. I believe that they are out there (hey, I'm an optimist!). The job ads that I see seem to be for one or the other. Maybe all the juicy concept designer roles get snapped up internally. Are companies being blinkered in their selection criteria? It would be nice to see more 'concept design' or 'designer-visualiser' roles around. Maybe companies need to catch up with the change in skill types that are now around.

I think that if you choose to go down the route of doing both disciplines (your own company) then you need to also work harder at keeping up to date with developments in both fields and supplying your clients with what they want when they want it. Especially if you begin to project manage and produce detailed documentation for your architecture.

My ideal job - concept-designer-visualiser..........anyone out there!!

Good luck;)

[ihabkal]

During my stay in the US, I thought seriously about getting a license and spending 20 thousand $ for the it (at least), and if I ever thought I would use it in my professional career I would have done it. But I can't imagine myself doing anything other than renderings. so for me I decided it was a total waste of time and $. the prestige is good but I don't have the time for it. I am licensed in Lebanon, but I don't practice architecture here too.