My Future Plan For Architecture

[whale]

Hi everybody... i would be graduating from the university this year JULY (thank God) with a degree in Architectural design and many of my mates who are graduating with me all plan to startup regular architectural firms (firms that deal with the normal design and construction processes)

But my own is different... i plan on starting an architectural visualization firm cos of my vast knowledge in 3d design and animation..........

 

So here is the challenge..... There isnt any major Architectural Vis Firm in my country so my knowledge about these kind of firms is cut short..... there isnt any firm i can go to and see how their services are run and they started the business..........and there is no major professional i can seek advice from..

 

so please can anyone help me with information that would educate me on how to start up an architectural vis firm, professionals and skills that are reqiured to be on ground, type of cleints that would are avialable and a whole lot of anything usefull........

 

thank you all.... please i need informaion

[Jeff Mottle]

Is the reason that there are no other visualization firms in your country becuase there is no demand or because there is just no one with the skills to start that type of business?

 

If you do plan to work locally, I would first do a bit of research to ensure that there is a client base to help support your new company. You should visit some of these firms and ask them what they need and if they use visualization. If there are no clients willing to pay for your services then you will need to start looking for clients and building relationaships outside of Nigeria. If you need to do that, I get the feeling you will have to work extra hard to prove your credibility becuase of the level of fraud that is normally associate to Nigeria in the rest of the world.

 

There are a lot of things to consider when starting a business. Many are very specific to your particular location and some are so general that they apply to all businesses. For the more general information I'd read some good business and marketing books. Reading a book on writting a business plan, would be invaluable for you I think as it forces you to think about all aspects of your future buisiness before you get going.

 

For some more specific information about doing business in Arch Viz I would take a look at the articles we have on the site here: http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/DW/default.asp

 

Also before you start you'll need a website and a good portfolio of images that you can show potential clients. Perhaps post some of your images here for others to critique and they can tell you if your skills are at a level to compete on an international level.

 

Good Luck!

 

Cheers,

Jeff

[Devin Johnston]

Yes everything Jeff said is extremely important and if there is no demand for your services you’re going to have a hard time making a living for your self. If you have never worked for an Architecture firm or a rendering firm my advice would be to go and get a job at one of these places and get some life experience for a few years. I find it funny although not unexpected that new graduates often want to start up businesses of their own as soon as they graduate from college. Some how it never occurs to them that there is a lot out there that they don't know, and starting up a business with no experience, no clients, and no past examples of complicated projects makes it very hard to find work. Architectural illustration is a little different than practicing architecture but the same problems still remain and you will have to spend considerable amounts of time looking for work and advertising before you can build up a client base large enough to support your self.

[the white witch]

 

So here is the challenge..... There isnt any major Architectural Vis Firm in my country so my knowledge about these kind of firms is cut short..... there isnt any firm i can go to and see how their services are run and they started the business..........and there is no major professional i can seek advice from..

 

 

 

come on wale.....i do not agree with you on this....i am also in nigeria...and run an archy viz firm [mindseye]in Lagos...if you asked any of the major archy firms they would have told you about us....there are also a lot of other reputable archiviz firms that i know of..and they aren't hard to find either, if you just ask around...[ the architectural industry is tight knit and info always rolls around]...besides that, you can always drop by my office in dolphin estate,...lets chat.

[whale]

hey nnamdi thanxs 4 d inspiration.... . i am so glad to know that there are people who are intimately involved in the viz industry in our society............ u know that if u hadnt sent this post, i would keep on dreaming in my room that i would bring up the first firm.......... anyways.............. ..........

I just graduated wiv ma Bsc and i think i would be going straight for my Msc..... ......... so maybe i would do some freelance work................ Dont worry, i checked ur stats and i saw that u ar a regular member of this site, so that means u are a member of the family...... so definately we would meet in the future...... later.,.//;'][[ ............. u could drop ur no./.,; mine is 08050963158