Brodie Geers Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I've been doing archviz for an architectural firm for a few years now. I'm thinking about moving in the next couple years and might eventually go into freelance but would like to look into working with an archviz studio for awhile before that in order to get a better feel for how the pros do it (I'm basically self taught). I'm free to relocate anywhere but am most interested in either California or somewhere else in the southwestern US. Googling hasn't been offering much help. Does anyone know of some archviz studios in that location that I can begin looking into? -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 well, since nobody has responded yet, i'll throw out kitchen sink in Phoenix. http://www.kitchensinkstudios.com/ they have been around a long time and evolved quite a bit into a diverse shop. AZ qualifies as SW right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUSN Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I've been doing archviz for an architectural firm for a few years now. I'm thinking about moving in the next couple years and might eventually go into freelance but would like to look into working with an archviz studio for awhile before that in order to get a better feel for how the pros do it (I'm basically self taught). I'm free to relocate anywhere but am most interested in either California or somewhere else in the southwestern US. Googling hasn't been offering much help. Does anyone know of some archviz studios in that location that I can begin looking into? -Brodie Hey Brodie, Things seem kind of slow here in Cali. I'm from the L.A. area and have been kind of looking around myself. I'm still in the process of self-teaching myself, but I eventually want to make a transition into archviz. For now, I just have to stay put at my current job as a draftsman. There are a few architectural firms however, that seek the following: 5+ years experience with 3dsmax, vray, sketchup, after affects, photoshop, illustrator..... and I can keep going. Oh, and I forgot to mention, a bachelors degree in architecture required. This is just to get your foot in the door. Unless of course you're an intern and work for peanuts. Sorry to bore you with all of this Brodie, but this is just how I see it right now. But if you have an impeccable porfolio, it might get you in. As for me, I guess I have to go back to school and get my degree:( Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 John, Thanks, I'll take a look at them. We've considered Phoenix so it's well within my range of possibilities Gusn, I might be able to squeek in as I'm fairly close to those requirements you list. Joining up with an architecture firm is something I'll have to keep in mind but essentially that's what I'm doing now. My hope is for my next step to be specifically with an arch-viz firm, though, so I can get more specific training and learn from others in order to develop my skills further. I've done a lot of self teaching to this point and am starting to hit a wall with that. -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUSN Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Brodie, If I see any postings or here of anything, I'll relay that information to you. Only reason why I brought up architectural firms is because I haven't heard of too many arch-viz studios hiring. I guess the majority of artist must be doing freelance work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Thanks, appreciate that. I think you're right. Archviz does seem to be a primarily freelance business it seems, and what arch-viz studios there are seem to be primarily centralized in NYC and London. Luckily I've still got a year or two to keep researching and hopefully find a good fit. Otherwise, I may just need to go freelance and continue to learn as I go. -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Schroeder Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) I used to work in arch viz in California, and that area has taken the hardest hit in the US. I know of several once prominent arch viz studios that either went under, or are down to 2-3 on staff artists. Where I used to work dropped from 85-95 employees to 8-10 in less than a year and a half. The other issue in California is the cost of living versus the pay scales. Again, due to the hit the industry as taken overall budgets are almost non existent and everyone is cutting costs. However, it's crazy expensive to live in California unless you want to spend 2-4 hours driving into work each way, but you spend a ton in gas and wear and tear on your car so you really don't save much. The only firm I know of that is still around and even considering doing any hiring is Transparent House up in San Francisco. You are better off seeking actual architectural firms rather than viz houses. Many times the architects will have an in house viz department rather than hire the old school viz studios. There are plenty of good architectural firms in California, the tough part is if they are hiring. It's a tough time to get a job out there. After I was laid off, I went back and got my masters degree in architecture and add that in with 8 years industry experience, even I'm having a hard time getting my foot into places. You actually may have an advantage of being newer, they may not feel they have to pay you as much as someone like me. The big key is just keep at it, learn as much as you can right now, and really make your portfolio rock. Even if it's just a few images or one video, make that thing be as awesome as it can be. Edited June 6, 2011 by VelvetElvis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Thanks for the info Scott, that's very helpful. I wonder how I might find out which architecture firms have their own arch-viz department. Not exactly the sort of thing they put on their website. Any ideas? California certainly does seem to be falling from the face of the earth. The weather is just so darn appealing though! Maybe this isn't the place for this discussion but I've always been confused about the discrepancy between salary and cost of living in California. Everyone talks about it but I don't quite understand it. California isn't filled with rich people and well paying jobs. They have their share of waiters and retail sales people that live there and somehow survive. So what does that discrepancy actually mean? Is it just that the average joe has a much smaller house than he could afford elsewhere or what? And as another aside, is your screen name from the Rob Bell book, by chance? -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Schroeder Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 The screen name came from the book Black Hawk Down. It was the nickname of the pilot of Super Six-One, Cliff Wolcott. The discrepancy mostly comes in rental or home prices. Most people out there live with roommates to keep the cost down. When I lived in south orange county, though I was fairly close to the ocean, I paid around $1200 a month for a 500 sq ft single bed apartment that wasn't anything special. It was nice, but it was the most basic apartment my complex offered. The nicer 800 sq ft and up single beds were $1600 and up. However, I lived close to work so I didn't spend an arm and a leg in gas prices and if I wanted to I could ride my bike to work. So the cost of the apartment balanced itself out a little. I'm not sure what rent is today, I've heard up and down. The rent prices for places literally change monthly, so you never really know until you search. You'd never afford a house or condo on a intro or basic viz salary, you'd be looking at a mortgage payment of about 3-4,000 a month for a basic condo and that's if you can put the necessary 12-15% down. Home prices out there are still fairly high, though they have come down some. But still vastly higher than say the Midwest. All in all, it's not too bad. You just have to know how to live within your means and budget yourself until you get on your feet in the company you'd be working at. There isn't any good resource for architectural jobs that I know of, other than here. But even here on CGA it's been kind of dry. Usually I use good ole Google and search for architects in "X" city or area. Then, just look at their websites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Thanks a lot. Very helpful (slightly depressing, but very helpful nevertheless ). -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Schroeder Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 As I mentioned, it's not all bad. You just have to budget things correctly and know that rent will pretty much consume a whole 2 week paycheck if you choose to live by yourself. With one roommate, you'd probably be around $700-$800 depending on the place. When I first started, I grew up in the Midwest and moved out there for a job after college, I wasn't making all too great of money. But I was able to make it work living by myself, but rent hadn't started to increase yet. I started at $1050 a month for the same place I ended up paying $1300 a month for, they just kept increasing rent every time I re-upped my lease. Unfortunately, the whole area was going up in rent so you had to either move away or pay it. That was also during the housing/rent boom out there, so it was a wild time for prices across the board. As I put time into where I was working, got a few raises and worked some OT, I was able to live very comfortably where I was at. But I didn't spend 40,000 dollars on clothes, or hang out at the uber expensive bars or restaurants either. That first year was tough, but if you set a budget and stick to it there should be no problem. I knew people who were paying $400-$600 less a month in rent, but driving 1.5 hours to work one way with no traffic. So what they paid in gas in a month (and stress stuck in gridlock) more than balanced out my higher rent but low drive time (or free bike ride) to work. And I can't really complain either, I was 4 miles from the ocean. You've got 2 years still, so who knows where that place will be by then. Things are so fluid right now that it's really hard to speculate. Just pick a spot you'd love to work, and really hit the bricks job searching and rent searching to know where you'd need to be. Reach for that dream, grab it, then figure out how to pay for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Good advice. Really my wife and I are quite frugal. Currently we have a home and 2 cars on my fairly median income at an architecture firm here in the midwest. With a bit of work, we should be able to swing it, if that's where we end up deciding on for sure. Thanks again for the info. -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alias_marks Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 (edited) Thanks for the info Scott, that's very helpful. I wonder how I might find out which architecture firms have their own arch-viz department. Not exactly the sort of thing they put on their website. Any ideas? To find out answers to your direct question, I might just surf linked in and see if you can find a connection you can ask abou their in house 3d capacity. Or just cold call em up and ask. However, I might argue that you want to target the firms without an already established in house team. get in however you can, drafting, revit, etc. and pitch them on building up their in house 3d capacities over the next 3-5 years or what have you. It might be a helpful way to differentiate yourself from others and the payoff could be multiples of just joining an already existing team. Food for thought... Best of luck! M- Edited June 6, 2011 by alias_marks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Geers Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks Michael, great tip on the linkedin. I'll definitely surf around there. As for starting from scratch, that's sort of what I've been doing actually. The guy I replaced basically just did a very rough SketchUp model and a ton of photoshop work. I've built up our capabilities, hardware, and software quite a bit but I'm still a one man self-taught rendering department. I'm mostly just looking for a next step in learning from other people and a professional firm to learn more of the business side of things so if/when I eventually go freelance I'll be in a better position. -Brodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hey Brodie, We are hiring, but NW, PM me if you are interested or want to chat. Thanks! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alist11 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Let me see if this will activate my account Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alist11 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Brodie if you by any chance get this message, email me at scdperspective@hotmail.com. I have a few propositions that might establish a future for you and I. My email is scdperspective@hotmail.com, contact me asap. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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