Architect vs Designer

[Eric]

Don't really know, but your company name can be nice and large on the title block, so long as it does not include any reference to Architect. The drawings will have the registered architect's stamp on it, as well as his logo most likely as the Architect. You'd be something to the effect of "Project Coordinator". However, if he works for you, then I suppose by the simple fact that your name is most likely part of the company name, your registered architect employee will get no credit at all, which may not fly.

 

Again, I'm just a draftsman. I'm just stating what happens in our firm as an example.

[Christopher Nichols]

who cares about credit? It comes down to liability. You are liable for your work... or actually the person that signs the drawings is liable.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that Architecture is a "profession" in the true sense of the word. There are few "professions": Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Architects. Not sure if engineers are considered professionals. Doctors have malpractice insurance, Lawyers have to answer to ethics commitees (or the board), Accountants have to answer to the IRS, and Architects usually bear the burden if something goes wrong.

 

The point is in a firm, the person that takes the liability should be compensated appropriatly for taking on the responsibilty, right? Does not really happen.

 

If architecture was the noble profession that it was back in the mid century, I may not be as negative about it. Please understand, I'm not trying to steer you away, I just think it is fair that you learn a lot about it. You are getting a lot of different view, all of which are valid. For me the best part of architecture was going to architecture school. The most creative part of my life so far.

[Wanna_be_architect]

Will I learn the basics in college?

 

Eric, where did you got to school? And what was your major?

[Eric]

Basics, yes. But I can only speak from observation. You have to get in with a firm and work under the guidance of people with much more experience if you really want to learn anything useful.

 

We have draftsman that come through here on a regular basis. They come in thinking they're worth gold with all the skills they have. It's when their feet hit the fire that you find out what someone is really capable of, and you usually find out their resume was ...well, slight glorified. Everyone "knows" 3D, but few manage to actually create anything.

 

I went to the University of North Texas. I'm a continuing student, though I haven't taken a class in a couple of years. I may never finish - but in my chosen career direction (computer renderings) I find that experience is worth much more than a degree. Do I wish I had a degree? Definitely!! It's good to fall back on. I started out at Texas Tech in the Architecture Design program. I wanted to do 3D stuff, watched the movie "The Mask" with Jim Kerry (sp?), called the guy that was at the top of the credits for the 3D stuff, asked him a bunch of questions over the phone, and he basically said that he looks at portfolios more than education. When I heard that, I moved back home and enrolled at UNT and researched art institutes. I soon found out that UNT had the largest (at the time at least) computer graphics department, plus they're a highly respected Visual Arts school. So, that's where I stayed. In my home town, and very good. Can't argue with that. I was in a minor motorcycle wreck in 1996. I had to temporarily quit taking classes. Bills, rent, life, etc. changed my priorities. Fortunately I was able to hire on with a company that gave me experience I could have never gotten in school. I still wish I had finished and gotten my degree though.

[luckytohaveher]

I think Luckytohaveher is not telling the truth!!!!

He is short!

Don't do it!

 

I am just trying to help some random guy so he doesn't ruin his life! Sorry if I offend, but it really is 'Mother Teresa' type charity and all.

 

Architecture is a profession; however, I must profess there is little to be pro about. The work is fun, the work can be great at times -- but the B.S. factor + liability + volitiliy + no pay = no benefit.

 

I you are truly creative AND smart -- become a designer, renderer, artist, technician, house painter, 3D modeller, wood carver, whatever!!! JUST DON'T GO DOWN THE AIA/NCARB/ARCHITECT TRACT!!! I is a VERY VERY VERY poor investment of time, resources, and energy.

[Sawyer]

There is another aspect to this: Residential designer. My dad is one has been one for over 20 years. He is completely legit he doesn't have an architect sign his drawings. He has schooling and he covers all aspects of the work from site plans to electrical to plumbing and of course architectural. The trick is he cannot use the word Architect or architectural in any form of ads or promo info. And he can only do homes (I believe up to 2 or 3 stories). Government buildings, tall buildings, schools, hospitals there is a lot of stuff off limits.

 

Now my dad gets paid a lot less but his liablity is also relatively small. An architect here in California is resposible for 10 years for anything that happens. But really the thing to keep in mind is that no one will get very far without a really large body of knowledge. By not being an architect you would still be required to follow all the codes restrictions and get pass planning and plan check.

 

Really think about getting into this field. Liabilities are going up by the day. VERY SERIOUS liabilities. I also know architects who will not sign their own drawings because of the liablities.

[Christopher Nichols]

Will I learn the basics in college?

 

Well I went to Rice University, so it has little to do with what is done in architecture firms. Rice is mostly about design. If you want to be a good at being a technical architect, like knowing code, fire ratings on doors, ADA (american disabilities act) requirements, etc... go to a school like Texas A&M... they seem to be into that sorta stuff.

[Elliot]

Hello,

 

This is similar to the advice I got when I was about to get married. It works well with some and it suits horrible with others.....!

 

You have to study because it is a vocation... Not for money.... Profesional gamblers, sport people, attorneys..... make a lot of money and I will never be interested in their honorable professions.

 

Marriage....! In the old days people lasted until they were 50 to 60 years of age so they used to get married at mid-life. Now they last until they are 80-90, don't get married until you are 50...!

 

During that time you can be an architect, a designer, a profesional Indy car driver..... Now it is common to see people with several careers. One of my favorite clients is a doctor, an attorney and an architect.... the amazing thing is that he practices OBGYN because he likes it, law to protect himself but his real pasion is architecture. He owns a construction company a is several times multi-millionaire. The money came from architecture... wich is the last career he studied. Not everybody can or want to be a contractor.... that requires tough skin...!

 

Advise from an old guy....... Enjoy Life...! He he he On the next life I am going to be a tour guide in the Amazon River or a bridge designer. He he he

 

Good Luck

[Wanna_be_architect]

Elliot, thank you.

[Charles Gaushell]

Interesting posts here.

 

Look, do what you love. If you don't like it, money won't be the issue. The downside of course to architecture is that you feel like, "if only I made a bit more".

 

When I quit, I was making $67k as a project architect- worked on cool project, won awards, yada yada. So I was doing okay, but sucking wind compared to my business friends.

 

Quite frankly I love the design and construction aspects, but loved the thought of doing 3d rendering full time even more - and as one said, the liability issues suck in architecture.

 

Architects need to blame only themselves for the state of the industry. They let go too much control during the last half of the century. Arogance and a narrow focus diminished the value. We used to be the "master builder" many moons ago. A major screw up by giving up power and financial opportunities to others.

 

Also, you have idiots that devalue the entire industry and do work for nothing. And people are doing the same in 3D. It ends up hurting everyone.

 

I'll tell you though - I wouldn't trade my education and experience for anything. I got one of the most rounded educations imaginable, worked on great projects and now am able to use that experience in my 3d firm.

 

Good luck!

[jackb602]

Regarding licensing, I realize that in some areas, you can design homes without an architectural license. Working in Chicago as I do, where you practically need a building permit to change a light bulb, that's not an option. And I'm certainly no legal expert, but I do know that in Illinois, plans stamped by an architect must be prepared by him or under his direct supervision. In any case, there are much more interesting aspects of practicing architecture than rules and regulations. Every time I spend an afternoon at the local permit department, I come back ready to sign up for the Libertarian Party.

 

The point I'm trying to make is that if you really want to practice architecture, then go ahead and practice architecture. (Personally, I would feel incredibly limited if I could only design single family homes.) Wanna_be_architect, if you're curious and passionate about architecture, then you'll naturally want to study it and do what's necessary to become a professional. Whether you'll learn the basics in college depends on the kind of program you choose. There are several ways to get a professional degree (BArch or MArch), some of which involve graduate school. If you want advice on specific schools, I and others here can help you out.

 

Jack

[archkre]

Ted :What I meant is my experience shows much worst thing about this damn profession we share than the ones you described!

The happiest day of my life( besides the day my sons were born) was when I quit "trying to make a living as an Architect" and could get into another much more profitable and easy to deal with bussiness, leaving arch. as a hobby!

Cheers

[luckytohaveher]

The bottom line is this. People who are idealistic will probably take a walk down the yellow brick road -- no matter what you let them. That is just human nature. I just wanted to give some insight, disclosure, and advise before someone went and wasted 15 years.

 

Good luck dude! Be an architect if you really want...

 

BTW: You can only refinance your student loans once. So be careful with the financing. A friend of mine got stuck paying $500 a month for 10 years for a school he could only get to 4th year on. Also, if you change your mind almost none of the class are transferrable to another degree.

[Richard McCarthy]

study architecture, you'll love it.

 

it is true that most people who enter the profession grow to hate it very quickly, but very few of those people regret studying architecture. personally, i think it is the best education you could possibly get.

 

i have friends who've graduated and are working in fields from film/set design to conservation/social history research, to one friend who's now a florist. no one i know that has left the architecture office job has ever regretted studying architecture, they just hated the profession.

 

there's a lot of 3d illustrators on this site that went to architecture school

 

 

I agree with KID, architecture is probably the most rounded degree you will ever get out of university. Every other degree is either too specialised or too general.

[gipper51]

Just wanted to add something else to this. Except for a select few, architecture is not the glamorous proffession that Hollywood makes it seem like. Architects don't sit around brainstorming all day in large comtemporary style studios with little models of cities and skyscrapers trying to create the next era-changing design. Most architects work in the trenches doing the dirty work required to get buildings up on time and on budget (hopefully). If you want to be a licensed architectural designer, just be warned that those jobs are far and few between. There may be one designer position for every thirty architect openings.

 

Architecture is a great field, but like so many others it's the BS that goes along with it that makes it a struggle. If you could just do the stuff that you do in school all day for your job it would be great. But the payscale and the liability are what drive many away. Things such as the dreaded "Construction Manager" seems to add more to the BS part of the equation. (Sorry if any of you are CMs

 

Just remember that you will very rarely hear about someone becoming an architect for the money, but you will hear about them changing professions because of it.

[Sawyer]

Another thing to keep in mind is to drive down any street & look at the buildings. Chances are everything was done by an architect. Most buildings are not "Designed" they are really boxes. Costco buidlings have architects working on them as does that Wendys and Budget Inn.

 

Architects aren't doing the pretty stuff most of the time. The Gipper had some really good points. So if you dream of doing Gerry or Wright level of work and that is your motivation ask yourself if you would be just as happy running the nationally approved shell of an Applebees through local plan check and coordinating with civil, drawing a few details and thats it. Or spending the better part of a year doing a large ugly strip mall and if you are lucky having a few great pojects here and there. Like most everything satisfying work is a compromise.

[Wanna_be_architect]

I have always dreamed of being a Architect. I think I am going to go for it, I have a extensive construction background so i should have something to fall back on. I have been working construction since I was 12 so I know about construction things just not much on how a architecture business is run.

 

Can someone sum up how a architecture company is run. Say a homeowner wants a house designed, what happens first and so on?

[Richard McCarthy]

There can be many variation, from my LIMITED (hey, I am just arch student working in a firm ) understanding over here in Australia, you can have a "master builder" to design the house for you... since it's not reqire by the law that you must have arch license to design houses (no more than 2 stories.. no bigger than certain size)

But normally, a client calls an architectural firm, the arch firm then negociate with the client for fee proposal (usually standard template stuff) after that a project architect is assigned to the case. The project architect then proceed to break down the task needed to complete the work and draw up propose schedule. Now, if it's a large firm, usually project architect will get approval from head architect on most of the things and have ENDLESS meetings on these sort of things like schedule and costing ( from the more experience head architect )

after than, project architect goes to survey existing (site, or existing building) and get all the relevent data. He then proceed to draws up the plan/elevation (or the designer he assign to draw it up) and and pass that on to draftsman under his charge... who in turn have junior draftsman/student under his charge who does his bidding. It's all a chain of command. Other consultants are called onto the job in various stage, and finally, a set of drawing is finished for Design Approval (DA). It goes to the QA department usually first, and other more experience architect will look over it, then it goes to the local city council for design approval. If it is approve, it will proceed to the construction documentation stage, with much more drafting and consultation from various people. and finally another set of drawings is completed which is Building approval (BA). Same thing apply... goes through concil and various consultants before it's goes to concil. Once it's approve, the architect can finally builds it....(that doesn't mean he goes to find a contractor / builder to build the house... usually, a builder maybe in cooperation with architect early in the case. Lots of cost planning meeting between the 2 parties was involved early on)

[Richard McCarthy]

haha, luckytohaveher

you are too pessimestic... who knows, he might be the next Frank loyld Wright........or even Gaudi!

[Eric]

This just proves one thing, Darwin was right. There will be unsuccessful choices made by a certain cross-section of each generation. They of course will be unsuccessful and fail in the simulation that is life.

 

I guess perfection is reserved for a limited few.

 

Life is not lived by a series of perfect choices. We learn from our mistakes. If you wish to pursue a career in Architecture, by all means, go for it! I can't think of a degree that I would be more proud of. I chose to quit the school of architecture and pursue an art degree from my local university. When I'm among others and they ask me what my degree was in, I'm always embarassed to say "art". I always glam it up by saying "Communication Design". When they look at me wierd because they've never heard of it, I say "Advertising Art". When they're still confused, I dumb it down and simply say "art". I wish every day that I had continued on with my architectural degree. However, because of the events of life, and already being commited to my 20 year degree plan in Communication Design, it would not currently be a wise choice for me. Nor would changing my degree plan for a 3rd time and up-rooting my family to move back to a school with a decent architecture program.

 

I was not in the architectural program for long - only one year. It was a great year. From the overall picture I witnessed in that program, I can say that you'll come away with a very well rounded degree. You'll study architecture all the way back to B.C. dates. You'll learn about the great architects of all time, and the buildings they created. You'll learn about the Seagrams Building in New York, and how the concrete around the building is (was) heated - untill the homeless found it as a refuge from snow-covered sidewalks in the winter and they had to turn off the heat so the homeless people would leave (I learned this in school, so this may no longer be true, or just a rumor, but you also have to take what you learn in school with a grain of salt). You'll develop friendships that will no doubt last a lifetime because you will spend more time in your studios than in your dorm room. If your program is like the one I was in, you'll even have a temporary home in your studio for the better part of a year because it's easier to sleep there than walk back to your dorm room in the middle of the night.

 

If you want an easy way out, get a different degree. But if you want to immerse yourself in a program that will truly be a challenge, and a life experience, then study architecture. My guess is that you'll either "wash out" (which will prove you'll need to choose another profession), or you'll graduate and look back and realize that you pulled way too many all-nighters and you wish to choose another profession, or you'll come away with a passion for architecture, do your internship, and then either choose another profession because you found out what the field is really like, our you'll stick with what you love and become a registered architect. Or perhaps a designer working under an architect.

 

Don't let one burned out person discourage you. I'm surrounded by people that love what they do, despite the growing legalities.

[jackb602]

Ted,

 

You've made your point (repeatedly) and it's been heard quite clearly. If using all caps is considered yelling, I can only assume that you'd be standing on a street corner with a bullhorn and sign proclaiming "the end is near" if we were having this discussion in person. I don't know what kind of traumatic experience you've had in the practice of architecture, but please give it a break. Not everyone who has practiced architecture or will practice architecture shares your view.

 

Jack

[Eric]

- The Ted has spoken...

 

I believe you mean, "The Ted has taken other people's words out of context."

 

"I chose to quit the school of architecture and pursue an art degree from my local university...I wish every day that I had continued on with my architectural degree."

 

"I was not in the architectural program for long - only one year. It was a great year. From the overall picture I witnessed in that program, I can say that you'll come away with a very well rounded degree."

 

"If you want an easy way out, get a different degree. But if you want to immerse yourself in a program that will truly be a challenge, and a life experience, then study architecture."

 

"My guess is that you'll either 'wash out'... or you'll stick with what you love and become a registered architect."

 

"I'm surrounded by people that love what they do, despite the growing legalities." - not sure what kind of counter argument you were trying to make with this one.

 

Ted, Unibomber, Manson, whatever the heck your name is, quit acting like such a pompous fool, and cease the scornful and belittling attitude you seem to adore flaunting. You're helping no one, and only making yourself a less respected member of this community with further posts to this thread.

[Richard McCarthy]

Or he could turn into the next Kavokian, or Bundy, or Manson, or UNIBOMBER!!!...

 

COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SAID IT BETTER??!??!??!

 

I DON'T THINK SO!!!

 

- The Ted has spoken...

 

 

I agree with others, we are trying to foster a positive environment, so this kind of attitude is not really helping anyone. I understand you may have your frustration with architecture, but there are many more successful architect out there who still love what they do. Also please refrain from "shouting" to make your point.. it not only makes it harder to take your point, but also makes the thread a lot longer than it should. (more scrolling I guess?)

[luckytohaveher]

Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!

 

I have editted the previous postings to better reflect a balanced discussion. I surely do not wish to offend. However, this is one area where I am probably way too passionate!!!

 

I do want to thank you all for the valuable input to our friend.

 

There times when we can disagree over which rendering engine is better or which tree plugin works best or which CPU is fastest. However, when it comes to someone putting in 15 years and $100K of effort you can bet I will be there to help steer them in the right direction.

 

Most importantly, my comments are be based on my experience at 4 different firms in the U.S. over the last 15 years. I am sure other cultures in Europe, Australia, Asia, and elsewhere treat their architects with more repspect, honor, and allow them to make a living. Between the lawyers, MBAs, and developers the architect's roll and position is pretty squeezed. The U.S. is great at a lot of things; however, due to our more capitalist nature we squeeze everything economically as much as the system will allow.

 

If you want to be an architect go for it! You may love it. You may be the next Wright, Gehry, or Gaudi. Just understand that the mountain are going to climb is very tall, steep, and you can possibly get hurt. There will always be people who want to climb Everest. I just don't want ANYONE ending up as an icicle.

 

Once again, I was trying to help...

 

GOOD LUCK!!!

[Wanna_be_architect]

Hey buddy, you did help. If it wasnt for you, I wouldnt know both sides of the story.

 

Once again, thank you guys.