Looking for advice on building a career as an architecture student

Rhino
1

Hi everyone!

I’m currently a 4th-year architecture student, and since my first year, I’ve developed a strong passion for parametric design, especially Rhino and Grasshopper.

Lately, I’ve been thinking seriously about pursuing a career where these skills are more than just an additional tool in architecture. While researching, I’ve come across a lot of different fields: computational design, parametric design, façade engineering, building optimization, environmental analysis, digital fabrication, BIM, etc.

The problem is that I’m a bit lost about how all these fields connect and which direction I should take. In my local context, most conventional architecture firms don’t really value or use parametric/computational design, so I’m wondering how realistic it is to build a career around these skills, especially internationally.

For those already working or studying in these fields:

  • What career paths can someone with an architecture background and strong Rhino/Grasshopper skills pursue?
  • How different are roles like computational designer, façade engineer, building performance/optimization specialist, etc.?
  • What Master’s degrees or specializations would you recommend?
  • What skills should I focus on developing during the next 1–2 years?
  • What kind of projects should I build for my portfolio?
  • How important are programming skills (Python/C#), BIM, environmental analysis, structural engineering, digital fabrication, etc.?
  • What internships or professional experiences would be valuable?
  • And if you studied abroad, are there any universities or scholarships you would recommend?

I’m basically trying to figure out how to turn my interest in parametric design into an actual career path rather than having it remain just a useful architecture skill.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through a similar path or currently work in this area. Thanks!

2

Hi, @Laud_Laud. Great questions!

My immediate answer is there’s no perfect path, and I hope you enjoy your journey instead of overplan it or endlessly search for something that will remain elusive. That said, it sounds like your architectural education has been paying off, given you have developed an interest in computational design. Combining all the facets of an architectural education into one exact career path is atypical from my vantage point as an architecture professor and professional. If you are interested in specific facets, 4th year is a good time to start specializing some of your technical knowledge. I remember a seminal 1-unit counseling class I took during 2nd year where the head counselor asked us to find 10 job postings we were interested in and to start tuning our skills, experience, and resume toward them. You’ll find a LOT of advice just by looking at what qualifications those jobs are looking for. Don’t hesitate to contact them, too. Explain that you are a 4th year architecture student, and you’d like to ask them a few questions–similar to the ones you are asking above.

Personally, my journey has been absolutely varied. From working as a hand drafter for a construction company and also transitioning a fire sprinkler company over to CAD drafting to working in architecture offices locally, then as a fabricator, and eventually working with Frank Gehry’s computational design company Gehry Technologies, among many other discipline-related and non-discipline related jobs. Ya, I fluffed pillows and built furniture at Pier 1 Imports as a second job to make ends meet while in school. I’ve also been a longshorman and a design manager for a high-end fabricator, and now working at McNeel while being a tenured professor of architecture. It’s a fun journey, this thing we call architecture. Yes, I’m a Rhino & Grasshopper specialist, and yes, it’s been a long road with a lot of uncertainty, but my 3D and computational design skills have always been there to help others know I’m serious about design technology and championing other people on their journey.

To answer you questions specifically:

  1. The world is yours to make with it what you will. The study of architecture is broad enough for you to pursue work in almost any field. Do that job search I mentioned and see what feels best to you, especially in areas of the country/world you want to be employed after school.
  2. Each role/job has nuanced knowledge that you’ll want to specialize in, eventually. For most entry-level positions, firms often hire based on a student’s ability to bring in contemporary workflows and tools.
  3. There are a few Masters of Computational Design programs, including at my alma mater SCI-Arc and many even offer these as online programs now. It all depends on where you are and what networking opportunities you are looking for–which is a MAJOR reason to choose a school and program of study.
  4. Get really good with integrating your design research with contemporary workflows, including computational design, environmental analysis, and use of artificial intelligence. There are many plugins for Rhino & Grasshopper that can help you facilitate this type of skill-building alongside your design research and architectural process.
  5. Your portfolio will be larger than what you send to specific schools and/or jobs. Tune your portfolio for the qualifications they are looking for. Generally, include studio work with supportive technical workflows, but don’t hyperfocus on software. Outcomes from a techical class can be good, but should not be the center of attention in an architecture portfolio. If you presented 5 projects, 3 should be “high design” studio work, maybe 1 technical class’ outcomes, and 1 personal/passion project. NOTE: I teach a portfolio class and have also been a portfolio reviewer for academic and professional jobs.
  6. General knowledge of programming, BIM, environmental analysis, and digital fabrication are bonuses for sure. Get good with AI & Python, explore some Rhino & GH plugins, and if your school has a shop, make some cool stuff using digital to analog workflows.
  7. ANY internship you can get in a professional office and/or shop environment will be invaluable to you. I always say YOU are interviewing to see if you want to work in a certain field, place, and/or skill level. Take your time to work in a few different settings to see what you like the most.
  8. I didnt’ study abroad, but I did choose SCI-Arc’s Master of Architecture II program to take a long 2.5 year “vacation” for graduate school. While expensive, it was absolutely the key that unlocked my future. Where you choose to go to school has everything to do with your future network, what your education will be known for to others (pedagogy), and whether your future will be one that includes teaching, designing, making, experimenting, and/or being a technical guru. SCI-Arc did all 5 for me. It’s been 20 years since graduating in 2006, and I wouldn’t change anything about how I approached my career, even with all the twists and turns.

Check out more about my journey via my resume & CV and a few porfolios at https://stevefuchs.com. Cheers!

3

Steve’s response #7 is really good, it took me a couple positions to figure out that i’m interviewing an office just as much as they’re interviewing me.

my answer to the first half of your sentence: it’s the labor of the architect (or designer if not a building) to make those fields connect, and they connect quite literally though the project you design and model/draw regardless of whether it’s generated by a script or some other means.

i don’t think specializing in structural engineering vs. environmental analysis vs. fabrication optimization will provide you with understanding how all these fields connect with each other. these disciplines all look to the architect (or designer if not a building) for design direction and approval of technical solutions. so if you are in year 4 (of 4 years or 5 years?) i recommend taking survey classes about the various disciplines to learn more about them before you commit an entire masters to them.

4

Throwing my 2 pence because why not :slight_smile:

I did, so I think so! I Started out as an Architecture Student, moved into BIM/Revit eventually Computational Design in Architecture, Façades, Stadia, Analysis, and then into a Structural Engineering / Fabrication context and eventually a programmer :slight_smile:

They’re all interconnected and I’d even say that whilst they are places you can specialize, they share a lot of similar skill and you should find you can move laterally around each them :slight_smile:

Find an AEC company with the kind of portfolio you want to be a part of and send over your CV and portfolio. If they offer an interview, great! And if you don’t get the position you can ask them what you’re missing and work on those missing parts whilst you work up to it.

As you’re fresh out of school, you can in theory try for all of them, in my experience firms like fresh faces with fresh ideas trying new things in new spaces.

I think you can grow into any of them from where you are now. I think the main difference between them is not (hugely) the tools they use, but the knowledge they have gained by doing it for a long time.

Get good at interviewing :laughing:

I would suggest trying out the profession first to see if you even like it. I did Architecture originally and realised I hated it, so I moved into Computational Design. So glad I didn’t do an Architecture Masters first! Not to mention, if you find a firm that likes you enough, they may offer funding to help you with a Masters if you do decide to get it!

Really dumb suggestion, but once for a job I didn’t have enough relevant stuff in my portfolio, so I actually recreated 3 projects of a company I was applying for to fill it up and “show I could do what they do” and they liked that so much they hired me :laughing: !

Programming is very useful, it teaches you a very new way to think that they did not teach me in Architecture, that paired with Architecture knowledge is a powerful combination imo.

No idea if that’s useful, but it’s roughly my experience :slight_smile:

Best of luck out there!