Category: ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO ADVICE (Also – Check out the WORKSHOPS Section)

I wrote the following to a mature student considering Architecture:

You have indicated that you see this as a career change. Try to re-frame it as a logical ‘next step’ that you have decided to take at the appropriate time.  So it should look like a logical development, not aimless experimentation.

Your age is not a problem,  I would say 30 is about average. Career Testing at UBC is an option if you can afford it. If you were 45 now it will be a problem in the job market after univ. , because you would then  be in your 50’s looking for a first job in an architecture office.  Do you have any relatives who were architects or builders?   I know it sounds strange, but I have been in conversations where ‘heredity’ was a factor…just sayin’… If you have it, don’t hide it. “My great grandfather was a mason who worked on cathedrals in Europe.” They wouldn’t ignore that.

Don’t be intimidated by the amount of things in the portfolio write-up (also in this blog). Do as much as you can and just APPLY. Think about how things you have already done can ‘creatively’ be restated to fulfill some of the elements in the portfolio pdf’.  Everything can relate to architecture. For example, try googling ‘mime and architecture’,’ music and architecture’, etc. Even office work and organizing classes are related as ‘group work skills’, lifeskills. If you play a musical instrument – ‘architecture is frozen music’. Very few people can cover it all. (but some can(;-)  The trick is to be strategic – do some 2D drawing, some 3D work, some measured drawing (drafting), some computer stuff, but don’t emphasize hardball CAD.  Find a retired Architect, who can $$$tutor you in CAD and drafting, enough to cover that without BCIT.  There are several weekend courses at ECUAD year-round in Continuing Studies. All of my own courses are aimed at producing portfolio stuff. Doing some architect interviews will show you are serious. Quote their names (important that you remember and are respectful), You can do it by email if nec. Also, you might find a mentor among them who can employ you, do reference letters, etc. The portfolio  grid pdf in this blog is not official. It is only a general guide to the thinking. Some schools are very formal, some a little less so.

There is also a thing called the ‘minimum syllabus’. Google  it in connection with the RAIC ( Royal Architecture Institute of Canada   http://www.raic-syllabus.ca/   ‘ It is a kind of apprentice system by which most people used to get into architecture before universities got into the business. Universities downplay it and it takes a very long time, but at least you are working. Even the university route takes a very long time.

The way I look at it, if you don’t have the bucks to go to univ straight through, doing it in chunks that give you a piece of paper and a marketable skill  at 1 -2 year part time intervals can be an option. : two years at BCIT (then you are a drafter), ECUAD cert Programs (develops your drawing skills), SFU urban studies (municipalities and planners will like you), each builds skills and has certificates at the end, plus serious portfolio pieces. That way, if you decide you’ve had enough or find an interesting alternative, at least you have some excellent resume building completions.  Whereas, half of an architecture degree is worse than useless, in my opinion.

Just get as ready as you can for next year and APPLY to about  five univs: U of T, UBC, U of Man,, Dalhousie, U of Wash, U of Calgary. plus any others you can think of, even if you don’t see yourself relocating – things might change by the time you have to accept. Be pushy about getting feedback if you are rejected, and apply again. Many are accepted on a second, more  fine-tuned attempt.  Also, ideally apply no later than November for the following year, because if there is a tie and all other things being equal, they can decide to take the earlier applicant. Also, do not wait until the last minute to ask for referral letters. These are now often done online and believe me refs hate to be doing it over Christmas holidays because students are slow or disorganized!!!  Aim to do the work at the univs by Nov…you don’t submit portfolio at that time. You also should have at least one ‘academic’ reference, if possible. Always follow up with a sincere thank you, including (my suggestion) a Starbucks gift card. You might need the goodwill of these people next year for re-applying or for scholarship applications. Tell them how you made out, accepted or not.

Final point – You are trying to market yourself to universities as a future professional. Later you are marketing yourself to an employer and to clients. Think about what you look like as a job applicant:  The university degree is GOOD, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. What are you bringing to the party that will allow an employer to charge for your time? The pressure and competition never ends.

Again, Good luck!   Tony

 

Click here to download PDF PORTFOLIO IDEAS

Portfolio Suggestions:  The application process for design schools can seem to be a mysterious process. It’s a competition – take it seriously, but don’t be reluctant to do it if it’s what you want. They want to find out if you are mature enough, prepared enough and will be interesting enough to have around for several years, compared to the other candidates. The best candidates will make the best students, the best studio colleagues for other students, the best graduates, and will often bring the school the best reputation as professionals down the road. So, you see, it’s not about WHAT YOU WANT – It’s about WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE or “what you bring to the party”. Keep that in mind as you write your letter of intent. This is a set of totally unofficial personal observations from some previous experiences as a portfolio evaluator for another design school, not the one you are applying for. CHECK SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPECIFIC SCHOOL YOU ARE APPLYING TO – THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT!  

These are some suggestions for addressing many of the criteria for entrance into a design program where entry is competitive and where a portfolio review and/or interview is required. It is for built environment design, but could be applicable to other types of design programs also. The ‘evidence’ items are only examples.  Few people could actually fill every space below, but if you have areas of ‘deficiency’ these suggestions may start you thinking about how to remedy them. Nothing is guaranteed, however, and much depends on the nature of your competition from other applicants that year. Problem-solving and creativity have a higher ‘weighting’ generally than the other criteria. Visual literacy, drawing skills. awareness of the profession ,craftsmanship and life-skills would be next in value. Digital, written and oral language would be less weighted, though still necessary.  Organize the portfolio clearly according to the criteria from the specific School. Make everything orderly and obvious…don’t make evaluators hunt for relevant info. Prove with physical, tangible evidence that you have met each criteria. A mere statement is not enough. Make your portfolio sing and APPLY. Get feedback, then refine it and APPLY again!

First of all –If they have an Open House, GO TO IT! Talk to presenter/instructors – Wear a nametag! Then APPLY – Even if you don’t quite feel ready this year apply anyway and go through the process. The fact is, depending on the competition, you might make it and save a year, or at least you will have valuable feedback – be insistent about getting feedback.. People who just go away and work to remedy self-assessed shortfalls are not guaranteed entrance. Applicants who are turned down may get some credit for perseverance and commitment, but only if they did some serious work to improve their work and submission.   Depending on the school or program, 20-30% of candidates may be resubmissions.  Being turned down the first time can be advantageous as it gives you time to target and acquire the skills necessary to cope with the program and benefit, instead of struggling through. Evaluators are careful because if a poorly prepared or uncommitted person drops out after a year, there is an empty space that continues through the 3-4 years that could have been filled by a stronger or more committed candidate. Politely request specific feedback if rejected – do it right away, don’t wait.  Some programs do this as a matter of practice, some do it only if requested, some don’t do it at all – but ASK for it without delay, twice if necessary. Don’t be too obnoxious about it, but a generic form letter from them is useless. Schools put people through a lot of trouble applying, so you are certainly at least entitled to ask for that consideration.

All typing and portfolio itself should be clean and professional. A good size/format is 11 x 17. Make the images large and clean within the format.- use photoshop or equal. Each criterion below should form a section in the portfolio with a brief written description plus the ‘evidence’ pieces. The sections should be clearly labeled and separable so several evaluators can look at sections at the same time, but should obviously belong to the same package. Have unity and emphasis…ie.  one section is larger/special. Think about how to lay the portfolio out on a tabletop to make a display. Show numerous quick sketches. Engage the senses…sight, sound, touch, smell. Use interesting but clear graphic layout…ask a graphic designer friend to help or critique. Use three levels of type – headers, subtext, body text….adequate but minimal writing. Think about “Branding” – Who are you and how are you different from other candidates? Evaluators might say, ”Let’s have another look at the dancer, the musician, the business person”. They will seldom say, “Let’s have another look at that person who was pretty much like everyone else”. How can you show your ‘brand’, who you are, in your portfolio? How about adding a “Me” page?

If there is an oral interview be ready to verbally discuss and explain things such as: “Why sample X in your portfolio is ‘creative’. What does ‘Creativity’ mean? Why do you want to be a designer? What are your strong points?  What are your weak points? Who is your favourite designer and why?  What is one example of good design and why? Any designers/builders among family or friends? Name a registered professional designer you know personally. Connect through local Architectural Association website. Interview at least one registered professional designer in your area of interest and have a little questionnaire about what they like or dislike about working as a designer; what do people usually make after 2yrs, 5yrs, 10yrs.; would they recommend their job to a young person; would they do it again themselves? Remember their name and some projects.” Think about these questions and even write out the answers in prep for an interview so you are relaxed and thorough.

Take a public speaking course and also add evidence of this to your life-skills portfolio section.  They want to know that you are mature and thoughtful about what design really is and that you are realistic about what the work-life of a designer will be like. It is in large part about very hard and detailed work and RESPONSIBILITY for other people’s money. It is a SERVICE job, different from fine art, which is more about YOU as an artist, by comparison. It might seem like a lot of work, but investing the years and $$thousands to enter a profession for a lifetime without doing these things to become aware of the realities is just plain foolish. Good luck!

Suggested Examples of Evidence:

This non-specific example table may help you to think outside the box when creating your portfolio and written submission. Did you study jazz dance, rock climb, teach in Borneo? (No kidding – google “architecture and jazz dance”.) Everything relates to design – be able to explain how your interest/experience does so –  eg ‘heightened awareness of the human form moving through space’! Make it tangible – show photos. Remember, adjudicators are evaluating you as a potential colleague who they and your fellow students will have to work with for several years. The portfolio is more than just a collection of objects in a folder. It’s EVIDENCE of your readiness, uniqueness, ability to contribute in a studio group and likelihood of success during and beyond the program. Evaluators may use a score sheet similar to this (Partly adapted from a scoresheet for Interior Design at Kwantlen Polytechnical University):

Sample Criteria	Evidence   suggestions/examples	Scoring and   Comments Minimal/Adequate/Outstanding
Problem Solving:Ability to articulate and define problems. Depict, propose   and execute solutions. Organized and integrated.	Drafted plan of room/furniturePhotos of finished projectplans and details for shelvingphotos of completed shelving	-socially aware, worked as a volunteer for CNIB and   designed an apartment for a -blind person-designed a shelving system
Creativity / Originality:Innovative, unexpected, thought provoking	course outline and fee receiptsketches in sketchbookphotos of self in performance	took a course in ‘lateral thinking’designed pieces of furniturestudied dance, mime, acting
Drawing Freehand	sketchbook (should be full !)course certificate and samples	sketches of 50 – 100 objectstook perspective sketch class
Drawing Technical– measured drafting	sample sheets of hand or     computer draftingcertificate of completion	plan/section/elevation and details of own house drawn to   scalebasic night school drafting course
Visual Literacy:range, understanding, 2D and 3D	paintings . lots of object sketchesphotos  of   sculptures in various lighting, creative photog.  Etc.	personal artwork, still-lifeclay sculptures of human figure– just sculpt and photo –   don’t cast them…this takes time.
Craftsmanship:level of skills, attention to detail and care in execution	photos and/or originalsphotos and/or originals	ceramics///hand thrown pottery on wheel, and handbuilt   pieces.woodworking class samplestook digital photography course
Digital Literacy:variety of software and level of skills	certificates and/or sampleshave printouts of webpages	photoshop, msword, excel, powerpoint, autocad 1 and 2created own website
English Oral:clear and effective at presenting ideas and handling   questions	InterviewPublic speaking certificate	good question responses in interview
English Written:Clear expression, grammar, spelling, ability to write   essays, letters, etc.	Language proficiency testing or transcripts of education   in the English languageessay samples	education in the language, toefl or similar testing,creative writing coursereport writing course
Awareness of Design Profession:research, level and range of understanding, amount of   exploration.	printouts from internet on registration process for the   profession (not dated night before the interview)written in-person   interview answers and analysis from at least 3 registered professionals in   the field…NAME THEM!	necessary but not sufficientcreate own probing questionnaire about the profession and   have in-person or telephone interviews with practicing professionals
Life skills:resume. questionnaires, reference letters, work habits,   life experience, travel,  commitment,   maturity, perseverance,  altruism, leadership,   community involvement, teamwork, organization and time management,   discipline, stress management, motivation and entrepreneurship, etc.	certificates, letters of reference, photographsphotos of buildings and gardensphotos of team	volunteered for non-profit society worked in customer   service retailoffice experiencecustomer service trainingwas high school peer counselorinteresting travel experiencesplayed on sports team and was assistant organizer.does yoga (stress relief)