Any architects about, I have a question about the job/career?

[JacobReesMogadishu]

Currently the mum of a first year architecture student who is worried about the upcoming recession. She read somewhere that the majority of architecture firms might go bust over the next few years.

I know it’s quite competitive to get a job even in normal times. Would she be unreasonable to carry on with the degree? Last thing she wants is 7 years of training and uni fees and no chance of a job at the end of it. I’ve said if she wants to pack it in and start a different degree in Sept (if she can get a place) she could do. She loved graphic design at school so that’s one possibility. I know graphic designers may also be impacted but maybe not as much as architecture.....you can use graphic designers for quite small scale stuff but architecture tends to be a massive outlay?

7 years is a LONG time - too far in the future to be worrying about what the situation might be like by then, in my opinion.
Plus the housing shortage is not going to go away - developers will still need to build, and architects will need to design for them.

But you don't commit to the 7 years all at once do you? I thought Part 1 Architecture is a BA, then you work before doing Part 2/masters equivalent and then work some more before doing Part 3/final exams? So once you do Part 1 you'll be able to see if you get a good job or if you need to pursue other opportunities. I know a few architects and think it's an amazing career - you have to be clever and artistic. If you're good enough to get on to a Part 1 course I would do it and see what happens. It will be a good foundation for other careers in design.

Sorry, I have just seen that you are writing about your daughter and not yourself. I think YWB very very unreasonable to encourage her to 'pack it in'. As I understand architecture is a much more competitive and prestigious course than graphic design - you can do an architecture degree and become a graphic designer but you can't do graphic design and then be an architect.

Have a look at the RICS website. See what she would have to do to convert to a Building Control Officer? or at worst a Town Planner

DH did the "old style" BCO route which took 7 yrs, but was a few yrs of day release, professional diary and dissertation, with a professional interview at the end.

cbuilde.com/page/cabe_member_grades
or
www.rics.org/uk/

admittedly this career path is more game keeper than poacher iyswim - it makes the architect design something that "vaguely" complies with the regs

Hi, Dh is one. He started his practice during the last recession which was a good time to start from his POV as people wanted lower prices. Then he gradually worked his way up. I also know people who did the degree and then chose not to do part two. It's a great degree as you obviously learn a lot of technical stuff as well as business along side creativity. Lots of transferrable skills.

Could she speak to the RIBA about this, in an advice capacity?

Also, there's next to no women in architecture and I know Dh has deliberately made sure their practice is "diverse" - obviously they're very good at what they do.

I'd say it's not a massively family compatible profession though. Works better if you are an architect and you marry one!

With two years out it took Dh 9 years!

Architects often have kids late....

Thanks for the advice.

I wouldn’t say I’m encouraging her to pack it in. She expressed concerns and I’ve told her if she feels she doesn’t want to continue then that’s ok, that we’d support her whatever she chooses to do and that she does have options.

Obviously in an ideal world she carries on and there’s loads of jobs at the end of it.

I hadn’t considered (and don’t think she had either) the thought of doing the first 3 years and that being a stepping off point if she wanted to and exploring careers with transferable skills. So will encourage her to do some research surrounding that.

But good point about 7 years being a long time. Thanks.

She has options even if she does the degree. I know an architect who went in to private equity

I think one I know became a professional photographer for other architects.

I'm an architect. Like other professions it goes through ups and downs and the building industry suffers more than most with economic recessions. However. It's cyclical - in 2 years when she finishes her degree it could be boom time. And then once degree finished she could look at doing something else rather than progress to part 2.

I would actually say other design professions almost suffer worse - housing is going to be happening apace for a while given the current programmes and shortages. It's also a wide ranging profession and you can specialise in many different areas.

tbh in 7 years time things might be picking up again. I'm an M&E engineer rather than an architech and have been made redundant due to the 2008 crash and again in 2011 when the Tories started austerity. Its a worrying time to be in construction but there are certain projects that are always going to be needed. I specislise in healthcare now. Honestly to me doing graphic design when you have qualified for architecture seems such a waste (sorry any graphic designers!) its not just drawing pictures of buildings, its a very technical job.

Just asked Dh who has also taught at the uni and takes them on placements.

Yes a number of practices will fold and the year 3s may struggle to get a place but that's happened before and they shuffled around the part 3 uni based section, so placements happened at the end.

First years will be fine in his opinion; if you're already in uni it'll be ok. Worst case scenario is the part 3 happens immediately after part 1. I'm fairly sure she could take a year out too.

Thanks everyone. She is really enjoying the course and I agree it would be a shame to stop the degree because of a fear about job uncertainty. She’s feeling more reassured about the possibility of other career options following the undergrad course if she chooses to step off at that point.

Things will have changed in 6 years. I work with architects every day. If you're good you'll never struggle for work

I'm a computer animator and did a degree in animation and have lots of friends who did the sister course of graphic design, I think a degree in architecture is very transferable to graphic design or compurer modelling however graphic designers wouldn't be able to transfer as easily to architecture. I say if she's enjoying and excelling at the course she should continue with architecture, in my mind it's a more prestigious degree, graphic design degrees can sometimes be a bit generalised and unspecialised. (Bit of web design bit of product design bit of photography etc etc) and LOTS of competition.

I did my part 1 architecture degree but decided not to continue mainly due to the fact it is not a very family compatible profession. The degree offers lots of transferable skills particularly if you are interested in construction and design. Both I and lots of uni friends now work in building control, planning and housing so if she is enjoying the course it does offer a number of future options. Architects are always vulnerable in recessions and I know a number who have been redundant in the last few weeks but they will always be needed so the market is quite changeable.