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An architectural degree could lead to a fascinating and rewarding job, regardless of your passion for design or just your desire for a degree that is both creative and analytical. Although it’s common to believe that a degree in architecture may only be used to pursue a profession in the field, architecture has so much more to offer.
With a degree in architecture, you’ll be well-positioned to choose from a variety of professions across several industries. You will, after all, have honed your research, project management, technical, mathematical, and design industry knowledge.
You’re in the right place if you want to be one of the more than 20,000 students who study architecture every year. What can you do, then, with a degree in architecture? That’s a great question; discover out by reading on.
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An architectural degree
An architect is, of course, the obvious response. Naturally, a degree in architecture opens doors to a job in architecture. There are 620,000 architects in Europe and counting, according to a 2022 study conducted by The Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE). There has never been a better moment to pursue architecture education as the industry’s gender and salary gaps continue to close and demand increases.
What does an architect do?
The job of an architect is to plan a building’s or space’s development from conception to completion. These projects might involve building additions, remodels, or new construction.
Even while design is crucial to an architect’s work, daily obligations will be far greater. Among other things, architects will collaborate with engineers and clients, plan and write reports and presentations, visit construction sites, and supervise contractors.
In the UK, the average salary is roughly £40,805 per year, however director level positions can fetch wages as high as £70,000.
How to become an architect
Thus, here’s what you have to do if you want to emulate Frank Lloyd Wright, Zaha Hadid, and Antoni Gaudí.
- Obtain your qualification in three sections. Traditionally, it consists of two years of practical training, an exam, and five years of study; however, apprenticeships are now an option.
- To be formally recognized as an architect, you must register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) upon completion of your BArch, MArch, or diploma.
- Once you are certified as an architect, you can apply to become a chartered member of RIBA, the Royal Institute of British Architects.
CAD technician
You’ll rapidly grow accustomed to various design methods and tools while pursuing an architecture degree. The term computer-aided design, or CAD as it is more widely known, is one you’ll probably hear more of.
What does a CAD technician do?
For usage in engineering or construction, CAD professionals utilize CAD software to make 2D and 3D drawings of machinery, buildings, and other structures.
How to become a CAD technician
You can begin a career as a CAD technician with the fundamental abilities required by an architectural degree. You will undoubtedly acquire the IT, technical drawing, math, and design abilities you need throughout your courses.
Similar to how you are already accustomed to working with architects and having an interest in architecture, you should likewise anticipate working with engineers. Getting the necessary job experience and beginning your first role are the only things left to do.
Go Construct reports that entry-level pay starts at about £17,000 annually, and that for senior roles, the pay can reach £50,000.
Production designer
Nobody knows space like a production designer, as seen by the unique production design of Adam Stockhausen’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and the Afrofuturist production design of Hannah Beachler’s Black Panther. For this reason, starting a career in production design with a degree in architecture is highly recommended.
What does a production designer do?
Your favorite TV series, movies, and theatrical productions’ sets are the work of production designers.
A production designer will create a set that brings the narrative to life in collaboration with the director, director of photography, and other heads of the visual departments. The abilities you acquire while pursuing an architecture degree can assist position you for success, as production designers must possess artistic and design abilities as well as a knowledge of history, cinema, and photography.
How to become a production designer
The majority of production designers begin their careers as trainees in the art department before moving up to the position. Although compensation for production designers varies according on the project and level of experience, it is estimated that annual incomes in the UK average slightly over £30,000.
Interior designer
An interior design career combines your knowledge of space and design with the abilities you’ve honed as an architecture student, much like that of a production designer.
What does an interior designer do?
Interior designers work with a variety of clients to plan and construct rooms that meet their needs and desires, making them one of the most well-known positions on the list (due in part to so many design shows). These customers may be anyone, from new eateries and lodging establishments hoping to establish themselves in the hospitality sector to homeowners wishing to remodel their homes.
Excellent communication skills set outstanding interior designers apart from merely competent ones, even though technical design abilities and creativity are essential to the field.
How to become an interior designer
Even though jobs in interior design are competitive, having a strong portfolio will help you stand out. Interior designers can work as independent contractors or as part of a studio; average pay for the former ranges from £18,000 to £45,000 for more seasoned professionals; freelance fees, however, will depend on the nature of the project.
Read More:An undergraduate degree: what is it?
Town planner
Town planning is an option if you’re looking for something a little more communal.
What does a town planner do?
Town planners, sometimes referred to as urban planners or spatial planners, create designs and plans for outdoor areas and assist in directing the growth and administration of towns, cities, and villages.
Similar to that of an interior designer, this position requires a high level of technical proficiency, research skills, and project management abilities in addition to the capacity to engage with stakeholders and public officials.
How to become a town planner
Getting a degree in architecture and working in town planning (private or public) is an excellent method to develop a broader perspective on space. A postgraduate degree approved by the Royal Town Planning Institute is required to work as a certified town planner (RTPI). You can work in a junior job and do this full- or part-time.
In the UK, town and urban planners make little more than £44,000 annually on average.
Furniture designer
There are two things that everyone who has ever attempted to purchase new furniture is aware of. Two things: first, furniture is pricey; second, there are always more hues of brown than you may imagine. After receiving your architecture degree, if you’re a design enthusiast, you might want to seek a job as a furniture designer.
What does a furniture designer do?
It should go without saying that furniture designers create and design furniture. While some designers might rather work for a well-known company, others may find that their particular style is best suited for freelancing, complete with their own brand.
You can anticipate that every day will be unique and that you’ll be utilizing a combination of creative and analytical talents for tasks like briefings, research, and creative ideation, as well as development and dealing with manufacturers.
How to become a furniture designer
Similar to interior design, having a portfolio that highlights your greatest work can make you stand out from the competition while applying. Shadowing a senior designer will give you the invaluable expertise you need, regardless of whether you want to work for a design company or launch your career as a freelancer.
According to Glassdoor, furniture designers make slightly over £38,000 year on average; but, as is typical, this can fluctuate for freelance work.
Building surveyor
Whether it be in terms of design or construction, quality is the fundamental concept of architecture. Fortunately, building surveyors also have extensive knowledge of quality.
What does a building surveyor do?
Building surveyors evaluate the quality of buildings and provide recommendations for the next course of action through a building survey, which is essentially a report on what actions to take on either the conservation, restoration, and suitability of both old and new buildings. Architects design new buildings or extensions.
Building surveyors require a certain level of fitness, in contrast to most of the positions mentioned in this article, because they frequently visit construction sites and structures to conduct continuing surveys.
Building surveyors require a strong technical and IT background, familiarity with CAD software, meticulous attention to detail, and knowledge of the construction sector. An architecture degree may help you get these qualifications.
How to become a building surveyor
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) requires completion of an accredited conversion course, apprenticeship, degree, or master’s degree in order to qualify as a chartered building surveyor. Once certified, the RICS states that you can earn up to £70,000 annually in this role.
Lecturer
An architecture degree could open doors to a position as an architecture lecturer if you think a career in teaching would be the best fit for you.
What does an architecture lecturer do?
As anticipated, among other duties, you’ll be in charge of creating seminar and lecture materials, grading tests and assessments, assigning homework, and monitoring pupils.
How to become an architecture lecturer
Being a practicing architect is always preferable, especially since you will be influencing the perspectives and educational experiences of architects to come. In addition, a PhD plus a teaching credential will point you in the proper path for a job that is expected to pay £56,312 annually.
But it’s always ideal to get your questions answered directly from the source, and who better to ask your most important questions regarding a career in architecture than a lecturer?
Structural engineer
You’ll quickly discover that utility and practicality are just as vital as fashionable and contemporary design when pursuing an architecture degree. So, a career as a structural engineer ought to seem like a logical next step after your academic pursuits.
What does a structural engineer do?
Building structures that are sturdy and safe are the responsibility of structural engineers. Making sure that their structures are safe and resilient to all types of stress is structural engineers’ first priority, from planning and designing to collaborating with designers, builders, and other experts.
The most crucial abilities for this position are accuracy, good technical and design skills, and attention to detail.
How to become a structural engineer
Candidates who successfully complete a master’s program in structural engineering and are accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) may be eligible for Chartered or Associate membership with IStructE as well as possibly membership in The Engineering Council. These requirements also include work experience, an Initial Professional Development (IPD), and a review. Structural engineers typically make £41,445 a year.
Illustrator
Although drawing is only one aspect of architecture, having strong drawing and design abilities is essential to earning an architecture degree. In light of this, pursuing a career as a professional illustrator seems like a natural next step.
What does an illustrator do?
Illustrators make drawings, which should go without saying. Similar to architecture, your area of interest will decide your specialization; this can be anything from book illustration to fashion illustration to, yes, courtroom art.
How to become an illustrator
Sketching is the only solution, so keep sketching. Over time, practice makes perfect, and refining your technique will only highlight your unique drawing style. It’s possible that you solely depict in black and white or that you emphasize certain aspects; practice will help you develop a portfolio that will show this.
Illustrators might work for independent businesses, studios, agencies, or in-house at one particular organization. You have a lot of options, but networking with other independent contractors and sharing your work can really help.
Although average annual incomes are stated to be £31,456, there are countless examples that might be used. Do not take that figure lightly, though, as freelancers have gone on to work with big clients and collaborate with other creatives to produce their own renowned images (see: Quentin Blake and Nick Sharratt).
