Architecture x Infinity
Harness your Knowledge and Advance a Cause Bigger than Buildings
If you studied architecture, you know the dilemma: become a registered architect, or explore something else?
Part of you wonders if there’s more out there. Licensure takes time, money, and you’re not even sure it will fulfill you.
However, because you think your architecture degree alone isn’t worth much and don’t know what else to do, you decide to stick with the familiar path: get a job at a firm and pursue licensure. At least then you can build.
But have you stopped to reflect if that’s what you really want? What if all that time, energy, effort and resources could be spent creating impact, straight out of school?
If you ask me, spending even a year on work that doesn’t align with my values and lacks meaning feels like a waste. It must be painful to merely deliver physical objects for the sake of 'building’. Even before graduating from architecture school, I knew licensure likely wasn’t my path, yet here’s the thing: I can still envision a future where I engage in design or building in meaningful ways.
Your architecture studies are a launchpad for creating massive impact — if you know what you stand for.
Know what you stand for — and you won’t just create multiple income streams that sustain you and your creativity; you’ll unlock a universe of opportunities where your hunger for impact can flourish in ways you never imagined.
1 — Know what you stand for:
We all carry something deep within our hearts that we care about, whether we’re aware of it or not. It’s that bigger ‘something’ that possibly led us to study architecture in the first place. Until we uncover that cause, we are depriving ourselves of a life of service, meaning and deep fulfilment.
What do you care about? Is it social impact? Climate? Urban life? Play? Biodiversity? Inclusion? Place and Community? Bees? Justice? Childbirth? People? Healthy materials? Transport? A combination?
It’s okay if you don’t have a clear answer. Let me ask you in other words: What issues do you see that need to be addressed, whether at school, your workplace, or the world at large? What is ‘not working’ in the built environment that you pinch yourself and secretly, or not so secretly, try to find solutions to? What is your pain?
Knowing what you stand for is deeply practical.
If you know your cause, then choosing a path after graduation becomes a lot easier. Rather than you needing to motivate yourself, your cause motivates you and draws to you the opportunities, positions, people and resources needed to advance it. With razor-sharp clarity, you can cut to the chase amidst choice paralysis, however, your path doesn’t get smaller — paradoxically, it gets bigger, diversifying and expanding into all sorts of directions, as you dedicate yourself to your vision and transform your career into a powerful vehicle for impact.
See, when we lose sight of what truly matters to us, that’s when the path gets muddled because we more likely follow ‘what everyone does’, advancing agendas that may not align with our best interest, let alone the interest of the greater good! When we don’t pause to question and reflect, we make unaligned choices and risk perpetuating exploitative, purely profit-based practices that maintain a status quo begging for change. We’ll do anything to climb the ranks — just so we can build.
Are you someone who asks Why?
I know I didn’t used to be. During my Bachelor studies in Vienna, I could see myself building grand public buildings one day that would become visited by millions around the globe. Almost predatory in my worldview, I looked up to the industry’s giants — those ‘who made it’ — and looked down on anyone who was trying to create meaningful change. So, what happened to me, you may wonder? That’s a long story (book is coming!), but I’ll reveal this: a cathartic moment during a breakup in 2018 led to me seeking my truth — ever since that turning point, I've made ‘asking Why' my constant companion and truth my north star.
This made it very clear what opportunities to say Yes to, and which to say No to — leading me to question every step of the way and only accept what aligns. As a result, I declined a corporate job offer at a ‘starchitecture’ firm after graduation (I didn’t agree with their practices, I cared ZERO for their work, I didn’t want to be treated like another work slave, I felt highly uncomfortable during the interview — things I would have dismissed previously suddenly became unacceptable); then, through ‘happy coincidence’ a position as a TV host found me (with the nicest ‘job interview’ that felt like catching up with a long-lost friend); I started a platform called What Architecture School Does Not Teach You (where I combine many of my passions and include multiple media outlets); and I also worked as an event manager for a marketing company (where I honed my communication skills).
This brings us to the next point: Your cause is like a compass.
The usual path is: Graduate with a degree → apply for positions at architecture firms → build a portfolio → gain licensure → start your own practice → design and construct buildings. But know that this is simply one path out of many and doesn’t have to be yours if it doesn’t align with your cause.
So, what do you stand for?
Once you’re clear on that, my friend, the world is open to you. You’re no longer bound to a singular way of doing; you can find your own weird, wonderful answers and blaze a different trail.
What do you have to lose?
Let’s say your cause is affordable housing. Instead of following the expected path, you carve your own, seeking out the exact opportunities, positions and experiences you need to advance your cause. This could indeed involve working for architecture firms and gaining experience on housing projects (and include different positions with a different focus, e.g. community engagement, client relations, presentation), but it could also mean ‘hopping’ across different fields.
Your architectural vision can take you on a wild, meaningful ride if you dare to be open. Think of it as a ‘career parkour’ where each step builds your unique toolkit for creating the change you seek.
You might dive into government work and decode policy-making to reshape housing regulations from the inside. Or join an NGO, where you could press to collaborate more closely with communities. You could apply to an ethical real estate developer or work for a tech startup to explore building methods. Or you might decide to join the world of the creator economy where thousands of architecture graduates are leveraging digital platforms to educate, inspire, connect and share content with aligned audiences while forging alternative career paths and making a handsome living.
2 — Share your Knowledge:
So often we stand in our way. Your cause is right in front of you but you may not recognize it because you’re looking for this big thing, like ‘sanitation for all’. If you’re trying to come up with a grandiose cause, you’re blocking it. Your cause doesn’t have to be big; it can be as simple as passing on knowledge or skills to others.
Think of it as a shift from Me to We that concerns not just your own interest, but also that of others.
What problem did you encounter during your studies? Can you solve it so that others don’t have to go through the same? What do you wish you had been taught earlier? What are important topics that you feel should be addressed more? What questions need to be asked that you could pose and help answer?
Right now, countless online creators — architecture students, graduates, architects, designers and creative professionals — are researching, sharing their knowledge and offering solutions on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Substack and specialized blogs/vlogs to shed light on topics they truly care about, e.g.:
changing the toxic culture in many architecture firms
highlighting the voices of marginalized practices and practitioners
teaching computer skills like Photoshop or Revit
raising mental health awareness in the design profession
demystifying the business side of running an architecture practice
exploring the role of emerging technologies in construction
advocating for more equitable and inclusive built environments
I am cheering on these folks because they're not just helping fellow colleagues on their journey; they’re building a massive knowledge base online that has the power to bridge the gap between education and practice in ways many architecture schools can't, thus, reshaping architectural learning for the digital age.
They are shaping the future of architecture.
The Dutch architect and founder of the Pritzker-Prize-winning practice OMA Rem Koolhaas says, ‘Architecture’s greatest value in the future might not even be architecture’, suggesting that we can ‘think of the modern world maybe not always in the form of buildings but in the form of knowledge’.
Is he implying the value of architectural thinking beyond designing physical structures?
Peter Raisbeck, an architect, researcher and design tutor at the University of Melbourne offers a similar perspective on knowledge futures and challenges the profession to transcend the 'cult of design' – a paradigm he believes may be stifling innovation and, yes, ideas.
Are you part of this cult?
It’s no secret that architecture schools have been complicit in perpetuating this cult-like fixation on building and buildings. Think back to your student days. Could you imagine architecture as anything other than (designing) buildings?
The physical projects we had to study, the many lecture examples of (iconic) marvels, the pressure to deliver actual designs — all shaped our understanding in a very specific way that, I felt, was hard to question in the midst of it and, if left unquestioned, would automatically mould career choices, design practices and the very perception of our field.
What if knowledge were put at the forefront of education and you were encouraged to question, explore and conceive beyond just building? How would you innovate differently? Given the state of our world, isn't it time we all became hyper-intentional about what we want to build, and why?
This is where I see a new horizon for architecture graduates — a globalized yet highly localized network of knowledge fueled by the creator economy and a fresh generation of out-of-the-box thinkers that’s so powerful it can complement, even surpass traditional education. Imagine learning about the built environment through countless different lenses, passions, disciplines and mediums. Imagine being exposed to and generating wealth in the form of knowledge — not only would your worldview drastically expand; it would transform how others think and interact with the world and open up exciting opportunities of engagement that allow you to further advance what’s closest to your heart: your cause.
What knowledge are you currently hoarding? What lessons, stories and experiences are you holding back from sharing?
The usual architectural hoarder mentality of keeping knowledge exclusive is out. Instead, sharing is in. We're living through a global aha moment. No need to wait until you’re in your 70s to reach the pinnacle of your career. Or endure strenuous exams to make a living. Or please cult-ish employers. Instead, you can set up your own knowledge platform, serve communities and make a real impact.
As a leader, activist, educator, facilitator, creative, consultant, you name it — your knowledge can become the foundation for the most diverse and impactful collaborations, and therefore multiple income streams. Even if the knowledge itself does not generate income, it’s the myriad of opportunities it enables that set you up for flexible, disruption-proof work for an unpredictable future.
What are you waiting for?
Share your perspectives. Teach your illustration skills. Stand up for what you believe in.
3 — Attach to your Cause:
Joining the creator economy and sharing knowledge doesn’t mean you have to abandon the physical aspects of architecture or give up on becoming a licensed architect altogether. It’s about expanding your perception of architecture and recognizing that ‘building’ is merely one way among many to express your vast, multifaceted, colourful potential.
As we move through the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and wider global shifts, the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC) will face disruption. Emerging technologies will shake up our workflows, design processes and procurement methods, which will likely lead to job uncertainties, unprecedented layoffs and shifts we haven’t seen before. Add to that the realities of environmental collapse, climate uncertainty, mass migration and social tensions — and it becomes clear: architecture, as it’s seen and practised today, needs to undergo significant change.
Chaos invites innovation.
So instead of resisting the change, my invitation is this: use change as an opportunity to think differently. Start now by harnessing your innovative, playful spirit. How? By no longer attaching yourself to a job, a position, a company, or even a title — but by attaching yourself to your cause. When your cause drives you, you’ll find remarkable ways to persist, adapt, and even thrive in the times to come.
The leadership expert Simon Sinek describes this as the ‘Infinity Mindset’. Instead of viewing our career as a straight trajectory towards one fixed destination, he encourages us to use it to advance a cause bigger than ourselves. By perpetually working towards our vision, our career can bend, weave, shift and flexibly express itself through different outlets. In that sense, we are never bound to one position or opportunity but can make changes every step of the way. When our cause is strong, it pulls us towards the future.
Rory Hyde comes to mind. He is a designer, writer and educator. But he is also a curator, architectural critic, radio host, design advocate and associate professor. And to top it off, he’s co-authored two paradigm-shifting books: Future Practice: Conversations from the Edge of Architecture and Architects After Architecture: Alternative Pathways for Practice — essential reads for graduates seeking alternative paths. Despite studying architecture, earning a PhD and working for several top firms, Rory chose not to become licensed. Instead, he’s crafted an extremely diverse career at the intersection of many different fields, all centred around one cause: ‘new forms of design practice for the public good, and redefining the role of the designer today’.
So, how will you use your studies to advance something bigger? What possibilities might unfold as you attach yourself to your cause?
Imagine becoming a UI/UX designer. Or a filmmaker. What about a tactical urban interventionist who sneaks out at night, mobilizing a group of anonymous allies and without formal approval transforms streets into vibrant, spray-painted playgrounds — challenging urban planners to finally create more child-friendly spaces?
The paths are infinite when you embrace what truly drives you.
If you're ready to explore these paths together – through speaking engagements, transformative workshops or creative campaigns – I'm here: www.wasdnty.com
Don’t wait for a big platform or a big following to build your knowledge base. Share your experiences. Raise your questions. Pass on your lessons. Help your fellow community through the dark, murky waters you once found yourself in, without expectation.
Don’t overthink it. Just start.
Building a strong, collective wealth of knowledge made up of individual voices is key to catalyzing significant change in the field of architecture and its role and impact in the world.
The planet needs more architecture graduates who ask what and why they want to build, who are hyper-intentional about it, and who leverage the million, if not billion, other ways to express their immense creativity. It needs ‘agent provocateurs’ who think twice before contributing to another grey skyscraper or flashy shopping mall, who stand firmly for their cause despite the naysayers, and yes, there will be many.
Because guess what? Change hits a nerve.
It is precisely when you hit that nerve that you need to keep going. It’s okay to feel discouraged at times, but then pick yourself up and carry on — obstacles and criticism are often major signs you’re gaining momentum. By maintaining an open heart, a discerning mind and strong boundaries — you can find common ground even with the harshest critics, reveal the soft side in family and friends, and gently loosen that inertia that has so many of us in its grip.
This is where your invincibility begins.
In wild solidarity,
Inés
If you’re new here — hi and welcome! I’m Inés, an architecture graduate who refused to be boxed in by conventional ideas and expectations. Having struggled to fit the 'architect' mould myself, I now use my voice to instil self-awareness and inspire new possibilities — guiding fellow graduates out of the same constraints I once knew to discover your unique potential and create the systems change our world needs.
Be sure to also visit my other Substack, LEAD, where I delve deeper into further reflections that aim to complement, support and expand your journey of transformation.
Thanks for being here! :)
Additional reflections:
Disclaimer: Architecture Is Not A Box explores perspectives on alternative career paths and applications of architectural thinking beyond traditional practice. While discussing the field of architecture broadly, any references to architecture-related work refer to activities that don't require professional licensure, unless specifically noted otherwise. This content is for educational and inspirational purposes.
I so relate to it! I didn't study architecture, but I believe what you argue here applies to many people in many areas of study. As humans we are multi-faceted and the linear career path no longer resonates for many of us!