On the Hunt

So it occurs to me that for almost a year now I have been working freelance and continuing down my path of an unusual architectural career. Don't get me wrong, I personally love the balance of designing a kitchen in the morning and writing theory/history in the evening. Though the concept of wanting things is human, and so far the things I want are those which I think any 29 year-old person wants. An apartment I don't have to share with anyone and to be successful. However, that notion of "successful" is what I'm looking to write about today.

A few months ago, I had to leave London for visa issues. Trying to find a sponsorship job was a nightmare. The search resulted in a lot of self-doubt and the pain of losing a place and people (including one person in particular) who matter so much to me. A strong anti-immigration law meant that I could not extend my visa, nor could I act as self-employed and stay in the country. I contemplated (and still am contemplating) going whole-hog and investing in a PhD in Architectural History and Theory, however my bank account told me now was not a time to do that. I won't lie, it broke my heart to leave. I'm sure I'm not the first person to lose their cool at an airport, but I may be the first to have a total break-down in a duty-free aisle. If, in the future, I've got to summon tears on a whim, it will be the image of doors closing while my East-London Love waived goodbye. Not knowing when, if ever, I could return. Long story short: it sucked. It sucked big.

Though, in true American optimism, a person has to pull themselves together and survive. Since then I've designed a couple of interiors, published a ton of articles and committed myself to work at various Museums.

More than anything, it's struck me what a strange process it is looking for an office job. If media is to be believed, most people want to escape their cubicle imprisonment wishing to be free as a bird. What they never see is the point of view from the bird, afraid that at any moment they'll plummet towards the Earth. As it stands, most of my time is taken up by informational interviews, discussing options with recruiters, drafting, entering competitions and the general malaise of having to go to baby shower after baby shower. Which brings me again, to the notion of success.

Most of the time Shower-based parties are lovely, but sometimes they can enter into darker territory. A friend's husband told me about a week ago that "You had your chance to fall in love, and now you've got to fall in line", a half-joking attempt to set me up with one of his friends "Afterall, you're getting older now, and no one wants to have kids with someone older." Dude. What.

The question is, why can't architecture be my kid? I'm not saying I wouldn't love to be a mother at some point, but for God's sake, success is not determined by whether or not I've produced progeny. I understand where these men (I hate to be sexist, but it's typically men who are this insensitive) are coming from. They've just become fathers, which totally re-adjusts priorities, but the definition of success in a post-modern world is trickier concept than I previously thought.

In this past year, the impression I've gotten from friends with children is "everyone should want what I have", rather than the impression of success as "something only a few people have that everyone wants." If success is the accomplishment of a goal, that goal has to be one that is created on a personal level. If my goal is to create architecture, discourse and design that is nuanced, intelligent and useful, then I would deem that I'm moving towards success. If the goal instead was to fulfill the expectation of passing on my genes within a time frame that, until I moved back to the US, I was completely unaware of, then, yeah, I'm not as successful as I could be. But I don't think I'm a lost cause yet.

As I told my cockney love, "I'll probably never be famous, and if I ever am, it will probably be a century after I'm dead. I'm offering you a chance to get in on the ground floor of that. With me, you could have a lifetime of struggle, hardship and rejection." He laughed "Well, that is an appealing offer, but at the end, am I just going to be a footnote?" "More than that honey, you get to be a muse."

I hate to sound like a motivational speaker, I leave that to those more sincere and Candid-esque than myself. But I will say this. Designers of the world: do you. I don't know if it's good advice, but it's the only advice I've got to give. That and know the colors that look good on your skin.

General thoughts on 'Starchitecture'

It’s Hard to Be Soft, Tough to be Tender When Your Heart is Beating like a Hammer.

While I never like to talk about work via blog post, I thought about sharing some practical knowledge gained in my first year of post-graduate employement.

I’m not going to lie, when I was still an undergraduate student I would make fun of Business Students…a lot. Most of their work seemed “dull” and “pedantic”, I would say this from a detail drawing of a window sash, so guess who’s the winner there.

What I never took into account were the critical life-skills that Business school taught that Architecture school did not. Below are the lessons I’ve learned after graduating that I wish my Professional Management Class had taught me.

A Cheat-sheet on Project Management

1. 1- Establish roles early, “I am in charge of.., so you’ll be covering…, She is going to oversee…”


2. 2- Save every email somewhere. It’s tempting to delete it, don’t.


3. 3- End every meeting with what everyone is expected to do next, as well as when and how to submit it


4. 4- If a project feels like it’s out of control, re-establish the hierarchy and goals with a status meeting. Lead this meeting and control the conversation.


5. 5- Even if the problem you are facing is completely someone’s fault. Never throw them under the bus, its poor leadership. They did it under your supervision; therefore your mistake, not theirs.


6. 6- Eventually you will make a mistake. It’s not a problem if you do, it’s a problem if you don’t fix it.


7. 7- Fear no one. (Remember every single adult has had diarrhea, at least once)


8. 8- Show everyone respect. (you can be casual with someone, but remember “Thanks” and “I appreciate it”)


9. 9- Perception is a tool everyone should learn. Unfortunately it can only be mastered by experience; however the first step is dressing appropriately. Imagine that each day you are going to be caught at the last minute by the last person you want to see.*


10. 10- Opinions are always numerous, but they are not entirely unhelpful. Asking someone’s opinion will do 2 things. A. They will feel important and listened to. B. They might give insight that would otherwise be lost in translation.


11. 11- If you have no idea what they are talking about, the word “specifically” is currency. For example:“When you say they need to access everything at night, what specifically do you mean?”“Specifically what did the engineer say?”

A side note on listening to people. Even if it does not solve the problem, someone feeling like you are listening can buy you time, sympathy and alliances.

*Also, live every week like it’s ‘Shark Week’

Presentation Techniques for Clients and Coworkers

1. 1- Whatever is your current conversation, be engaged. If it’s something that you really don’t care about, or feel they are going on forever. “Oh, I just remembered something, will you excuse me, I just have to send it out” It’s a dismissal that works, literally every time.


2. 2- Hold eye-contact for 3-5 seconds, any less they will feel you are disinterested, any more and you are a creep-factory


3. 3- When addressing a group of people, make eye-contact with each person


4. 4- When addressing a large group, look towards each section of the room


5. 5- Stand with your legs hip-with apart


6. 6- Hand-gestures should be between the neck and navel. Gesturing too low will seem unsure, gesturing to high will make you seem crazy


7. 7- Present to your strengths, if you’re not a bad-ass, don’t try to be a bad-ass. If you’re not upbeat, don’t pretend to be upbeat. Your audience will be able to tell immediately


8. 8- What they won’t be able to tell immediately is your confidence and knowledge of the subject. If you think you are unsure, never:a. Show it b. Say it


9. 9- That being said, Research your material


10. 10- It is only awkward if you make it awkward. If you feel uncomfortable about an unavoidable situation, just ignore it. This may be easier for some people than others. Confidence is the ultimate form of lying. You merely have to act convincingly, until the lie becomes the truth. Until your confidence becomes inherent.


11. 11- Introduce your ideas in the beginning, reinforce your ideas at the end


12. 12- Don’t speak any faster than you would typically type. Most people can process 120 words per minuet, they shouldn't have to.

Answering Questions

1. 1. Answer the question to the entire room not just the person who asked


2. 2. Never say “that’s a good question” it makes everyone who didn’t ask that question feel dumb


3. 3. Avoid saying “Um” or “err..” or “uhh”, instead just pause your speech.


4. 4. If you need to check notes, pause. Look down at your notes. Pause. Look at the crowd. Begin speaking. Don’t talk to the paper.


5. 5. Never say “Does that answer your question?” You don’t care if it did or not. You gave them an answer, just move on.


6. 6. Don’t lose your temper at obnoxiousness, impertinence, etc. anger makes you stupid. That’s science.


7. 7. Give them an outlet they can send questions to afterwards, most people are terrified of public speaking.


8. 8. Quit while you’re ahead, sometimes too much information is a bigger enemy than not enough.

I'm sure they'res much more, but as a sophomore playbook, not too bad.