Alternative Careers to Architecture?

Have you ever wonder what other careers you can pursue with a degree in architecture? We can often feel a societal weight to stay in our field of studies, but I can assure you that’s not the case. I think it’s safe to say that life will close and open doors that lead us to unimaginable places, for example, me! Although still pursuing architecture, I never imagined that I can call myself a writer. The wonderful thing about architecture is the number of skills gained from school. Design thinking and creative problem-solving are critical skills that are transferrable to any creative industry! 

Here are some alternative careers that architects can transition to! Keep in mind, titles within each industry can be different so do some research on the role you are considering.

Social Media + Marketing Coordinator

The experience of creating attention-grabbing visuals for project presentations is a universal skill needed for social media and marketing coordinators too! You use skills of observation to determine layout, color, font, and engaging visuals in order for companies to leverage and gain traction. 

In fact, bigger architecture firms look for marketing coordinators so it’s possible to explore other facets of the architecture industry too! If you find yourself constantly surfing through social media or love creating captivating visuals then this path may be for you!

UX/UI Design

As hopes of a better future looming over us, technological advancement continues! This ever-growing industry works toward creating the best user experience for both physical and digital products and services. UX/UI design and architecture share this common goal and both utilize skills in human psychology, design, and business. 

UX design is often used interchangeably with UI design, however, UI design is a small branch of UX. Below you’ll find a summary of the two but click the links for an in-depth breakdown from Interaction-Design, a known platform for UX/UI design.

Animation

The ability to conceptualize and bring a narrative to life using 3D modeling and visualization applies to animation as it does to architecture! If you enjoy modeling, rendering, and story-telling then animation may be an alternative career for you! 

Also if hand-drawing is in your arsenal then other roles like an illustrator or manga artist can fall under this category too. The animation industry contains various roles that we can’t begin to list all! So if you have a career in animation, we encourage you to let others know in the comments below.

Film Direction + Production

This is perfect for those who are “big picture” people with strong project management skills and are able to craft a compelling story would be interested in the film industry. While architecture school may not have taught the technical skills of film, the soft and artistic skills are easily transferrable. 

Let’s not forget about background design too! I have a friend from Cal Poly that was more interested in designing movie backgrounds than buildings. This was the first time I even thought or heard of this career path for architects. This is a great combination if you are interested in the film direction but still want some aspect of architectural design. 

Product + Craft Design

This can cover anything from everyday objects to more crafted and handmade items such as pottery or jewelry. Product design is particularly for those who enjoy the more tactile design experience. 

This category can fall under industrial design too! However, industrial designers typically take a useful product that serves a purpose and increases its functionality or aesthetics. 

Textile Design

Contrary to popular belief, architects do wear more than black, gray, or white clothing! Since the pandemic caused us to stay indoors, there haven’t been many opportunities to show off new outfits, hairstyles, or anything this year. Nonetheless, this is a great alternative for my fashion-loving architects!

Construction and fashion are the two of the most wasteful industries on the planet, which has given rise to sustainable alternatives to many traditional material choices. If you have an interest in material sourcing and selection, particularly in alternative and sustainable materials, textile design may be for you. 

 

Data Visualization

With an unlimited amount of information available to us today, data visualization makes data easier to digest and more visually appealing. Data visualization would be suitable for those who enjoy information analysis and are able to present in an engaging way to a wider audience. 

An extreme, but a great example of someone who specializes in data visualization is Michael DiBenigno on Tiktok. He combines data visualization with augmented reality to uniquely display data in a digestible manner. You can find his videos on Tiktok @the.data.guy 

The skills learned in architecture school truly creates a strong foundation for numerous other creative industries that we can’t think of it all! 

Have you considered any of these careers? If we missed any alternative careers that utilize skills from an architecture degree, please feel free to comment below or on our Instagram post!