Architecture Social

The Bartlett investigation raised uncomfortable questions about architecture education, student treatment and whether toxic culture is limited to one institution or part of a wider problem. Stephen Drew discusses toxic culture in architecture education after the Bartlett investigation, including bullying, discrimination, student experiences, teaching culture, professional responsibility and whethe...

This archive episode captures a 2022 RIBA election conversation with Muyiwa Oki, before he went on to become RIBA President. Stephen Drew speaks with Muyiwa Oki about the 2022 RIBA Presidency election, why members should vote, professional change, engagement, representation and why the election felt different for many people in architecture. The conversation covers: Why RIBA elections matter even...

Interviews for a first architecture job can feel intimidating, but preparation makes a visible difference to confidence, clarity and how a portfolio is discussed. Stephen Drew discusses how to get your first architecture job, focusing on interview preparation, online and in-person interviews, common pitfalls, practical tips and how early-career candidates can approach interviews with more confiden...

Finding a first job in architecture can feel vague and stressful, especially when university has not prepared students for the practical reality of applications. Stephen Drew gives a guest lecture for Coventry University Architecture Society on finding a job in architecture, covering student anxieties, post-Covid realities, job searching, portfolios, applications and practical ways to start a care...

Build Studios is a built environment hub in London, but the more interesting question is how spaces like this can support collaboration, outreach and the next generation. Stephen Drew speaks with Helen Santer about Build Studios, co-working, collaboration, school outreach, business volunteers and helping students and underrepresented groups understand careers in the built environment. The conversa...

A first architecture job portfolio needs to do more than show good images. It needs to communicate judgement, process, clarity and relevance quickly. Stephen Drew discusses how to get your first architecture job with a focus on portfolios, including top tips, common mistakes, how to present work clearly and what early-career candidates should avoid when applying. The conversation covers: Why portf...

Career change is sometimes planned, and sometimes life forces the issue. This conversation is about resilience, purpose and learning to adapt when the path changes. Stephen Drew speaks with Damon Bowen-Ashwin about adapting and flowing through change, moving from design and construction recruitment into life coaching, health, purpose, resilience and making difficult life transitions with intent. T...

A first architecture CV needs to be clear, relevant and easy to scan. It should support the portfolio, not fight with it. Stephen Drew discusses how to get your first architecture job with a focus on CVs and resumes, including what to include, what to avoid, how to present experience and how early-career candidates can make applications clearer. The conversation covers: What a first architecture C...

The gap between architecture school and practice is still one of the biggest shocks for students and graduates entering the profession. Stephen Drew speaks with Chris Simmons about the disconnect between architecture school and practice, Architects Instruction, student transitions, exploitation, drawing, professional skills and how education can better prepare people for work. The conversation cov...

Starting the first architecture job search can feel overwhelming, especially when university work has just finished and the professional world suddenly feels very real. Stephen Drew opens the Clubhouse stage after the first job search livestream, discussing how Part I Architectural Assistants and graduates can start their search, manage anxiety, prepare applications and move from university into p...

For many Part I Architectural Assistants, the first job search starts just as university deadlines finish. The priority is to turn overwhelm into a clear, practical plan. Stephen Drew explains how Part I Architectural Assistants can start the search for a first job, covering overwhelm, practical preparation, blank-page planning, applications, portfolios and the early steps between university and p...

Marketing and sales are often misunderstood in architecture, but both matter for job seekers, practitioners and practice owners who need to communicate value. Stephen Drew speaks with Paul Iddon about the difference between marketing and sales in architecture, practice growth, job seeking, career progression, business development and why professionals need to communicate value clearly. The convers...

Digital construction education needs to keep pace with industry expectations, from BIM and modelling skills to employability and technical confidence. Stephen Drew speaks with Michael McGuire about digital construction education, WorldSkills, BIM challenges, New College Lanarkshire, employability, technical training and how education can prepare students for construction careers. The conversation...

Architecture education and practice can feel disconnected, but collaboration between universities, studios and industry can make both sides stronger. Stephen Drew speaks with Satwinder Samra about collaboration between academia, architecture practices and industry, including the University of Sheffield, collaborative practice, education, professional relationships and how schools and studios can w...

This archive episode captures the final 2022 RIBA President hustings organised around a worker-led call to action for better representation inside the institute. Stephen Drew hosts a discussion covering candidate priorities, member engagement, workplace experience and what architecture workers wanted from the RIBA presidency during the 2022 election period. The conversation covers: Why the campaig...

Inclusive, diverse and talented teams do not happen by accident. Recruitment, retention, culture and leadership all shape who joins and who stays. Stephen Drew joins the Disrupt Symposium to discuss building inclusive, diverse and talented teams in architecture, covering recruitment, retention, team building, inclusive work environments, women in architecture and the wider AEC industry. The conver...

This archive episode captures a 2022 RIBA President candidates hustings built around a worker-led call to action for better representation. Stephen Drew hosts a conversation on candidate priorities, zero carbon construction, member engagement, workplace realities and what architecture workers wanted from the RIBA presidency. The conversation covers: Why the call to action focused on worker represe...

Working abroad can be exciting, but relocation needs more than optimism. Candidates need to understand the market, the culture, the visa route and their own appetite for risk. Stephen Drew speaks with Russell M. Henderson about relocating from the UK to find an architecture job abroad, including working internationally, moving to Tanzania, career risk, applications, mindset and what candidates sho...

Practice career episodes are useful because they let candidates hear what a studio is actually like before applying. Stephen Drew speaks with Dominic Hailey, Carlota Boyer and Angus Clogg about careers at ColladoCollins Architects, including projects, team culture, career progression, social life, applications and what candidates can expect from the practice. The conversation covers: What it is li...

Getting a UK architecture job without UK experience can be brutally difficult, even for strong candidates with relevant qualifications and commitment. Stephen Drew speaks with Marwah Aziz and Hannah Brooke about overseas qualifications, visa realities, rejection, job-search barriers and practical support for international candidates trying to enter the UK architecture market. The conversation cove...

Disruption is an overused word, but architecture does need to keep asking which old habits still serve clients, teams and the wider built environment. Stephen Drew speaks with Sara Kolata about disruption in the architecture industry, the Disrupt Symposium, the metaverse, research, strategy, design, technology and whether the profession can move beyond doing things the way it always has. The conve...

Sunken Blimp sits across architecture, technology, research and digital experimentation, which makes it a useful case study in how design work can stretch beyond traditional practice. Stephen Drew speaks with Matheus Stancati of Sunken Blimp about interdisciplinary design, computational design, digital fabrication, XR development, scientific research, technology and architecture-led creative explo...

Practice career episodes help candidates look beyond project images and understand the values, team culture and working environment behind a studio. Stephen Drew speaks with Oliver Lowrie about careers at Ackroyd Lowrie Architects, including practice culture, projects, values, the office, why the practice was created and what candidates can learn before applying. The conversation covers: Why Ackro...

A strong CV and portfolio can still get missed if the email around them is weak. Stephen Drew explains why application emails, subject lines and PDF file names matter when applying for architecture jobs, and how candidates can avoid being overlooked, mislabelled as spam or deleted before their CV and portfolio are reviewed. The conversation covers: Why the application email is part of the first im...

Architecture NFTs are easy to dismiss as hype, but the more useful question is whether digital ownership, virtual land and design marketplaces create practical opportunities for designers. Stephen Drew speaks with Adonis Zachariades from Renovi.io about architecture NFTs, blockchain, Web3, tokenomics, metaverse competitions and what a digital marketplace could mean for architects, designers and en...