Architecture Social

NFTs in architecture are not interesting because someone says Web3 loudly enough. They become interesting only if they change how design work is owned, shown, sold, licensed or experienced. Stephen Drew hosts an open discussion on NFTs, Web3, blockchain and architecture, looking at whether the technology is just a fad or whether digital ownership could affect design work, portfolios and the built...

Architecture job searches change quickly, and old tactics can stop working before candidates realise it. Stephen Drew gives a direct view on how the architecture job market had changed at the start of 2022, what candidates were getting wrong, and how to make applications, CVs, portfolios and job-search activity more effective. The conversation covers: What had shifted in the architecture job marke...

Architecture in the metaverse sounds futuristic, but the practical design question is familiar: who is the space for, what behaviour does it support and how does the design make the experience better? Stephen Drew speaks with Fatemeh Monfared about architecture in the metaverse, NFTs, Decentraland, designing a virtual headquarters for Plei, and how spatial design skills can translate into digital...

The next generation of architecture professionals is entering a very different profession: hybrid work, public content, new expectations around culture and a stronger willingness to question old routes. Stephen Drew speaks with Hamza Shaikh about the next generation of architecture professionals, including hybrid working, online content, Future Architects Front, RIBA change and how younger voices...

Becoming an architect is a serious commitment. The training route is long, the expectations are high and the money question is fair to ask before you commit your whole life to the profession. Stephen Drew speaks with Scott MacTavish about becoming an architect, leaving practice for architectural recruitment, the money question, portfolios, interviews, employer expectations and the realities of the...

Alternative architecture careers become easier to explore when you stop treating architecture as one job title and start treating it as a transferable skill set. Stephen Drew speaks with Tanisha Raffiuddin about Concept Culture, alternative careers in architecture, storytelling, online marketing, sustainability communications, brand growth and how architecture-trained people can apply their skills...

Planning can make or break a project, but many people outside that world only see the outcome rather than the process behind it. Stephen Drew speaks with John Snow of Tetrik Planning about what planning consultants do, how they work with architects, Section 106 agreements, public and private sector planning experience, retail, housing and mixed-use schemes. The conversation covers: What a planning...

Architecture communities are useful when they do more than create noise. They help people learn, ask better questions, find opportunities and feel less isolated in a profession that can be hard to navigate alone. Stephen Drew joins Michael Riscica on the Young Architect Podcast to discuss Architecture Social, recruitment, Clubhouse, community, job searching and practical advice for architecture st...

The best applications make it easy for a hiring manager to understand the person, the evidence and the fit quickly. Stephen Drew explains what employers and hiring managers look for when recruiting architects, including how to stand out, what skills matter, and how to improve CVs, portfolios and application emails. The conversation covers: How to stand out in a competitive architecture job market...

Online learning can be more than a quick software top-up. Used properly, it can help architecture professionals build confidence, document expertise and move into training, BIM, CAD management or another adjacent career route. Stephen Drew speaks with Shaun 'SCB' Bryant about online learning, Revit, AutoCAD, Autodesk training, alternative careers, CAD and BIM expertise, teaching, consulting and cr...

Post-pandemic architecture careers were not just about remote work. For students and early-career designers, the bigger question was how to get visible, build confidence and prove value in a market that felt uncertain. Stephen Drew joins Team Esteem to discuss post-pandemic careers in architectural design, including visibility, confidence, disrupted education, online interviews, portfolios, job-se...

Architecture fees are not just a finance issue. When fees are squeezed, the pressure often shows up in workload, quality, morale and the ability to hire properly. Stephen Drew speaks with Rion Willard about squashed fees, bottlenecks in architectural practice, workload pressure, commercial decisions, scope, client expectations and the operational reality behind project delivery. The conversation c...

Sarah Lebner's work matters because it connects architecture practice with practical early-career support. That is more useful than inspiration on its own. Stephen Drew speaks with Sarah Lebner about practising architecture, building The Architect Project and My First Architecture Job, community, motherhood, persistence and the journey behind her National Emerging Architect Prize recognition in Au...

Inclusion, equity and diversity in construction only matter if they change how people experience work. Stephen Drew speaks with Katya Veleva about inclusion, equity and diversity in construction, her route from architecture and BIM into coaching, being gay in the architecture industry, workplace language, culture and personal development. The conversation covers: How Katya Veleva moved from archit...

Mental health in architecture is not a soft side issue. It sits inside deadlines, workload, identity, career pressure, business pressure and the way people are asked to perform in the profession. Stephen Drew speaks with Angela Mazzi about quality of life, mental health, anxiety, career roadblocks, deadlines, built environment impact, community needs and healthier ways to think about work in archi...

Architecture recruitment should make the hiring process clearer, faster and more human. Stephen Drew speaks with Will Ridgway about architecture recruitment, learning the industry from scratch, dealing with the pandemic, building Architecture Social, candidate behaviour and what successful job seekers do consistently. The conversation covers: How Will Ridgway learned architecture recruitment from...

Professionalism in architecture is not just about sounding polished. It shows up in reliability, judgement, respect and the way people keep learning. Stephen Drew speaks with Jason Boyle about what it means to be professional in architecture, including competency, reliability, accountability, honesty, integrity, self-control, flexibility, respect and continuous learning. The conversation covers: W...

Architecture skills do not only belong in traditional practice. They can also sit inside digital construction, product platforms, business development and technology-led teams. Stephen Drew speaks with Matthew Jackson about moving from mainstream architecture into BIMobject, digital construction, project management, business development, startup growth, Sweden, sustainability and the future of arc...

Leadership in architecture is often treated as something people should simply grow into. In reality, communication, confidence, resilience and influence all need work. Stephen Drew speaks with Karen Fugle of SleepingGiant Consulting about leadership and career coaching for architects, designers and construction professionals, including confidence, resilience, communication, overwhelm, career trans...

This archive conversation works best now as a snapshot of community, technology and professional voice, rather than as a time-sensitive election post. Stephen Drew speaks with Benjamin Champion in an archive conversation about Architecture Social community, technology, RIBA Council context, public perception, architectural assistants, education and the value of a young professional voice. The conv...

The fear of speaking up at work is not only about confidence. It is often about preparation, timing, trust and knowing what you are trying to contribute. Stephen Drew, Tara Cull and Emma Wainer discuss how to overcome the fear of speaking up at work, including meeting preparation, confidence, intention, challenging conversations, reflection and learning from setbacks. The conversation covers: Why...

Architecture education becomes more useful when people can talk openly about what they were taught, what they were not taught and what helped them move into work. Nylda from The Architecture Experiment and Emily Foster host The Architect's Shelf Q&A with Sarah Lebner, discussing architecture education, sustainability, My First Architecture Job and advice for people seeking work during challeng...

Resigning from an architecture job does not need to become dramatic. The aim is simple: communicate clearly, respect your notice period and leave the relationship intact. Stephen Drew, Tara Cull and Will Ridgway discuss how to resign from an architecture job properly, including accepting a new offer, handing in notice, managing emotion, planning a handover and leaving on good terms. The conversati...

Words are powerful in a job application because they shape how quickly an employer understands your evidence. Stephen Drew explains how language can make architecture job applications stronger, including CV structure, power words, verbs, adjectives, quantified achievements, personal values and using employer language from job descriptions. The conversation covers: How small CV wording changes can...

Good recruitment advice should be honest, useful and grounded in how the market actually behaves. Stephen Drew speaks with Stephen Glands, Director of the Architecture Team at Macdonald & Company, about recruitment, senior and executive appointments, design management, technical management, strategic hires and honest career advice. The conversation covers: How senior and executive architecture...