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What Is Product Design?

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What Is Product Design?

Posted on April 11, 2019 - 4:03 pm by

What Is Product Design?

Before we begin to discuss the definition of product design and answering the question “what is product design?”, it is important to reevaluate the definition of a ‘product’. Up until recently, the term was used only in relation to something material and often found in a brick-and-mortar store. However, ‘product’ and the product design process now also applies to digital products; modern product examples include websites and phone apps. There are even product designers called UX designers that specifically focus on usability of the digital product. Keeping this information in mind, building great products consists of many elements, with the design features being one of the most important qualities – from seamless digital applications to the functionality of an executive office chair, every successful product starts with a great design.

Whether it is designing state-of-the-art audio equipment or developing complex medical diagnostic systems, the field of product design spans over numerous industries, including healthcare, lifestyle, interior design, automotive, and many more. In this article, we’ll explore the definition of product design, as well as the role of a Product Designer, including job outlook, skills needed and industry statistics.

Defining Product Design: Understanding The Industry

In an era where the only constant is change, our culture as consumers is always evolving. With technology playing an increasingly central role in our daily lives, we expect everything to be available at the push of a button – and as customized an experience as possible. Whether using our smartphones to order food or browsing an app for a new home, we have become reliant upon different forms of technology to satisfy a myriad of needs. So how does product design fit into the way we consume goods and services?

Product design as a verb is to create a new product to be sold by a business to its customers. Designing a product is a very broad concept, it is essentially the efficient and effective generation and development of ideas through a design process that leads to new products. Thus, it is a major aspect of new product development. However, many business experts will agree that product design is the process of identifying a market opportunity, clearly defining the user’s needs and problem, developing a proper solution for that problem, and validating the solution with real users. When considering high-quality products or features, designers must understand business objectives, know the elements of a good design, and be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What problem are we solving?
  2. Who has this problem?
  3. What do we want to achieve?

Answering these questions allows design engineers to understand the user experience of a product as a whole, and not simply the interaction (feel) or visual (look) part of a design. These design principles apply to both physical products and digital product design.

Finding a solution to a problem includes the following five basic phases:

  1. Research: In order to develop a deeper understanding of your consumer audience, you must conduct and gather research to cater to the people for whom you are designing your product/service for. This is crucial.
  2. Define: Create a point of view that is based on user needs and insights.
  3. Brainstorm: In order to generate a wide range of potential solutions, design thinking and brainstorming sessions are required during this phase of product development.
  4. Prototype: After narrowing down design concepts, build a prototype (or series of prototypes) to test your hypothesis. Creating a prototype allows the designer to discover if they’re on the right track, and it often sparks different ideas that you wouldn’t have come up with otherwise to further streamline product development. However, depending on the product, physical prototyping tools can be very expensive so digital design can be significantly more cost-effective in the beginning stages of product design and problem-solving pain points within the design.
  5. Test: Return to your users for feedback.

As we’ve discussed, creating and building great products (and great brands) is contingent upon forward-thinking design implementation. Today’s businesses essentially rely upon their product design team to give their products or services an aesthetic and functional edge over their competitors while maintaining relevance in a world where technological advancement never sleeps.

A Product Designer helps to define the experience and interface of products (also known as ‘User Experience’ or UX and ‘User Interface’ or UI) while defining the brand and marketing strategy around those products. Essentially, it is creating a brand and executing that identity through every phase of the product or services’ lifespan and design strategy – aesthetically, experientially, tactilely, ergonomically, and technologically speaking, of course.

Did You Know…

Q: What is the difference between UX Design and UI Design?

A: While User Experience (UX design) is a conglomeration of tasks focused on human-centered design aka the optimization of a product for effective and enjoyable use, User Interface Design (UI) is its complement, addressing the look and feel (visual design) as well as the presentation and interactivity of a product.

What Is The Role Of A Product Designer?

Due to the vast (and ever-changing) demands of the Product Designer, it is by definition a rather elusive job role to describe: because the design process of product development keeps changing, the roles of people (and consequent skills sets) continue to evolve, thus encompassing a wider scope of responsibilities. Because of this, it is important that anyone entering the field have the proper hands-on training with a respectable design program.  While Visual Designers address the look and feel of a product, UX or UI Designers deal with wireframes and user flows. However, the Product Designer is an individual who can take a high-level concept and see it all the way through, from inception to completion.

Responsible for designing nearly everything we use in our daily lives, Product Designers utilize their creativity, technical knowledge and keen eye for detail to design and implement new and innovative products and services, as well as streamlining existing products by improving their aesthetic appeal and functionality. In order to succeed in product design, you must understand the relationship between art, technology, and science. As a Product Designer, your responsibilities will include planning, designing, and modeling products, creating prototypes and conducting research, as well as rigorous product testing.

Here is a general outline of the Product Designer’s work process:

  • Research & Consultation: Initially, you’ll be expected to work from your client’s specs, liaising with your client and staff to understand the criteria for the product before brainstorming concepts and prototypes. You’ll also need to conduct a fair amount of research during the product vision and development phase.
  • Brainstorm: After the initial brainstorming phase, you will be required to produce a series of preliminary sketches/drafts and other presentations to outline your design ideas.
  • Design: Once your preliminary ideas have been approved, you will begin to create detailed designs; typically this entails computer-aided design (CAD) software as well as producing technical specifications, which will detail everything in the design system from required materials to product costs.
  • Prototype Development: The next phase of the process entails prototype development of the final product, which may involve 3-D design, sketches or state-of-the-art computer software, depending on the complexity and demands of the project.
  • Prototype Testing: Finally, you’ll be responsible for testing the prototype. This may require a hands-on approach or computer-simulated testing, depending on the nature of your project. During the final phases of prototype testing, you’ll need to make important design-related decisions, such as budget constraints, and in some instances, environmental impact as well as health and safety regulations.

Once the prototype has been designed, developed and tested, you’ll be required to present the final product design to the client for their approval. Unless the client is dissatisfied with the results (and changes need to be made), this is the last phase of a product design project’s life cycle.

A Product Designer’s Role May Also Include:

  • Wireframing
  • Coding/Prototyping
  • Creating style guides and patterns
  • Conceptualizing product definitions and naming conventions
  • Building requirements documentation with other engineers and designers
  • Manning support and helping fill tickets to better understand customers from the front-lines
  • Any number of other things to help tie up loose ends on the design side

Product Design: Education & Job Outlook

Education  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Product Designers (also known as Industrial Designers) require a bachelor of arts degree in product design, industrial design, or engineering for entry-level industrial design jobs. Most industrial design programs include courses in drawing, computer-aided design, and drafting (CADD), and three-dimensional modeling, as well as courses in business, industrial materials, and processes, and manufacturing methods.

Many Product Design programs provide students with the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of their designs by collecting examples of their designs from classroom projects, internships, or other experiences. Students can use these examples of their work to show their creativity in the idea generation phase and demonstrate their design skills when applying for jobs and bidding on contracts for work.

It is also important for designers to have an electronic portfolio with examples of their best design projects. Gaining relevant work experience is also a crucial step towards finding a successful career in the competitive world of product design. Internships are therefore a great way to develop your skills and improve your portfolio.

Learn more about NewSchool’s Product Design program here.

Skills & Training

If you are considering a career in Product Design, possessing the following skills is essential to your success:

  • Analytical Skills: Industrial designers use logic or reasoning skills to study consumers and recognize the need for new products.
  • Artistic Ability: Industrial designers sketch their initial design ideas, which are used later to create prototypes. As such, designers must be able to express their design through illustration.
  • Commercial and Entrepreneurial Expertise
  • Communication Skills: Possessing effective communication skills is essential in this role
  • Computer Skills: Industrial designers use computer-aided design software to develop their designs and create prototypes.
  • Creativity: Industrial designers must be innovative in their designs and how they integrate existing technologies into their new product.
  • General & Specialized IT Skills, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and other computer software programs
  • Interpersonal Skills: Industrial designers must develop cooperative working relationships with clients and colleagues who specialize in related disciplines.
  • Mechanical Skills: Industrial designers must understand how products are engineered, at least for the types of products that they design.
  • Presentation Skills: One of the core phases of product development entails detailed presentations to clients; therefore, possessing strong presentation skills is crucial to this role.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Industrial designers determine the need, size, and cost of a product; anticipate production issues; develop alternatives; evaluate options; and implement solutions.
  • Teamwork Mentality: As a Product Designer, you will be collaborating with a variety of staff and clients; therefore, you must be comfortable working within a team dynamic.
  • Time Management Skills: In addition to adhering to stringent deadlines, designers must also have the ability to take initiative and work independently.
  • Visual & Spatial Awareness: In addition to creative/artistic abilities, having a keen sense of visual/spatial awareness is crucial to your success in this career path.

Understandably, you will need to be confident using complex computer software, such as computer-aided design (CAD) tools. You will do most of your training ‘on-the-job’, developing your CAD skills and technical knowledge under the supervision of an experienced product designer. However, you may occasionally be required to attend in-house training courses.

As you progress in your career and move into project management, your company may even sponsor you to complete a relevant professional qualification, such as an MBA. You may also wish to take part in workshops offered by external organizations, colleges or universities.

Many product designers eventually progress into project management roles. Another option is to work as a freelance product designer, where you will work for different companies on a variety of projects.

Job Forecast

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of arts and design occupations is projected to grow 4 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations, adding about 33,700 new jobs. More workers will be needed for their design thinking and product strategy skills to meet the growing demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, television, and on smartphones, as well as to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and other media platforms.

Career Possibilities

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

  • Advertising Art Director
  • Automotive Engineer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Materials Engineer
  • Product Manager
  • Production Designer (theater/television/film)
  • Purchasing Manager
  • Stylist

Studying product design gives you broad theoretical knowledge and practical skillset you’ll need to use production methods and materials creatively.

Job options:

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

  • Clothing/Textile Technologist
  • Color Technologist
  • Exhibition Designer
  • Furniture Designer
  • Industrial/Product Designer
  • Interior decorator & Spatial Designer

Career Advancement

Experienced designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory positions. Some designers become instructors in design schools or in colleges and universities. Many teachers continue to consult privately or operate small design studios in addition to teaching. Some experienced designers open their own design firms.

Connect with NewSchool’s Enrollment Team today to learn more about our Product Design program and how we can help you achieve your academic and professional goals!

Top 10 Benefits of a Construction Management Degree and What You Can Do With It

Posted on March 29, 2019 - 4:08 pm by

With today’s ever-growing demand for increasingly sophisticated infrastructures, a career in Construction Management shows no signs of stopping. And because construction managers are so integral in leading construction projects through every phase of development, their value in the job market continues to rise exponentially and they have many career opportunities.

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of entering this burgeoning field and how earning your bachelor’s of science in construction management or online master’s in construction management can provide you with limitless potential in your professional endeavors.

What is a Construction Manager?

Highly sought-after professionals that perform in every aspect of the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) field for construction companies or construction firms. Construction managers must be versatile, innovative multitaskers with strong leadership skills.

Although not all managers have bachelor’s degrees (in lieu of construction experience), there is a growing standard for a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree for a construction management career. That is why it is important to consider learning how to become a construction manager and entering a construction management degree program to become prepared in this field. Long gone are the days of a high school diploma being sufficient for starting entry-level positions.

Construction Manager Job Sites

Some of the job site parameters of the industry they work in may include:

  • Residential Building Construction
  • Commercial/Office Buildings
  • Specialty Structures
  • Design Elements (remodeling/designing the interiors and exteriors of buildings)
  • Development (e.g., urban/city planning; restoration; repurposing buildings and the surrounding spaces)
  • Civil & Highway Construction (bridges, tunnels, roadways, dams, canals etc.)

Construction Manager Job Duties

  • Interpreting & explaining plans, blueprints and contract terms to other workers, administrative staff, firms, and clients representing the developer or building owner
  • Reviewing and inspecting each phase of a construction project in order to monitor the observance of building & safety regulations and other compliance codes
  • Scheduling projects in chronological order and budgeting time & resources required to meet client deadlines
  • Studying job specifications and client stipulations in order to determine appropriate construction methods

A Career In Construction Management: Endless Possibilities

Earning your degree in Construction Management is valuable to your career in a variety of ways. Besides providing job stability and enabling you to increase your earning potential, it also allows entrepreneurial types to take on a position that can help benefit society and the environments we live and work in. Listed below are some of the advantages you can enjoy with a Construction Management degree:

  1. Competitive Salary: One of the obvious benefits of a degree in Construction Management is the ability to earn a significant income. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary as of 2016 was $89,300 for construction managers; this is an above-average income. Of course, the construction manager’s average salary will vary based on work experience. Senior managers will receive a higher salary pack compared to construction management graduates just starting off in the field.
  2. Strong Job Forecast: BLS statistics also report that the employment of construction managers is projected to grow up to 16% by 2022 – faster than the national average job growth for all occupations. This is great news for recent college grads looking to join the workforce, as well as CMs who are seeking advancement opportunities in their career.
  3. Employment Satisfaction: As a construction manager, you can enjoy the satisfaction of pursuing a career path that is not only the result of years of hard work, training and secondary education, but built on your sense of creativity, leadership skills, and passion for the industry. Additionally, the buildings you’ve constructed and projects you’ve managed will undoubtedly bring you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
  4. Job Stability: Due to the increasing demand for new construction and remodeling/repurposing of various commercial and residential infrastructures across the country, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported a projection in job stability over the coming decade for those in the construction industry. Additionally, the BLS has noted a trend, stating that employers tend to hire prospective candidates who hold both a degree and possess on-the-job training. For those seeking job growth and job security, this is yet another reason why earning a degree in Construction Management is highly advantageous.
  5. Leadership: Because you’ll be assuming a vital role as a decision-maker, your leadership abilities will be a core aspect of your daily routine. For individuals who desire a career that demands decision-making and authority as a major part of their job description, an occupation as a construction manager can be both advantageous and rewarding.
  6. Autonomy: For those who appreciate a sense of independence and thrive in roles where initiative is key, a position in construction management can offer a great deal of autonomy. Entrepreneurial individuals who are self-sufficient, naturally driven and able to multitask will appreciate the demands of this career path.
  7. Intellectual Growth: Besides fulfilling your desire for leadership and independence, a position as a construction manager is also intellectually rewarding, as it challenges your ability to problem-solve on a daily basis. Furthermore, it utilizes a great deal of creativity and thinking out of the box, which many individuals find very gratifying on a personal and professional level.
  8. Rapid Career Advancement: Receiving your degree in Construction Management almost guarantees you will be awarded high levels of responsibility right out of college – many CMs are managing multi-million dollar projects early in their careers.
  9. Travel: Another benefit of a career in construction management is the ability to travel, as the job often requires journeying outside of one’s home base to work on projects. This holds particularly true for CMs who reside in smaller and/or less populated areas. Depending on the length of the project and distance from one’s home, some CMs are required to stay in mobile facilities for several weeks or even months at a time. While this may be seen as a disadvantage to some, others may enjoy the opportunity to see different parts of the country, or even the world if the job site is international.
  10. Honing Your Skills: Earning a degree in Construction Management will not only secure you a high-paying position and job stability but also enable you to expand your knowledge and expertise in the construction trade. Through on-the-job undertakings and the challenges that different projects present, you will learn invaluable career experiences that will allow you to become an efficient problem solver as you lead organizations – and ultimately transform the world we live in.

Students interested in pursuing a construction management major should consult their high school or college advisor regarding career opportunities, required construction management courses, and internships.

For more information on earning an undergraduate degree in construction management or a master’s in construction management at NewSchool, contact our Enrollment Team.

What Are The Benefits Of Hands-On Learning?

Posted on January 21, 2019 - 4:16 pm by

While educational approaches used to subscribe to a “one-size-fits-all” philosophy, observation, testing, and psychology have revealed, by degrees, a different picture over the last few decades. Different students learn different ways, and forcing all to adhere to a singular style of learning has the potential of limiting two-thirds – or more – of any given class.

At NewSchool, we incorporate hands-on learning and training techniques as an integral part of our teaching strategy in our academic programs. We know that not all students are the same, which is why we incorporate these progressive teaching methods in all of our classrooms. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of hands-on learning for students, including a variety of learning styles and training techniques that are effective both in and out of the classroom – and how they can serve you in your future career.

What Is The Best Way For A Student to Learn?

‘Best’ is a subjective term, but certain learning styles offer clear advantages over others, depending on the subject(s) of study. Below are several core learning styles commonly practiced in the classroom from grade school to college:

  • Visual learning, often called “book” learning, has long been the prevailing method, compelling students to read, remember, and recite the information on a page in reports, tests, and quizzes. This method is most frequently used by teachers during early childhood for school-aged children, where information is traditionally taught using picture books, flashcards, and later, textbooks.
  • Auditory learning, most easily observed in the lecture formats of certain college courses, relies upon the student to take in an instructor’s information through listening to them live, or via a pre-recorded session, requiring students to take notes accordingly throughout the process. This form of learning may or may not encourage discussion, depending on the preferences of a given professor.
  • Kinesthetic learning is the third and most intriguing of the learning styles, mingling elements of both visual and auditory learning and compelling full participation from the student. Named after kinesiology, the study of human movement, it’s most commonly referred to as “hands-on” learning. This blended learning technique is one of the key drivers in trade school learning, as it allows students to become comfortable and familiar with the hands-on processes and skills of what will hopefully become their careers, rather than simply watching or reading about them.

Does Hands-On Learning Work For Everyone?

Barring severe shyness or anxiety, hands-on learning is uniquely positioned to support or elevate any type of learner. Everyone has their own specific needs when it comes to their personal learning style. Students that prefer to listen to their lesson can hear the instructor as they follow along, and those that do well with visuals can watch the instructor, duplicating his or her steps after they’re finished. Rather than a learning style alone, hands-on learning should be a functional part of every lesson plan, if only to familiarize students especially in the design degree and science studies with the models and materials they’ll use later in either professional, post-graduate employment or research positions.

Why Is Hands-On Learning So Powerful?

Hands-on learning (also known as experiential learning) is the biology lab that teaches a future scientist to be comfortable with dissection; the vehicle shop experience that helps a future mechanic understand the nuances of an engine with not just their eyes and ears but also with actual hands-on training. It gives students the opportunity to self-correct any educational missteps in the moment – with professional guidance at arm’s reach. While notes can be copied down incorrectly and the thread of learning can get buried under a teacher that talks too quickly or a poorly-written textbook, live examples of core concepts are registered in the brain as holistic experiences, giving the student’s mind more “anchors” to tie the memory to.

The sound two materials make when they’re joined together, the scent of a certain solvent, the vivid color of a particular plant leaf – these all become easy-access sensory “bookmarks” for bringing the memory to the surface when it needs to be reviewed. This works for every field of study as well, not just the sciences – that’s why so many condensed “how-to” courses use the format. People simply learn better when they’re allowed to roll up their sleeves and experience the subject matter in a simulation, rather than being distanced from it by a third-hand narrative experience or a dry passage of text.

How Does Hands-On Learning Help A Career?

While learning should ideally translate perfectly into practice, the reality is that it seldom does. Just as someone who may have only read a particular word in books might mispronounce it the first time they speak it aloud, self-focused learning methods may not reveal mistakes until the stakes are high. Particularly in fields where physical precision is important – manufacturing, architecture, medical studies, and so on – these innocent mistakes can become big problems if they aren’t identified and addressed beforehand. Hands-on learning helps instructors recognize and correct these mistakes while still in the learning process, dramatically reducing the chances of the same mistake cropping up after the training course is finished.

Hands-on learning also provides a student with the opportunity to safely make mistakes and learn organically through trial and error. Rather than experimenting when a job is on the line, they can experiment with new ideas and satisfy curiosity at their own natural pace without worrying about damaging an important project. This allows them to practice their critical thinking skills and utilize the knowledge they’ve accumulated during their training program. Humans naturally learn by making mistakes and determining how to either fix or avoid them, and the more times the cycle is repeated, the better a student becomes at meeting those challenges without hesitation. To put it another way, practice makes perfect!

Transferring Hands-On Learning From Classroom To Workplace

As most recent college graduates learn “the hard way,” life in the real world has very few things in common with life in the classroom. Real-world situations aren’t usually clear-cut or easily solved, a variety of different factors need to be considered and weighed, and sometimes real-world solutions – while they do work – aren’t very tidy. Hands-on learning can help lessen the imbalance between academia and employment by familiarizing students with the environments they’ll be confronted with.

An employer isn’t, for example, likely to hand a worker a document and give them a multiple-choice quiz on it a week later. Far more plausible is a sudden emergency situation that needs to be addressed, with little time to consider options and actions – therein lies the value of the hands-on experience. Such learning exercises can enable a virtual walk-through of actions and reactions, as hypothetical circumstances can be emulated and practiced by imposing time limits. Instructors may also wish to “surprise” students in the form of hands-on exercises, presenting them with unexpected problems and unique materials to work with.

Depending on the length of time spent in a hands-on environment and the complexities of the lessons, students may also be able to list certain experiences on their resume. For example, bullet points such as these could pique the interest of employers that might otherwise pass over a candidate without time “on the job”:

  • Worked with (X) program/machine/tool/material several times a week.
  • Built (X) in conjunction with a team of 5 students.
  • Developed (X) from raw materials in accordance with the (X) method.
  • Solved (X) problem using only (X) materials.

How Does Hands-On Learning Help Students?

Properly structured, hands-on learning encourages students to think outside of the proverbial box, coaxing them to experiment with and explore the problems, tools, and substances they’ll work with regularly in their chosen careers.

From an educator’s perspective, this learning style also offers a welcome respite from the rote repetition of “book learning” or lecturing. No teacher likes to think about it, lest their teaching confidence slip, but the fact of the matter is that adults do have a limited attention span, even when they’re earnestly trying to pay attention. The sound of an instructor’s voice may become a drone after an hour of class, or the words in a passage of text may blur together as eyes become tired or the thought of lunchtime intrudes. Legs and backs may get restless from sitting in place, and thoughts drift as students become a passive – rather than an active – participant in their classroom experience. Gossip and private conversations can become a distraction as students away from the front row seek alternate stimulation during class hours.

Hands-on learning uproots this tired, traditional classroom instruction, allowing students to move, discuss, interact with, and truly engage with in the lesson. Rather than bored teammates simply waiting for their proverbial turn at bat, they are instead immersed in the actual functional points of the task, figuratively getting their hands dirty with the materials, techniques, and concepts being taught. Rather than a chore – listen, take notes, remember – it becomes that magical organic experience and students retain it the same way they would visiting a museum, or trying a new type of food. It’s interesting, and thus the subject matter becomes easier to recall and more enticing to explore.

No restless legs, no wandering thoughts, no dozing off during class – instead, they get to tackle challenges alongside classmates, delving into a “gamification” structure that encourages – or even directly endorses, depending on the instructor’s techniques – competition as each student attempts to be the first to create a result, or otherwise answer a challenge using their materials.

How Should Students Prepare For Hands-On Learning?

To receive the most benefits out of this valuable teaching method, students should arrive to each lesson ready to explore the projects and components in front of them. That means:

  • Familiarizing themselves with any safety procedures beforehand
  • Ensuring they have any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) ready to use
  • Arriving on time, so as not to miss preliminary show-and-tell steps
  • Using hands-free recording devices so they can focus on doing rather than note-taking
  • Never missing a class (barring emergencies) so that they always feel comfortable with the current expertise level being demonstrated
  • Getting enough sleep and eating/drinking before class to keep the mind sharp
  • Setting aside extra time before or after a class to work with an instructor on any problem areas

Hands-on learning is an incredibly powerful tool, but it won’t replace traditional learning entirely. While it’s beneficial to get excited about hands-on sessions in your field of study, don’t neglect reviewing your notes, or collaborating with peers to ensure you understand important concepts. If you feel like you understand your hands-on session well but struggle with test and quiz concepts, be sure to confer with your instructor to bring your learning experience back into balance. Just as all students learn in different core methods, their ideal mix of the three learning methods will vary as well.

How Does Hands-On Learning Work In Groups?

Just as employees are directed to work in teams on important job projects, hands-on learning typically incorporates group work as well. To ensure the best experience for all students involved, each participant should be aware of his or her contributions and time spent with materials, stepping back to give others ample experience as well. While it’s normal and understandable to get into a groove while problem-solving a hands-on challenge, if you’re placed in a group, remember that your teammates are counting on you to support them as well.

Hands-on learning is a decidedly personal experience, but it should also be a communal one whenever possible – you’ll need to work well with others in an employment position, after all. Instead of allowing impatience or a competitive streak to spoil the experience, consciously spend time watching how others interact with the same problems you may already know how to solve.

  • Did they use the materials in unexpected or unfamiliar ways while still solving the issue?
  • Did they use more or less of a material than you would have done yourself?
  • Did they tackle a certain step with more expertise than you’ve been able to? How?
  • What did they struggle with while trying to solve the project or scenario?

Remember: if you allow your eagerness to get to the hands-on portion of learning eclipse your desire to learn, you could be missing important additional lessons from your classmates’ experiences with hands-on materials. You could even learn a new skill from them. Treat your classmates as part of the hands-on lesson – though not literally, of course. Ask them about their experiences with your mutual materials and tools, and don’t be afraid to ask them to demonstrate techniques they’re particularly skilled with to learn from them.

Hands-on learning is a rewarding way for students to explore, retain, and experiment with all aspects of their chosen field of study, particularly at the collegiate/trade school level of career development and education. The potentials are essentially limitless, and the amount of preparation and confidence this method offers can’t be overstated. Even if a student struggles to pay attention to a spoken lecture or a lengthy text, they could find true academic breakthrough on the other side of a hands-on lesson. The most challenging career fields demand expertise, and one of the best ways to acquire it is to reach out and grab it – quite literally – with hands-on learning.

For more information on NewSchool’s hands-on learning philosophy, and opportunities for design scholarships contact our Enrollment Team!

How to Become a Licensed Architect

Posted on January 21, 2019 - 4:13 pm by

A career in architecture offers a world of opportunity to those suited for this challenging, yet rewarding occupation. Whether you’re looking to work within the U.S. or abroad, this industry shows unlimited potential, as there is a demand for qualified licensed architects around the globe. Depending on your level of education, area of expertise and professional experience, there are many prospects for advancement that can improve your professional earning potential as well as your rank in the architectural workforce.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require architects to attain their architectural licensure before practicing or soliciting business. Although certain prerequisites may vary by state, the general requirements for licensure include education, experience, examination, and registration. Some institutions offer an integrated path to architecture licensure (IPAL) option to make the process of obtaining licensure easier.

If you’re interested in learning how to attain your architectural license and become a professional licensed architect, there are certain factors you should be aware of when pursuing your education. Besides being proficient in mathematics with a flair for innovation, a successful licensed architect typically possess a variety of other core skills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these strengths include but are not limited to:

  • Analytical Skills: In order to achieve their professional goals, architects must have an in-depth understanding of the content of designs and blueprints, as well as the context in which they were created. For example, architects must understand the locations of mechanical systems and how those systems affect building operations.
  • Communication Skills: Because architects share their ideas (both in oral presentations and in writing) with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings, they must possess and practice excellent communication skills. It is not unusual for an architect to give presentations to explain their ideas and designs.
  • Creativity: Since architects are responsible for designing the overall look and aesthetic of residential and corporate structures, they must have the ability to create buildings and designs that are both ergonomic and attractive, as well as complementary to the existing surrounding architecture, particularly in instances of urban development.
  • Organizational Skills: Architects are frequently responsible for managing contracts; therefore, they must keep diligent records related to the details of a project, including total cost, materials used, and tracking project progress.
  • Technical Skills: Due to the various software programs and computer skills required, architects need to be fairly tech-savvy. For example, architects are required to use CADD technology to create plans as part of building information modeling (BIM).
  • Visualization Skills: Licensed architects must have a keen sense of spatial relations in order to conceptualize and mastermind the working parts, as well as determine how those structures will relate to one another. Additionally, they must be able to visualize how the overall building will look upon completion.

In this article, we’ll explore the steps required to become a licensed architect, including educational requirements, professional experience, licensure and registration, as well as employment and career outlook and average salary information.

Architectural Education

In all states, one of the first steps in becoming a licensed architect is earning a bachelor’s degree. Although most architects earn their degree through a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree program, many individuals earn their master’s degree in architecture, which may take one to five additional years. The time required to earn one’s master’s in architecture depends on the extent of the student’s prior educational background and architectural training.

Typically, a bachelor’s degree program’s educational requirements includes course that cover topics such as:

  • Architectural history and theory
  • Building design with an emphasis on computer-aided design and drafting (CADD)
  • Structures and construction methods
  • Professional practices
  • Mathematics
  • Physical sciences
  • Liberal arts

To become an architect, you’ll need to meet your jurisdiction’s education requirement with a bachelor’s degree program. As per the BLS, 35 states currently require that architects hold an undergraduate degree in architecture from one of the 122 schools of architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). State licensure requirements can be found at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Architectural Experience

After meeting their education requirements, aspiring architects enter the experience phase of licensing, commonly satisfied through professional internships. An intern development program length and experience requirements are set by each jurisdiction, but most states have adopted the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) guidelines for internships.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all states require that a prospective architect-in-training work under a supervising professional architect. Typically, architectural registration boards demand architecture graduates to complete a paid internship (which may last up to three years) before they may take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Most new graduates complete their training period by working at architectural firms through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), a program run by NCARB that was created to guide students through the internship segment. Certain states allow a portion of the training to occur in the offices of related careers, such as general contractors and engineers. Undergrad students who complete internships while still in college can count some of that time towards their 3-year training period.

As an architecture intern, your responsibilities may include assisting in the architectural design and interior decoration phase of a project. More specifically, your experiences might encompass duties such as:

  • Preparing architectural drawings and documents
  • Designing and building models
  • Preparing drawings on CADD
  • Researching current building codes
  • Writing specifications for building materials, installation criteria, the quality of finishes and other related details

Architectural Examination

In order to achieve licensed architect status and begin to practice architecture, you will need to pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). This multi-part exam not only tests your industry knowledge, but measures your skill sets, overall acumen and expertise in a variety of architectural practices. In addition to the ARE, you may be required to pass state-specific architectural exams. All states require licensure applicants to pass the ARE, with most granting access after the candidate meets the state education requirements of attaining their professional degree.

First, let’s review the prerequisites for the ARE:

  1. Check with your state’s board of architecture: Before taking the ARE, candidates should confirm with the relevant state board of architecture to ensure that they meet their state’s specific requirements for taking the examination. It’s important to verify with your state board of architecture, as states have varying requirements for the ability to take the ARE.
  2. Establish an NCARB record: This serves as a verified record of your education and experience, and identifies registration qualifications

Once you’ve been granted ARE access after meeting the state education requirement, you will be qualified to take the exam – however, be prepared to pay $2,000 or more, depending on your location in North America. This exam covers the following aspects of architecture:

  • Construction Documents & Services
  • Programming
  • Planning & Practice
  • Site Planning & Design
  • Building Design & Construction Systems
  • Structural Systems
  • Building Systems
  • Schematic Design

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Once you’ve passed your exams and successfully completed the professional experience requirements, you may register for an architectural license. Although individual states grant licenses, you can also become licensed in multiple states. In order to maintain or renew your architecture license, you will need to earn continuing education credits each year. While continuing education requirements may vary from state to state, they typically involve additional architecture school education through university classes, workshops, self-study courses, conferences or other sources.

Did You Know…

All states and the District of Columbia require architects to be licensed. Licensing requirements typically include completing a higher education degree program in architecture, gaining relevant experience through a paid internship, and passing the Architect Registration Examination

Work Environment

According to BLS statistics, architects held about 128,800 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of architects were as follows:

Architectural, engineering, and related services         68%
Self-employed workers         20%
Government           3%
Construction           2%

Professional architects spend the majority of their time in offices, where they meet with clients, develop reports and drawings, and collaborate with other architects and engineers. They also visit construction sites to ensure clients’ objectives are met and to review the progress of projects. Some architects work from home offices.

Work Schedules: Most working architects work full-time positions, and many work additional hours, particularly when faced with impending deadlines. Self-employed architects typically have more flexible work schedules within this profession.

Employment Outlook and Salary Information

Due to the continued demand for new structures in the U.S., the BLS anticipated that jobs for architects and architectural services, excluding those of the naval and landscape varieties, would grow 7% between 2014 and 2024. Along with these current industry projections, there is also the benefit of a low unemployment rate (about 5.1%), making the job outlook for working architects even more promising. In addition, the BLS statistics also state the Median Salary for this career path is around $76K with a 1.9% unemployment rate; the lowest 10% earned less than $44,940 and the highest 10% earned over $121,910 and around 1 in 5 were self-employed. Additional data indicated that architects held approximately 112,600 jobs in 2014, with 69% employed in the architectural, engineering and related industries.

As an architect, your job duties may comprise a number of different plan and design elements, including but not limited to the renovation and/or construction of residential dwellings (including private homes and apartment buildings) and commercial offices, with a heavy focus on new retail establishments (i.e., independently-owned stores and chain retailers), along with other types of similar structures. Additionally, growth is expected in school districts and universities nationwide, from building new facilities to the renovation or upgrading of existing buildings. The healthcare industry is also on the rise, with a subsequent need for facility expansion; this is not only due to the population’s increased utilization of healthcare services, but a steady demand for healthcare facilities to house the aging baby-boomer demographic.

Another element of architecture that has garnered an increase in visibility worldwide is the concept known as “green design”, a terminology that describes eco-friendly or sustainable design principles. Although this can include landscape architecture, it mainly refers to an emphasis on an efficient usage of resources – such as water and energy conservation, a reduction in waste and pollution, and utilizing environmentally materials and designs – it’s no wonder green design continues to grow in popularity across multiple platforms. With an ever-increasing concern for the environment, rising energy costs and a need to seek green resources while decreasing our carbon footprint, architects are met with new and innovative challenges to fabricate sustainable designs worldwide.

Due to the recent technological developments and improvements in software, architects can also expect an increase in productivity while enjoying a more streamlined workflow. New and improved applications such as BIM and the latest versions of CADD allow architects to rely less heavily upon drafters, making it easier to share work and other collaborative efforts with contractors, engineers and clients. For those seeking advancement in their career, some firms are willing to cover the expenses required for employees to return to school, including tuition fees and other tangential costs required for continuing education.

Architectural Career Advancement

After many years of work experience, some architects advance to become architectural and engineering managers. These managers typically coordinate the activities of employees and may work on larger construction projects.

Here are several popular career options within the architecture industry:

  • Civil Engineer
  • Construction Manager
  • Digital Mapping
  • Drafter
  • Graphic Designer
  • Industrial Designer
  • Interior Designer
  • Landscape Architect
  • Urban & Regional Planner

Summary: Architectural Licensure At A Glance

In order to become a fully-licensed architect, a student must:

  • Earn a college degree
  • Complete an internship
  • Pass the Architect Registration Exam (ARE)

The architectural student needs to earn a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or Doctorate of Architecture degree from a school accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Next, all states in the U.S. require a three-year internship at an architectural firm as established through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP). Finally, the architect must pass all sections of the ARE in order to be fully licensed in this field.

If you think a career in architecture is right for you, contact our Enrollment Team today. Or if you are interested in one of our related programs, discover how to become a graphic designer here! NewSchool of Architecture & Design is proud to offer many graduate and undergraduate programs to get you started on your path to becoming an architect. We also understand some lifestyles don’t permit people to attend in-person classes, that’s why we make getting an online architecture degree possible. 

How to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management

Posted on January 18, 2019 - 4:20 pm by

In a field like construction where so much of your time is spent working on a construction site, you might wonder if there’s any value to becoming a student for some of that traditional classroom learning coursework. Is it really worth it to invest your time and money to earn your bachelor’s degree in construction management?

When you consider the doors you will open by taking a construction management degree program and earning your bachelor’s degree, you’ll see that the answer is an easy yes, but it will absolutely take some hard work to achieve. While it is possible to become a Construction Manager by earning your high school diploma and spending a number of years working in the construction trade, a bachelor’s degree is increasingly becoming a requirement for this role.

Today, there are many ways you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Construction Management that have made the degree much more attractive to those already working in, or considering entering the industry. In fact, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center construction trades are rapidly growing in popularity, having the largest percentage increase in enrollment between spring 2016 and spring 2017 at 26.4 percent.

But where do you even begin? Let’s take a look at how you can earn your bachelor’s degree in construction management.

What’s Required To Apply For The Degree Program?

If you decide you would like to pursue a bachelor’s in construction management, you will need to do your homework to figure out what you need to do before you can enroll. Since each individual program may have different requirements, you will have to look into the requirements for each school. To apply for some, you may need to have a combination of a high school diploma and work experience, while others may only require high school graduation and qualifying SAT/ACT scores.

And all is not lost for those who didn’t earn their diploma: If you are currently working in the field, you can sometimes leverage your work experience to enter an undergraduate degree program. Some schools may require an entrance exam to see if you qualify for the undergraduate program placement. You can sometimes also utilize letters of recommendation to generate good favor from admissions.

Find The Right Construction Management Bachelor’s Degree Program For Your Needs

There are many things to consider when choosing which college or university to attend to earn your bachelor’s degree in construction management.

The first should be whether the academic curriculum and coursework has everything you are looking for. If you’re looking to enter a specific niche of the construction discipline such as commercial building, construction engineering technology, construction safety, civil engineering, or even business administration, make sure the higher education institution you are looking at has courses focusing in this area.

But choosing the right school goes far beyond just the right educational curriculum and coursework. You’ll want a school that suits your learning style as well. Do you perform well in large group lectures, small courses, or learning independently online? Will a large school overwhelm you? How will you be able to excel in receiving your bachelor’s degree in as rewarding a way possible?

Location will also be a factor. Do you have work and family obligations that would necessitate finding a school that is nearby or offers night classes?

You can even go a step further and look into the additional program requirements. For instance, does the program require an internship? Will you be doing any hands-on learning or working in the field? Does the program have accreditation status or industry connections and a good track record of job placement?

There are many factors to consider, but you need to consider them all to find a construction education program that will fit your busy life and set you up for success, rather than taking on too much and wasting your time.

Attending Traditional College Or University

The more traditional route to take is to enroll in a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a construction management college or university. This will involve learning in the classroom at the school you’ve chosen that suits your needs. You’ll take all of your courses on campus and may have to do an internship or apprenticeship with a construction company in your community. Some schools will set these up for you while in others you will have to apply for internships at construction companies on your own.

Though attending college or university in person is the more traditional route, new learning options have emerged that are likely much more affordable and flexible for your schedule, especially if you are someone who is working full time in the construction industry and wants to get ahead by moving up to a management position by attaining your bachelor’s degree.

What You’ll Learn In Your Construction Management Bachelor’s Degree Program

Construction management involves much more than just managing your team of construction workers. A construction manager must also know how to manage a budget, organize and supervise the project work from beginning to end, understand building codes, blueprints, legal issues, surveying, construction methods and construction materials, differing construction techniques, mechanical systems, and will probably need some skill with field-specific computer applications. Therefore, the coursework in a construction management bachelor’s degree program will focus on the business, technical, and legal aspects of construction and the construction process.

Courses in business may include economics, cost estimating and analysis, statistics, and financial accounting. Legal courses might include ethics, construction law, and safety. And technical courses may include construction technology and software and surveying layout.

You’ll learn the construction process from a business perspective. This will give you the managerial skills you need to be able to manage a building construction project as well as construction professional employees, contractors, and subcontractors. Beyond your workers, you’ll also need to know how to manage a budget, schedule, quality, and safety on your work site.

Construction management bachelor’s degree program graduates will enter the workplace with knowledge on how to analyze structural systems, use computer applications to solve engineering issues and will be able to apply field inspection techniques.

At NewSchool of Architecture & Design, potential courses may include Construction Contracts and Documents, in which students will gain an understanding of many different types of construction documents, which will likely include contracts, subcontracts, bidding forms, and bonds. This will give the students knowledge in situations of dispute resolution, wage rates, the legality of bidding, liability, tax exempt status, and even warranties.

In Construction Project Planning, construction management students will learn how to schedule and plan the entire construction process, including how to utilize construction material time schedules, computer scheduling packages, critical path methods, and more. Construction Estimating is another course commonly associated with a construction management degree. This will focus on the bidding and estimating costs of a construction project, including overhead, unit costs, takeoff estimates, and cost control systems.

Naturally, Project Management will be a prominent feature of any construction management bachelor’s degree curriculum. Here, students will learn strategic planning and project staffing, as well as techniques and tools for project management, cost control, risk management, and the software you will use.

While each construction management program will be different, they will all involve some reading and research assignments, as well as individual and group projects, plus exams, including open-book and open-note exams, and some interactive, hands-on learning. The programs with internships will best prepare you for the workplace by giving you actual experience in the field, allowing you to apply the skills you’ve learned in the classroom to real projects with real professional organizations.

What Are The Requirements Of A Construction Management Bachelor’s Degree Program?

Earning your Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree will typically involve a mix of learning about construction technologies, project management, contracts, estimating, specifications, quality assurance, and more. Generally, a bachelor’s degree program will require you to earn somewhere between 120 and 180 credit hours. You will also have to complete all of the major and prerequisite courses involved in the program, and maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.0. Depending on the program, you may also need to take on an internship or apprenticeship role with a local construction company.

If you want to specialize in a certain niche, you can often choose to study in this specific area at some point during your program. For instance, if you want to specialize in residential construction, your course load can focus on this specific portion of construction management. Other areas of expertise include commercial construction, highway and heavy civil works, and facility management.

Potential Construction Management Career Paths

Earning your bachelor’s degree puts you in the best position to earn a construction management job, but there are other popular career opportunities in this field including General Contractor, Cost Estimator, Facilities Engineer, Construction Supervisor, Superintendent, and Construction or Building Inspector. Construction management graduates may therefore have a variety of employers, including architectural firms, building contractors, engineering firms, and specialty trade contractors. Some construction management graduates may even decide to start their own business.

Each profession currently is forecasted for good job growth in the coming years, and all have a high earning potential, especially if you come with a diploma in a construction degree program. A high school diploma and on-the-job training and possibly a certification may be all you need to get started, but more and more construction managers are earning their bachelor’s degree, so earning yours will make you more competitive on the construction industry job market.

Earning your bachelor’s degree in construction management shows that you have the management skills and business knowledge needed to perform well in the industry and be a valuable asset to a construction company, and even more so with a master’s degree. It shows that you’ll be someone who can consistently manage a team and work together to get a job done properly, on time.

Whatever higher education path you choose, the draw of the construction management field is currently quite strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that employment  in the industry will grow at a rate of 11 percent from 2016 to 2026. The BLS also shows that construction managers in the U.S. earned a yearly median salary of $89,300 in 2016, showing this to be a profession with great earning potential. Having a bachelor’s degree in construction management puts those people in a position for a higher salary, and those interested in even more can go back to school to pursue a Master’s in Construction Management online.

Apply To Your Construction Management Bachelor’s Degree Program Of Choice

If you’ve found the program that is the right fit for your availability and needs, and you fit the requirements, apply and once accepted, get ready to start the road toward a rewarding career.

Call NewSchool today to learn more about our undergraduate construction management program and how we can help you achieve your academic goals!

Should I Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture?

Posted on January 18, 2019 - 4:06 pm by

If you have a bit of an artsy/creative side and spend a lot of time marveling at the buildings around you, then becoming an architect might be a great career path for you. While students in Construction Management colleges soon get to develop building infrastructure, architects get to design those buildings you see, and create beautiful, functional, and safe buildings for both residential and commercial use.

So if you have an inkling that you might want to become an architect, the next steps involve doing your homework to figure out how to become a professional. Unfortunately, you cannot simply declare yourself an architect because you know how to draw and have a passion for design. You’ll need very specific training in a variety of areas, which means you’ll need to go to school and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture or Bachelor of Architecture degree.

What Do Architects Do?

First, you need to understand that architects do so much more than just sketch a building and let the construction team handle the build. Architects design and plan buildings and structures that are functional, safe, and pleasing to the eye. As the architect, you will be involved in every step along the way, from planning to completion.

Architects are often mistakenly thought of as artists, when there is actually a lot of science that goes into the work. That’s because architects have to think about so much more than just the way a building and other structures look. Architects have to give just as much attention to a building’s function and safety, while keeping in mind the needs of the people who will use them.

Architects also need soft skills like creativity and visualization. While some will certainly be more naturally adept in this area, having the educational foundation gives you knowledge to build off, making the sketching process easier. You’ll need to be a good listener, problem-solver, and critical thinker as well.

Why You Need A Degree in Architecture

The simplest reason you need a Bachelor of Architecture is that you actually need a degree and license in order to declare yourself a professional. Choosing the right school and specific program that is right for you and your academic needs is crucial to your success. This could mean going the traditional route and attending a school on campus, or it might mean finding an online program. The key is finding what will work for you and help to work you closer to your goals.

A good Bachelor of Architecture degree program or online architecture degree program will include a variety of programs that will fine-tune all of the skills you’ll need in this profession. Course topics will most likely include a combination of architectural history and theory, building and construction, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD). Most schools now will have courses on sustainable building and design.

You will also learn how to draw and create 3D models. Architects should also take some art classes in addition to trigonometry, geometry, and physics courses to have the most well-rounded skill set.

A Bachelor of Architecture program typically takes five years to complete. An internship or apprenticeship will often be a requirement of the program, which allows you to learn in the field, working on real projects with a real architectural firm.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture Is The First Step Toward Licensure

As we mentioned, just like a doctor, architects must be licensed to work in the U.S. Schools that are accepted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) are able to participate in the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL). This allows students who earn their B.A. in Architecture to continue their education immediately by enrolling in the IPAL program. This helps reduce the time it takes to launch your career as a licensed architect.

This licensing program typically takes an additional three to four years to complete and pass the Architect Registration Exam (ARE). To maintain your license, you will also be required to continue your learning through classes, conferences, and workshops. You can also become licensed in more than one state by earning certificates through the NCARB.

Employment Opportunities & Salary Potential

As you can see, becoming an architect is a lot of work, but it can be a greatly rewarding profession from a creative perspective, as well as giving you the potential for a very high salary. In 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual salary for an architect was $76,100. The BLS also expects a seven percent growth in job opportunities between 2014 and 2024, which is about average compared to other professions. For those who want to raise the bar even higher, a Bachelor’s degree is just the first step — continuing your education to earn your Master of Architecture degree can position you for an even better earning potential.

Top Graphic Design Careers & Job Requirements

Posted on January 15, 2019 - 4:53 pm by

Your Future as a Graphic Designer: Merging Talent and Technical Acumen

If you’re considering a career in graphic design, you probably already know that it’s a vast and exciting field, and the opportunities are as varied as the industry itself. In the advent of Social Media and our ever-increasing dependency on technology, there are no signs of stopping in the world of graphic design. Whether you’re considering a position as a drafter in the printing or digital field, or an art director specializing in marketing, there’s no shortage of careers once you’ve met your graphic design degree requirements. As a career path with so many options to choose from, it’s important to know the appropriate steps to take when planning for college coursework and related studies.

Becoming a successful graphic designer is a culmination of many skill sets. In addition to your creative abilities, technological skills are mandatory, as you’ll be responsible for learning a wealth of software programs, including but not limited to Adobe InDesign, Quark, and Photoshop on the design end, as well as HTML and CSS on the development end. The more proficient you are in both spectrums, the more desirable you will become in the job market. Additionally, the ability to multitask goes beyond the artistic or digital scope:

Interpersonal skills are a key element of your day-to-day interactions, as you’ll often work within a team setting. Consequently, a career in this industry appeals to a broad demographic – depending on your specific skill set and background. Try to fine-tune your particular niche and determine the best job opportunities in graphic design to suit your long-term goals.

Graphic Designer Job Description

Before jumping into what the graphic design requirements are, it’s important to discuss what being a graphic designer entails. Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand to help support a client’s brand. The goal is to convey a message that inspires, informs, and captivates consumers. Projects a graphic designer works on can range from a simple logo design to a complete campaign package. Two- or three-dimensional art are used to execute visual concepts for their marketing materials. This can be done through advertisements, emails, websites, brochures, magazines, annual reports, and much more.

Duties of a Graphic Designer

Graphic designer duties include the following:

  • Meet with clients or creative director of a company to determine the vision and scope of a project 
  • Be able to incorporate changes recommended by the clients or the art directors into the final design
  • Present design concepts to clients or the art directors
  • Design layouts and select colors, typography, image, and typefaces to help support a clients brand
  • Use digital illustration, photo editing software, and layout software to create a design
  • Create visual elements such as logos, original images, and illustrations to carry out the desired message 
  • Review designs for errors before printing or publishing them
  • Test graphics across various media
  • Maintain technical knowledge by attending design workshops; reviewing professional publications; and participating in professional societies

Work Environment for Graphic Designers

Graphic designers generally work in studios, where they have access to equipment such as software, computers, and drafting tables in order to create their designs. Many graphic designers work independently. Self-employed graphic designers have the freedom to create a studio or office that is comfortable and inspirational. Freelance designers are required to work as many hours are necessary to meet client deadlines and goals. However, those who work for specialized graphic design firms are often part of a design team. A large portion of graphic designers collaborate with colleagues or work with clients on projects.

The largest employers of graphic designers are as follows:

  • Self-employed workers 21%
  • Specialized design services 10%
  • Advertising, public relations, and related services 8% 
  • Printing and related activities 7%
  • Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers 5%

How to Become A Graphic Designer: A Helpful Guideline

If you are interested in pursuing a career in graphic design, you’ll want to explore the graphic design requirements carefully for your college coursework – your classes and internships may vary a great deal, depending on the particular type of job you’re looking for upon graduation. However, there are certain rules of thumb that will apply universally to this area of expertise. Below, some general guidelines to keep in mind when planning your education.

Graphic Designer Education: Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree

As is customary in most specialized industries, a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related field is required for job placement. However, candidates with a bachelor’s degree in another field may obtain technical training in graphic design to meet most hiring specifications. High school students who are considering a graphic design major should take basic computer, design, and art courses in high school if available. Also, they should start to put their portfolios together in preparation for college admission. It’s important to speak with guidance counselors and department heads for more information, as each college has different requirements for application, including portfolio review and specifications.  

Once you have been accepted to the institution of your choice, it is important to maintain and build your portfolio throughout your college education – this is a crucial tactic for finding employment. Potential employers depend on a well-executed portfolio that embodies your unique talent to determine if you’re a good fit for their company. In addition, it’s key to stay abreast of current trends in the industry – from new developments in design software to updated computer graphics, you’ll need to stay up to date to maintain an edge on the competition.

Professional Experience

Most graphic designers gain on-the-job experience via internships, either during their college coursework or shortly after graduating. Such opportunities provide aspiring designers the chance to work with seasoned industry professionals while gaining the necessary skills to hone their craft. In addition, earning certifications and licenses in different software programs is advantageous to prospective job seekers.

The following qualities are also essential for anyone seeking a successful career in graphic design:

  • Analytical Skills: As a graphic designer, your ability to view your work from a consumer perspective is fundamental – having a deep understanding of the demographic you’re designing for is key when conveying a client or employer’s branded message, image and/or design aesthetic.
  • Artistic Abilities: Your role as a graphic designer typically centers around the visual image: creating unique designs that are appealing to a mass audience as well as your client. Through drawings, sketches and design software, your responsibilities will involve some form of artistic medium aimed at capturing the vision and story of your client.
  • Communication Skills: In order to interact cohesively within a team setting and convey ideas succinctly and effectively, excellent communication skills are required. Your responsibilities will entail communicating with other designers, programmers, IT, web developers, customers, clients and other professionals on a daily basis.
  • Computer Skills: As discussed earlier, an advanced knowledge of computer software and specialized programs is a requirement for any professional graphic designer.
  • Creativity: Thinking ‘out of the box’ is one of the primary elements to any creative field, and this holds particularly true in the world of graphic design. As an ever-evolving industry encompassing elements of fine art, computer graphics, marketing savvy, and communication through digital imagery, among others, your innate creativity is one of the most notable skills to keep in mind when considering this career path.
  • Time Management: If you wish to excel in this field, it’s important to possess excellent time-management skills, as graphic designers are often responsible for multiple projects simultaneously once they are in the workforce.

Top 7 Graphic Design Careers to Explore

As outlined above, many specialized careers fall under the ‘Graphic Designer’ category – therefore, it’s important to determine which direction you wish to pursue in the job market, based on your skillset, interests, and professional goals. Here is a list of some of the hottest career paths in the world of graphic design:

  •    Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Manager
  •    Art Director
  •    Desktop Publisher
  •    Industrial Designer
  •    Multimedia Artist and Animator
  •    Technical Writer
  •    Web Developer

For more information, please contact NewSchool of Architecture & Design’s Enrollment Team for a complete description of each career and related coursework.

How To Become a Graphic Designer: Step-by-Step

Posted on January 15, 2019 - 4:50 pm by

What is Graphic Design?

If you are interested in learning how to become a graphic designer, it’s important to first understand what a graphic design job would entail. Graphic design is the art of storytelling through visual communication. Utilize images, graphics, and text to build a brand and attract your target audience. As a graphic designer, you’ll be able to get involved in a multitude of industries including advertising, entertainment, and news (print publications, digital, and broadcast media). Practice your graphic design skills, build your portfolio, and learn more about getting involved with this creative industry.

What You’ll Need to Become a Graphic Designer

If you’re aspiring to be a professional graphic designer or thinking about pursuing a creative career in graphic design, you’ll want to carefully consider your training, objectives, as well as your creative and technical background. While the career opportunities are vast in the graphic design industry, it’s important to decide which direction you’ll want to go in at the onset of your college education. Choosing the appropriate coursework and receiving the right qualifications to further your graphic design skills will make all the difference once you’re in the workforce carving your own career path.

How to Become a Graphic Designer: Education, Training, and Qualifications

Although a sense of creativity, style, originality, excellent communication skills, and a familiarity with computer graphics, animation, and design software are desirable, planning your continued education requires careful preparation, including a visual portfolio of creative work that you’ve cultivated throughout high school to showcase your graphic design skills. Many universities recommend that students complete a year of basic art and design courses during high school to develop and learn the fundamentals of art and design. It’s essential for students to find out the specific requirements for the school or university you’re applying to and retrieve as much information as possible from your high school’s art department, guidance counselors, and other administration to help you learn and get started in the application process.

For most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions, you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, college, or private design school. However, if you are seeking an associate’s degree, you can obtain your certification from a variety of schools. Upon graduation, a 2-year degree will allow you to try assistant-level positions within the graphic design field. For those who already possess a bachelor’s degree in another major, you can complete a 2 or 3-year program in graphic design to learn the technical requirements and receive the certification needed to pursue a career in this field. If you are going back to college (continuing education), it’s usually best to contact the admissions office of whatever school you’re applying to find out the application process and what will be required (i.e., portfolio samples, transcripts, resume, etc.).

Your Curriculum: What to Expect

Depending on what area of graphic design you wish to pursue, your curriculum may include website visual design, studio art, computerized design, motion graphics, printing techniques, commercial graphics production, typography, and other similar coursework that falls under a fine art or graphic design program. Other courses may revolve around design principles, including design theory and learning the design process. Additionally, a liberal arts education will also include courses such as art history, sociology, psychology, writing, foreign languages/cultural studies, marketing, and business, among others. Such coursework enables aspiring graphic designers to become more well-rounded and better prepared for their industry, which typically requires a great deal of communication and collaborative efforts.

Keeping Up with Industry Trends & Advancements

It is also essential that graphic designers keep up with industry trends and technological advancements (including updated computer graphics & design software), either independently or through professional hands-on training programs. It’s a known fact that consumer tastes and preferences change rapidly, and to keep up with the ever-fluctuating trends, graphic designers must be on their A-game at all times. Having the ability to adapt to new ideas, work under pressure, remain well-read and even follow fashion, music, and other cultural cues are integral to becoming a successful graphic designer.

It’s also beneficial to work independently as well as collaboratively, have excellent time management skills, possess self-discipline, take initiative and adhere to company deadlines and production schedules. Maintaining good business sense and having a penchant for sales and marketing are also notable attributes, particularly for those who work as a freelance designer or run their own businesses. It is also advantageous for graphic designers to maintain excellent communication skills – since you’ll be collaborating with so many different individuals, you’ll be expected to communicate your ideas succinctly through visual, verbal, and writing cues.

Why Pursue a Formal Graphic Design Education?

Although it may seem like a field you can break into by learning on the job or on your own, there are a number of advantages to receiving your bachelor’s degree in graphic design. For starters, you’ll be qualified for more graphic designer jobs – most employers won’t even consider you for a position unless you possess some form of degree or certification in graphic design. Secondly, your earning potential increases significantly if you have a degree – you can sometimes make many thousands of dollars more than an employee without a degree.

Also, those with certifications and a college education stand out amongst their peers: employers are more willing to hire those with formal training, expertise, and skills than someone who is self-taught or less educated. Finally, studying in a collegiate setting will not only provide you with the skillset and experience you need for your career but allow you to work alongside industry professionals, both on-campus and off-site (for example, an internship during your studies), and to build a graphic design portfolio that encapsulates all of the work you’ve amassed in your design courses. Your school’s faculty provides a level of instruction and personal mentoring that you just cannot replicate by watching online training courses or YouTube videos. Thus, it is highly encouraged for those interested in pursuing a graphic design career to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.

Graphic Designer Salary

Salaries for graphic designers can vary based on education level, work experience, design skills and knowledge of tools and graphic design software, geographical location, and type of employer. According to Payscale, the average salary for a Graphic Designer is $47,284, but this average pay does vary. For instance, graphic designers who work in San Francisco earn an average of 44.7% more than the national average.

Life After Graduation: Career Paths & Possibilities for the Graphic Designer

Now that we’ve outlined how to become a graphic designer, you may be wondering what you can expect after graduation. As mentioned, there are many different career opportunities you can pursue with this major and graphic designers work in various industries requiring their skills – but what exactly can you do with a graphic design degree? From advertising agencies working with clients, to behind the scenes roles working for a brand creating layouts and illustrations… the possibilities for graphic design are endless. Even starting your own business as a freelance graphic designer is possible if you possess the artistic ability and verbal and visual communication skills. Depending on your specific design skill set, strengths, and areas of interest, you may want to consider the following options when planning your future:

Top 10 Careers For Individuals With a Degree in Graphic Design:

1.)    Graphic Designer

2.)    Art Director/Creative Director

3.)    Commercial and Industrial Designers

4.)    Marketing Manager                                       

5.)    Marketing Specialist

6.)    Multimedia Artist/Animator

7.)    Public Relations Specialist

8.)    Software Applications Developer

9.)    Software Quality Assurance Tester

10.)  Web Developer/Web Design

As you can see, a formal education can help you to develop and achieve the proper skills and expertise needed to explore a vast array of professional career opportunities. Whether you choose to pursue your masters, a career in the graphic design industry, or branch out into a related field, the skills you’ve acquired will only help leverage your career while increasing your earning potential and opportunities for advancement.

To learn more about how to become a graphic designer and learning an undergraduate degree in graphic design & interactive media at NewSchool, contact our Enrollment Team.

How to Become a City Planner

Posted on January 15, 2019 - 4:48 pm by

 Changing The World We Live In 

For those seeking a career path that directly affects our environment, pursuing an occupation as a city planner may be the right fit for you. Developing plans for the usage of land in urban areas, counties and small towns, city planners meet with architects, government officials, and the public to determine how best to utilize the land. Whether the plans are created to accommodate population growth, improve the aesthetics of a city or increase local business, city planners play a pivotal role in the decision-making process that impacts the cities we live and work in.  If you’re interested in this challenging but rewarding occupation, you will need to complete graduate-level coursework to become a city planner, including your master’s degree.

With the potential to have a positive effect on the social, environmental and economic issues affecting the city where you’re working, the role of a city planner is multidimensional and demanding on many levels. The most successful municipal planners have the ability to anticipate the future needs of the population they’re serving in order to make the proper recommendations, whether it concerns the location of businesses or schools, determining the placement of roads or buildings, or other infrastructures that could improve or impede their efforts. Therefore, it’s important to possess excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as a high proficiency in geography, mathematics, political science, economics, architecture, engineering and environmental studies if you’re considering a career in urban planning.

City Planner Job Description

City planners (also known as urban planners, municipal planners, land use planners, and urban designers) are responsible for the development and implementation of plans as approved by local and state authorities. They are also instrumental in making decisions and recommending policies that will determine the appropriate usage of land, buildings, facilities and infrastructures affecting and serving urban, rural and remote regions.

Your breadth of responsibilities will include but not be limited to reviewing development proposals, staying up to date with building codes and zoning laws, and keeping abreast of local activities affecting your industry. In addition to excellent communication and negotiating capabilities, you must have the ability to handle stress with grace and diplomacy. Typically, plenty of travel and working nights and weekends will be expected of you in this role.

In order to be fully qualified for this rigorous, fast-paced career path, you need to be able to work with other professionals within your industry, including colleagues in the community planning field, those who work in urban design, politicians, and even community members. Ultimately, your objective as a successful city planner should balance your particular city’s long and short-term needs.

Job Requirements

When becoming a city planner, it’s strongly encouraged to obtain a master’s degree after a student finishes getting their undergraduate degree. Note that licensure is only required depending on the state you live in. In fact, only a few states require licensure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the following are important and core requirements when learning how to become a city planner:

  • Degree Level: Master’s degree
  • Degree Field: Accredited program in urban and regional planning
  • Experience: 1-2 years or related experience. For example, this could be in economic development, public administration, and policy, or architecture
  • Key Skills: Data analysis, speaking, writing, management, collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making
  • Computer Skills: Database programming, spreadsheet programs, and presentation programs
  • Technical Skills: Geographic information systems (GIS). The purpose of this system is to be able to analyze, organize, and data and statistical information.

How to Become an Urban Planner: Education & Certification

As you can see, pursuing a career as a city planner is demanding and requires a broad skill set in order to achieve success. If you think you’ve got what it takes to make it in this exciting industry, you’ll need to obtain your certification as well as a Bachelor’s degree; read below for a step-by-step guide on how to become a city planner:

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

If you’re considering a career in urban planning, bachelor’s degree programs cover a broad array of topics, including government budgets, site planning, urban neighborhood analysis, and public and private development, among others. You may also wish to obtain your bachelor’s degree in a related subject, such as environmental design, public administration, or civil engineering.

Helpful Tip: Find an internship program while you’re getting your undergraduate degree – if you’re not sure where to look, ask your department head; you can even search popular sites such as craigslist.org for relevant work opportunities. Internships are a great way to gain real-world experience that will make you stand out to potential employers when you’re on the job market.

Obtain Your Master’s Degree

In order to complete your education as a city planner, you will require a master’s degree in either urban or regional planning, urban design, environmental planning, or geography. During your master’s degree program, you’ll learn how to plan urban spaces, develop the type of policies that need to be implemented during your day-to-day activities, and other requirements to prepare you for your career. Your coursework will include topics such as environmental law, urban transportation, policy analysis and building codes, among others.

Helpful Tip: You may want to consider a dual degree program, which will allow you to combine an urban planning degree with another graduate degree (such as law, business or even public policy). Upon graduation, this may improve your marketability when looking for work.

Obtain Your Certification

Once you’ve earned your master’s degree, you are ready to obtain your certification as a city planner. In order to receive your certification, you must pass an exam and maintain your credentials through continuing education. For more information, visit The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

What to Expect: Your Future as a City Planner

Once you’ve completed your education and certification, you may be wondering what a typical day may entail as a city planner. Here’s a general overview of the job duties you can expect:

  • As mentioned, there are many instances in your career as a city planner where you’ll be interacting with your local legislative committees, where you will be required to explain and defend proposals and other urban planning processes.
  • General duties include the preparation of materials for community relations meetings.
  • In addition, you may be required to act as a mediator in public disputes, which could potentially involve the presentation of mutually acceptable alternatives to disputing parties.
  • Other functions may involve the development and modeling of possible transportation systems.
  • You may be required to present transportation system models to planning boards as well as the general public
  • You may be required to focus on a particular specialized area, such as urban design, community development, transportation planning, or land use code enforcement, among others.
  • You will also be obligated to prepare reports and recommendations for land developers, municipal government officials, and builders.
  • Your daily responsibilities will include speaking at civic or town hall meetings and working with land developers, public officials, and civic leaders.

Average Salary For A City Planner

The national average salary for an urban planner or city planner is $66,995 per year. This will vary on the location the city planner lives in, agency they work for, and experience level.

With more experience, a city planner has the ability to advance positions and make a salary of $85,903 per year. Other careers offered in the field of city planner can differ. Those with a specific concentration like an environmental planner or transportation planner have the opportunity to earn more. For example, environmental planners make a national average of $74,006 per year.

Who Hires Urban Planners?

Due to the specialized nature of city planning, there isn’t a broad range of employers or industries that hire urban planners. According to data from the Canada census in 2006, urban planners find work primarily through the following organizations:

  • Government (mainly municipal)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (mainly architectural and engineering)
  • Other

For additional occupational employment statistics, visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics page, which provides a comprehensive industry profile including wage information.

 

Architecture Career Paths to Explore

Posted on January 15, 2019 - 4:46 pm by

Planning Your Architecture Career Path

For individuals considering a career in architecture or getting an architecture degree, the options are diverse in this burgeoning industry. With no signs of stopping, those who wish to pursue a future in the architecture and design fields can expect a rewarding career path that blends a great deal of responsibility with an opportunity to innovate interior and exterior landscapes across the globe. Depending on your areas of expertise, level of education whether you have a bachelor’s degree, and practical experience, your earning potential and ability for advancement as architecture graduates can increase exponentially.

The most successful architecture major candidates in this area will possess a comprehensive amalgam of skill sets, including analytical, mathematical, creative, organizational, visual, technical, and communicative capabilities. Because you’ll be responsible for designing the overall look and aesthetic of a residential or corporate structure, you must have the ability to create buildings and designs that are both ergonomic and attractive, as well as complementary to the existing surrounding architecture, particularly in instances of urban design development.

Blending form with function is only the beginning – an architect must also have the ability to grasp certain core elements, such as the engineering principles and analytical mindset needed to comprehend the content of blueprints and the context in which they were fabricated.

Additionally, having a keen sense of spatial relations is necessary in order to conceptualize and mastermind the working parts and how those structures will relate to each other, as well as the ability to visualize the completed structure at the onset of each project. Architects must have a broad knowledge of technical aptitude, including CADD technology and other software applications to create plans and blueprints required in the building information modeling (BIM) process.

Having a thorough understanding of the locations of mechanical systems and how those systems will affect building operations is only a fraction of the work entailed in this fast-paced industry. An ability to stay on-budget and work within the parameters of your firm or client’s budgetary restrictions is essential. Therefore, staying organized and keeping detailed records (including project costs, materials utilized, and tracking progress) is of utmost importance, since your work will most likely require the management of contracts as you progress in your career.

Finally, due to the collaborative nature of the work entailed, excellent communication skills will get you far in your career – with responsibilities that include oral presentations and shared ideas between clients, other architects, design teams and other professionals, having the ability to clearly express yourself is crucial to your career development and success.

Job Forecast for Architects: What to Expect

Thanks to an economic upswing, the job market for architects is on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a projected growth of 7% from 2014 to 2024, which is about as fast as the average medium for all occupations in the US.

Along with these current industry projections, there is also the benefit of a low unemployment rate (about 5.1%), making the job outlook for architects even more promising. In addition, the BLS statistics also state the Median Salary for this architecture career path is around $76K with a 1.9% unemployment rate.

As an architect, your job duties may comprise a number of different plan and design elements, including, but not limited to, the renovation and/or construction of residential dwellings (including private homes and apartment buildings), and commercial offices, with a heavy focus on new retail establishments (i.e., independently-owned stores and chain retailers), along with other types of similar structures.

There is also growth expected in school districts and universities nationwide, from building new facilities to the renovation or upgrading of existing buildings. The healthcare industry is also on the rise, with a subsequent need for facility expansion; this is not only due to the population’s increased utilization of healthcare services, but a steady demand for healthcare facilities to house the aging baby-boomer demographic.

Another element of architecture that has garnered an increase in visibility worldwide is the concept known as “green design” or “green architect”, a terminology that describes eco-friendly or sustainable design principles which you will learn as an architecture student. With an emphasis on an efficient usage of resources – such as water and energy conservation, a reduction in waste and pollution, and utilizing environmentally friendly materials and designs – it’s no wonder green design continues to grow in popularity across multiple platforms.

With an ever-increasing concern for the environment, rising energy costs and a need to seek green resources while decreasing our carbon footprint, architects are met with new and innovative challenges to fabricate sustainable designs worldwide.

Due to the recent technological developments and improvements in software, architects can also expect an increase in productivity while enjoying a more streamlined workflow. New and improved applications such as BIM and the latest versions of CADD allow architects to rely less heavily upon drafters, making it easier to share work and other collaborative efforts with contractors, engineers and clients.

For those seeking advancement in their architecture career paths, you may find an architecture firm that is willing to cover the expenses required for employees to return to school, including tuition fees and other tangential costs required for continuing education.

What Does an Architect Do?

Places are essential for people to live, work, play, learn, shop, and eat. Architects are responsible for designing both indoor and outdoor spaces for either public or private projects.  They have the opportunity to be commissioned to design anything as small as a single room to as big as an entire complex or buildings. 

Architects discuss the objectives, requirements, and budget of a project or multiple projects with a client before developing the final construction plans.  In certain cases architects may provide an assortment of pre-design services. This can include feasibility and environmental impact studies, site selection, cost analyses, and architectural design requirements. 

Architects will then develop the final construction plans after discussing and agree to the initial proposal with the client. The plans will include the structural system – anything from the air-conditioning system to communication systems. It is possible for landscape design plans to be included in these plans as well. Architects must follow state and local building codes, zoning laws, and other ordinances while developing the final construction plan.

These skills and responsibilities are developed through a Bachelor of Architecture program, which equips students with the technical knowledge and creative thinking required to design functional, safe, and inspiring spaces.

Overview of Architects Key Responsibilities

Architects take on a lot of responsibility and accountability in several areas. Their main responsibilities are as follows:

  • Meet with clients to determine objectives and requirements for structure
  • Provide estimates on cost and construction time 
  • Assemble structure specifications
  • Manage workers who prepare drawings and documents 
  • Develop scaled drawings, either with computer software or by hand 
  • Compose contract documents for building contractors 
  • Supervise construction contracts 
  • Visit worksites to ensure that construction adheres to architectural plans 
  • Seek new work opportunities by marketing and giving presentations

Architect Job Prospects: Looking Ahead

Due to the increasing number of students graduating with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in architecture, design, and related fields, there will be a fair deal of competition in the internship arena and job market: the more prestigious the architectural firm, the greater the level of competition amongst your peers.

Therefore, it is to your benefit to keep your technical skills as up-to-date as possible, including CADD, BIM, and other state-of-the-art architecture programs including but not limited to:

  • Microstation
  • Sketchup
  • Revit Architecture
  • Softplan
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Vectorswork Architecture
  • AutoCad Architecture
  • Punch Software
  • Chief Architect
  • ArchiCAD

As discussed, recent architecture major graduates with experience and a thorough knowledge of sustainable design will have an edge on the competition.

Residential vs. Commercial

Designing for a commercial property is very different than designing for a residential property. Architects should be well versed in both design aspects, so they are able to comply with various client needs.

Residential architecture requires a partnership with an interior designer to ensure the home meets building codes and regulations. The architect and interior designer also work closely together to make sure the home is visually sound and livable. Once the structure has been designed, the rest of the work is left to the interior designer to find the right colors, lighting etc.

Designing for commercial properties is a much bigger operation than residential due to the larger buildings and stricter regulations. Often times the building requires elevators, cafeterias, parking areas, and bathrooms, all of which the architect has to keep in mind when designing for commercial. Commercial architects often work on specialized facilities like hospitals, hotels, and retail buildings. These facilities require a completely different architectural design process for the architect.

Popular Architecture Career Paths to Explore

  1. Architect: Before becoming an architect, it’s important that architect students obtain hands-on experience while they are in school to help launch their architect career. This process begins with internships. Students should complete an entry-level internship and continue on to second-year and third-year internship positions. Once internships are complete and students have graduated, they can move on to become a licensed architect. As licensed architects gain more and more experience, they can move up to senior architect/designer, and then on to project manager, department head, and so on. There is extensive room for growth as an architect/designer. Many people decide to also get their Architecture Master’s degree for even more opportunities for growth and learning.
  2. Landscape Architect: Drawing upon a wealth of knowledge and expertise, this specialized area incorporates aspects of architecture, industrial design, botany, horticulture, fine arts, environmental psychology, geography, ecology, and even soil sciences. A multi-disciplinary field, a career opportunity in landscape architecture may entail designing parks and the outdoor spaces of recreational and commercial facilities, university campuses, private residences, and other open areas within urban, suburban and rural regions while incorporating principles of ecological sustainability.
  3. Interior Architecture: With a penchant for creating interior spaces that seamlessly blend form with functionality, an interior designer’s duties include a broad range of specialized skills. Designing spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, the best interiors are utilitarian and fabricated to be safe for its inhabitants. Your duties will require a variety of creative and analytical skill sets, from coordinating patterns and selecting color and fabric schemes to reading blueprints and having in-depth knowledge of appropriate design software programs. In addition, a qualified interior designer must be aware of building codes, inspection regulations and universal accessibility standards, among other industry protocols.
  4. Urban and Regional Planner: Urban and regional planners are responsible for developing land use plans and programs that help facilitate the orderly development of communities while accommodating population growth. Although your primary focus will concentrate on the planning of settlements and communities, your tasks may also entail the planning and development of water usage and affiliated resources, rural and agricultural bodies of land and parks, and the conservation of environmentally significant areas. Your duties may also include the revitalization of physical facilities in towns, cities, counties and metropolitan regions.
  5. Civil Engineer: As a civil engineer, your work incorporates a multitude of working parts, including the designing, building, supervision, operation and maintenance of construction projects and systems in the public and private sectors. These jobs may include buildings, roads, airports, railroads, dams, bridges, harbors, tunnels, pipelines, power plants, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. In addition, your responsibilities include protecting public and environment health, as well as upgrading or improving existing infrastructures that may have been neglected or fallen into disrepair. Most civil engineers are specialized in their industry, with specialties including construction engineering, transportation engineering, structural engineering, and environmental engineering, among others. Some civil engineers (especially those working for government agencies) may practice across multiple specializations, particularly if they’re involved in critical infrastructure development or maintenance.
  6. Construction Manager: For those wishing to seek a career opportunity in construction project management (CM), your day-to-day work will span a broad spectrum of tasks, from planning and coordinating to budgeting and supervising construction drawings and projects from start to finish. CM is a professional service typically reserved for large-scale, lengthy, and high-budget undertakings, such as commercial real estate, military infrastructure, industrial facilities, transportation infrastructure, and other similar endeavors; in the industry, these are known as ‘capital projects’. Ultimately, your responsibility is to efficiently manage and control a project’s time, cost and quality based on demanding and comprehensive client specs. Keeping this information in mind, this is a senior-level position and requires a great deal of career experience and qualifications.

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