Passion Diluted

Caela McKeever, for crosscut:

But six years after graduating from college, I’m struggling to plant architectural roots as strong as marriage and faith. My peers from the Class of 2006 are also struggling; we’re tired and overworked, our energy drained and passion diluted.

The evidence sits in my refrigerator: chevroned tall boys of Saison ale and a meticulous shortbread fruit tart, both crafted by former co-workers and classmates who initially pursued architecture only to search for fulfillment elsewhere. Photographers, typographers, bakers, bikers, and brewers are all disguised on LinkedIn and Facebook as design interns. There’s a renaissance happening among young architects — and it’s not in architecture.

Unfortunately Caela’s description rings true. Architecture has a predicament - the profession trains students for 5+ years to be creative, passionate problem solvers but then puts these talented people into menial “internships” of an undefined duration. There has been much discussion of what these interns should be called but much less about how to engage this next generation in the creative design process.[1] If architecture is unable to retain the bright, talented, and passionate young workforce the industry will suffer for their departure.

I come from a medical family, so whenever this topic of professional development comes up I think of the way doctors are trained. After a rigorous post graduate program (more education than most architects) these doctors enter into specialties that have varying, but defined, internships. These internships are designed to very quickly empower the new crop of doctors with the skills and confidence to practice their craft. Importantly, during internship and even the latter part of medical school these professionals are allowed to use the term “doctor” if only with some modification (“student doctor” - for example). From medical school through internship through residency the new doctors are practicing medicine with increasing levels of responsibility and respect. The system is designed to make doctors. There is no room for half doctors - you are either on the defined path or you are not. The system for making people architects is, arguably, very bad at making architects.

On a personal note, as a member of the class of 2006 I am one of the lucky few who have been continuously employed since graduation. I have actually been given great opportunity compared to many. My thoughts are more as an observer of my colleagues and peers than a complaint about my actual experiences. However, it could be said that this blog was born out of a sense of professional lack of fulfillment - to one degree or another. This is my personal creative outlet - a place where I can set the direction. It is my responsibility, my challenge.

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1. “Intern” is appropriately discounted as the correct term as it doesn’t reflect the professional status of one who has graduated from a rigorous field of study with a professional degree. But the discussion around what to call these pre-licensure architectural professionals misses the point that it isn’t just about the title. They need to be treated as professionals and given the freedom and responsibility to grow quickly. Yes they are still in the learning stages but learning is much more effective and rewarding when challenges are offered and met. The grunt work is educational but not in a rewarding way - particularly for those passionate people who are expecting architecture to be their creative outlet.  ↩