Out of Architecture is both a call to reassess the architecture profession and its education, and a toolkit for graduates and working architects to untangle their skills, passions, and value from traditional architectural practice and consider alternate pathways. Written by design professionals and expert career consultants, this book is informed by numerous client accounts as well as the authors' own stories and routes out of architecture. The initial chapters follow the narrative of a typical architecture training in the US, highlighting the many highs and lows, skills honed, and ultimately the huge disconnect that can occur between architectural education and practice. Subsequent chapters explore a disillusionment with the profession, unhealthy work cultures, mentorship, working with lead architects, toxic perfectionism, and the notion of a "calling." Authors then present the hopeful accounts of many architects who escaped a profession known for its grueling working conditions to find fulfilling, well-paying, creative jobs that better utilize the skills of architecture than the architectural profession itself. Written in a unique combination of storytelling and analysis, this patchwork of client and author stories makes for an immersive, provocative, and enjoyable read. A wide range of architecture students, graduates, educators, and professionals will recognize themselves within the pages of this book and find prompts to reassess their working practices, teaching styles, and the profession itself. It will be of particular value to those students skeptical of joining the architecture workforce, as well as those further along and considering a career change.
Reviews with the most likes.
As a professional who has 5 years of experience in the field after completing ehr Masters degree in architecture, I can honestly say that I am burnt out. I saw Jake and his profile on LinkedIn and immediately became a connection. He and his team's postings about real life truths involving architecture as a profession, burnout, deception, confidence and breaking down of skills lead me to this book. Jake and Erin's retelling of multiple types of stories involving the mistreatment, gaslighting and hard truths of the industry attempt to snuff out innovation and ethics to administer the mass agenda made me feel super seen and validated.
I feel like there was a point in my career where I was asking myself “have I made a mistake? Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life?” It was fantastic to be reassured that my (very expensive) degree hasn't been wasted, even though I feel as though the profession no longer represents the pathway and ideals I desire for a career path. This book is a refreshing take on shaking things up and how to make your degree for work you, rather than slaving away for the sake of a label on a degree. I highly recommend to anyone at any stage of their architectural or design career. The perspective and narrative shifts in this book foster a flexibility of the mind. A big aid in open-mindedness, synergy and general well-being in the design field as a whole. Thank you for all you have shown light on in the profession!
