{"id":776529,"date":"2025-02-28T08:09:08","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T08:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=776529"},"modified":"2025-02-28T08:51:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T08:51:39","slug":"eight-things-for-the-next-generation-of-architects-to-focus-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/opinion\/eight-things-for-the-next-generation-of-architects-to-focus-on","title":{"rendered":"Eight things for the next generation of architects to focus on"},"content":{"rendered":"

The upcoming Festival of the Future being held at the RIBA headquarters (before it temporarily shuts for building works) is a perfect opportunity for the profession to get behind the next generation of creatives. The two-day event, led by organisations working to improve wider representation within the built environment, will offer young people a glimpse into the profession.<\/p>\n

It is particularly important in the context of Washington\u2019s removal of EDI funding<\/a> for all government agencies, schools, and other institutions. This, combined with the elimination of EDI training, will further close the door of opportunities geared at levelling society.<\/p>\n

At HomeGrown Plus, we wrote about this 18 months ago<\/a> when the US Supreme Court found Harvard University\u2019s affirmative action admission policy to be unconstitutional. Our warning then, as it is now, is that what happens in the USA will reverberate elsewhere.<\/p>\n

The dismantling of EDI is a highly organised, well-funded movement. The domino effect it is having within the tech sector alone is alarming. Soon corporate websites will remove front page \u2018We are the World\u2019 videos signalling that, in the business titans\u2019 view, EDI no longer makes commercial sense.<\/p>\n

In this context, the Festival of the Future,<\/a> which involves more than 20 organisations, is so important. It sends a message of support to the younger generation who might feel abandoned.<\/p>\n

It will reinforce the skills required to create career longevity, and will demonstrate that talent, not EDI policy, is your pathway to a place in the profession. Our message to the next generation is to continue to do the following eight things:<\/p>\n

1. Fortify your network<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your uni-years will be challenging. Your network begins with fellow students. It\u2019s important to bond and exchange with others in your unit, your year, your university and elsewhere. Bonds made here will last.<\/p>\n

2. Start articulating your thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n

It sounds simple, but it isn\u2019t. Take your angst, your disbelief and your suspicion and turn them towards your work. Use them to focus your thoughts and find your voice.<\/p>\n

3. Seek mentorship<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mentorship is having available to you someone with whom you can be frank, open, and honest. A good mentor will draw from you your best self; they will listen and assist you on your journey.<\/p>\n

4. Travel more<\/strong><\/p>\n

Travel provides you with lifelong references to the built environment, cultures, and people. Travel will build on your ability to express feelings, vocabulary and development as a citizen of the world. Yes, it\u2019s expensive, but we want to help.<\/p>\n

5. Work<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you thought navigating the academic world was difficult, the working world can be even more so. The reality of what you may be doing early in your career may not \u2018square up\u2019 to what you thought. Be patient.<\/p>\n

6. Get built experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tangible built experience is gold dust for the development of an architect. Regardless of the stage you are in your journey, if you have the opportunity to assist on a project that is getting built, do it.<\/p>\n

7. Work while in school<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of you do this by sheer necessity, good on you. There\u2019s a saying: \u2018to get something done-give it to someone who\u2019s busy\u2019. In time, you\u2019ll know what this means.<\/p>\n

8. Control where you work<\/strong><\/p>\n

When accepting a job think about what you want from the experience. This can be anything from large project exposure, small studio involvement, or a particular building type. If you don\u2019t get it, move on.<\/p>\n

The Washington whiplash will echo elsewhere and funding sources are already beginning to dry up here in the UK. Corporations are waiting to see which way the wind blows; institutions remain cautious and the architectural industry is already seemingly tapped-out.<\/p>\n

And so the challenge is how organisations like HomeGrown Plus, Beyond the Box, Black Females in Architecture, Unheard Voice, The Thorton Education Trust, Let\u2019s Build, Archimake, POor Collective, to Scale, Open City, et al continue to provide programs to strengthen the next generation of creatives. The commercial argument that social equity can deliver long-term profitability is there, so perhaps we need to reconsider how we frame EDI.<\/p>\n

Longevity, it seems, requires creative funding. Ideas are always welcome.<\/p>\n

Dennis Austin is managing director of HomeGrown Plus and co-founder of daab Design architects<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>The Festival of the Future takes place on 14-15 March at 66 Portland Place, London,W1B 1AD<\/em><\/p>\n

HomeGrown Plus will be hosting \u2018Skills, Thrills, and Bills \u2013 setting out on your Architectural Journey\u2019 on 14 March at 18:00<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The upcoming Festival of the Future being held at the RIBA headquarters (before it temporarily shuts for building works) is a perfect opportunity for the profession to get behind the next generation of creatives. The two-day event, led by organisations working to improve wider representation within the built environment, will offer young people a glimpse …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10162,"featured_media":776538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[745],"tags":[1232,101149,91396,1463,1276],"yoast_head":"\nEight things for the next generation of architects to focus on<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Trump administration\u2019s attack on EDI initiatives underscores why the UK architecture profession should redouble its efforts to attract the very best up-and-coming creative talent, argues Dennis Austin\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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