The digital revolution, which intensified the sharing of knowledge and experience, has helped architects realize that pursuing interests, inclinations and passions that diverge from mainstream architecture can be a viable career path. The availability of, for example, books on new business models for architects, or new communication channels, has made a huge impact on how young graduates see their role in the AEC industry.

The convergence of technologies has also made a strong impact on the industry, allowing new generations of professionals to explore innovative ways of designing, building, managing and communicating architecture. Young practitioners and graduates now have a wide array of career options which allows freedoms rarely enjoyed by previous generations. We have compiled a list of 7 alternative career paths for architects which give them the opportunity to operate in the AEC industry beyond solely providing architectural design services.

Top 7 Alternative Career Path Ideas for Architects

#1 Product Designer

Providing architectural services usually takes a lot of time and requires a kind of reinvention with each new client. Those who recognize the importance of streamlining their work have discovered that productizing design services can make the strongest impact on the success of their businesses. This process can take architects along different avenues, one of them being the creation of material products for the AEC industry. Grizzle and Jonathan Junker, founders of Greypants are great examples of architects successfully building a business based on products. The company produces pendant lights made entirely of repurposed corrugated cardboard, with an extensive portfolio including public artworks, architectural installations and several lines of lighting, furniture, packaging designs sold throughout the world.

#2 Tech-Founder

Another type of products architects can develop are digital products. These include e-books, online courses, as well as software and apps that can potentially revolutionize the AEC industry. There are numerous examples of architects creating successful SaaS (Software as a Service) companies and app startups, like Steven Burns, FAIA, developer of ArchiOffice, an office and project management software. Steven created the original version of the software to help run his own architectural firm and eventually joined BQE Software where he continued to develop the tool and where he currently works as Chief Creative Officer.

#3 Real-Estate Developer

It is common knowledge that architectural services account for a small percentage of a project’s total value. An increasing number of architects are interested in developing their projects from drawing board to building site, and shepherding the entire construction project themselves. This can be quite demanding and risky, but architects-turned-developers like Jonathan Segal are proof it can be done. Segal worked in several architecture firms before developing his first project at the age of twenty five. Today his company designs and builds all their projects, many among which have received numerous o accolades for their place-making and design qualities.

#4 Urban Entrepreneur

Architects can use their knowledge of design and construction to effectively develop entire urban areas for different uses. They have the background with allows them to study, research and foresee viable and sustainable urban development solutions that will benefit investors as well as local communities. This is a great way of combining the creative aspect of the discipline with a business sensibility. They can actively participate in innovating and developing their own communities and influence their socio-ecological aspects, and are often neighborhood-based civic entrepreneurs who organize civic crowdsourcing campaigns to solve local problems, introduce solutions like a local bike-sharing service, or develop waste to energy facility, for example.

#5 Graphic Designer

Architectural education, as flawed as it may be in terms of providing business knowledge, builds a high level of visual literacy in young graduates. They develop creative skills like drawing and photography which can make them excel in any type of visual communication of ideas and concepts. Graphic designers are often part of the advertising process in architecture. They create images, logos and diagrams that help potential clients to identify and remember projects and products.

#6 3D Visualization Artist

Most among the most successful 3D visualization artists are architects who decided to leave the design aspect of the profession and dedicate their time to its representation. The best Archviz artists understand both the creative and technical aspects of architectural projects, and can communicate the main concept of the design through often photo-realistic imagery. They can work for architecture studios and developers, as members of in-house 3D visualization teams or companies specialized in 3D rendering. Firms like DBOX evolved from creating exclusively 3D renderings to offering complete branding content, including images, brochures, posters and typography, for high-end residential and commercial projects.

#7 PR and Communications Specialist

As designers, architects have to communicate their ideas to professors at school, and later investors, clients, city officials and contractors. The communication skills can have a huge impact on how a specific project is perceived. This can become a great basis for a career in public relations and communications in architecture. This job requires establishing reliable and trusted relationships with press and media representatives, architects and many other players in the industry.

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What other alternative career jobs do you think architects would be good at?

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3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – turns digital 3D models into solid objects by building them up in layers. The technology was first invented in the 1980s, and has since found its way into our everyday life – and in architecture and interior design. Architecture firm DUS has a vast expertise in architectural 3D printing, and is now applying its expertise to interiors and retail spaces.

“3D printing is an ideal technique to tailor-produce to a space or a brand,” says Inara Nevskaya, head designer at DUS. “We can link a furniture’s functionality with unique form features to create statement pieces, special focal points that frame new experiences for the consumer in the retail landscape.”

The interior design of the new Loft Flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo marks DUS’ entrance to designing 3D printed solutions for private, public and commercial interior spaces. 3D printing allows for unparalleled design explorations: “We had the liberty to design without conventional restraints. For this design, we found great inspiration in Japanese folding and drawing techniques, which resulted in cyclic printed patterns with delicate harmonious changes.”

Because of the digital design and production, the design process was quick and flexible. The one of a kind products where digitally shared and aligned with the client, and then 3D printed in their final form. A great advantage is the high level of sustainable production, as the prints are made with a bio plastic and there is hardly any waste in the process.

Architect Jo Nagasaka of Schemata was responsible for the 3,306 sqm overall interior design of the Loft Flagship store. He asked DUS to come up with ‘novel 3D printed furniture’. Clients Loft acknowledged the importance as a household name warehouse to always find new ways to distinguish themselves and show their products.

DUS responded by developing 6 new furniture typologies that bring out the highlights from each product category. DUS combined 3D prints with new and known materials influenced by traditional techniques, resulting in entirely new functions and tactile features:

All the elements and materials were developed and produced in close collaboration with Aectual, a company specialised in 3D printed interior and building products, which will launch its first line of products during Dutch Design Week 2017.

Location:

Loft Flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

Project Data:

• Architect/Designer: DUS architects
• Design Team: Inara Nevskaya, Hans Vermeulen, Ivo Toplak, Alessandro Giacomelli, Onur Can Tepe, Jay Chenault
• Client: Loft
• Store Size: 3,306 sqm (35,585 SF)

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This week’s interview is with Grizzle and Jonathan Junker, founders of Graypants, a company that produces pendant lights made entirely of repurposed corrugated cardboard.

The company’s flagship line Scraplights embodies the team’s interest in repurposing and environmentally responsible design. In 2012, they set up their European office in Amsterdam, from where they started distribution to over forty countries, while the Seattle studio still provides local production for North America and functions as a prototyping shop.

Their portfolio includes public artworks, architectural installations and several lines of lighting, furniture, packaging designs sold throughout the world. Their debut architecture project Garage won the coveted AIA Seattle’s Award of Honor in 2013.

We were curious to learn how these two architects turned their ideas into products and made the transition from “classic” architecture to productizing designs, successfully selling them and establishing a brand.

Enjoy the interview!

What made you decide to found Graypants? Was there a particular moment that sealed the decision for you?

Graypants was an early dream hatched in our college days and refined through scribbles and sketches on napkins. It was born from the desire to combine our love of making with our fascination in technology. We wanted to find a way to bridge that gap and bring technology back to our fingertips.

The moment that sealed our fateful decision was the recession in 2008. Working as architects, that soon had no more building to design, we had to find another outlet for our creativity and energy. We then decided to take the leap and turn those sketches into something crazy and tangible.

Which of your products was first piece with the potential to sell?

The scraplight series (made from repurposed/recycled cardboard boxes) was our first designs with commercial success.

What do you find the most fulfilling about product creation?

Coming from the world of architecture, which can take several years and up to a lifetime to realize a design, we instantly enjoyed how quickly you could prototype and touch a product design. We both really enjoyed model building in architecture and product design was a way for us to bring design back to our hands using a more tactile process.

How did you establish your brand?

Our brand was established and grew out of a friendship. The name Graypants comes from an inside joke between Jonathan and myself.

We saw creating our brand as another fun design problem to solve and we approached it that way.

We wanted to tackle this creatively and come up with a unique solution that was an extension of who Jon and I both are.

How has your architectural training helped you in the actual running of your business? What specific/transferable skills have proved the most useful?

To be honest, through our architectural training we learned how to be creative problem solvers which became our best asset. We had zero business experience and training. However, we approached business as a design problem and were eager to solve it.

With that said, I would definitely recommend some business training!

I think finding a business mentor was one of the most valuable things we ever did.

We soon realized that we did not have the appropriate knowledge to tackle a lot of the difficult challenges we would face. We were very fortunate to find mentors and colleagues early on that were able to help fill in the gaps that we really needed.

Graypants expanded to Europe in 2012. What was the biggest challenge in the process of developing the business from a two men startup to an international enterprise?

One would think language might be the biggest hurdle… but the fact that the Dutch can speak better English than us made that part pretty easy. All kidding aside, the biggest challenge was probably trusting that we were making the right decisions. It was scary to scale and expand.

Again, we were very fortunate and met some amazing people along our journey that made all of this possible. We learned to trust our dream and our vision. It is easy to second-guess yourself, but trusting your passion and speaking from your heart helped us realize our truth and gave us the courage to keep pushing ahead.

You continue to work as architects. Could you tell us about your project Garage?

When we started Graypants we were not sure if we would practice architecture again… There was something about the profession that we loved so much that we ended up having a struggle with it. We decided that we would only dip our toes back into architecture if we would be able to treat it as art. And that is precisely what the garage became… architecture turned into art and poetry.

The garage was a dream come true process for us. The clients allowed us to approach the space in that way and they also challenged us to design in that way. The garage became more than a space, it became an experience and it became a way for us to capture a memory for the clients in a surprising way that allowed us to transform the space into something magical. We wanted to find a way to honor the mundane things we do on a daily basis, and celebrate them as a tool to change the way we live.

What is next for Graypants? What kind of products will be launched soon?

Lots of exciting things are on our horizon…. perhaps too many to list but we are most exited about a new lighting series that we have just launched in Milan. It is a huge departure for us in material and technology.

Do you have any advice for archipreneurs who are interested in starting their own business?

Never give up, get back up and remember to breathe.

Pursuing your dreams is not a sprint but more of a marathon.

How do you see the future of the architectural profession? In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major opportunities for up and coming developers and architects?

TECHNOLOGY!!!! The profession is changing so quickly due to the rapid expanse in technology. Fabrication, 3D printing and virtual reality are amazing tools that designers now can easily access. I particularly find the virtual design space to be fascinating and can easily see how that will start to rapidly change the way we think, work, design and live.

About Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker

Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker are founders and partners of Graypants. They both enjoyed a similar upbringing in a small town in Ohio. Here, they lived with the motto “if it’s broke, you fix it”, which functioned as an inspiration for their later professional life.

They studied at Kent State University, and this is the where the first steps to Graypants were set. After submitting their work to Design within Reach in 2008 – and becoming finalists – their work is now well-known and respected. In November of 2013, Graypants was awarded AIA Seattle’s Award of Honor for their debut architecture project, Garage.

Graypants designs are products with stories and feelings, more than just beautiful objects. Seth and Jon are passionate about their work, and believe that this is an essential element that can be seen in their work.

Designs such as the Scraplights series and the Kerflights have made Graypants to what they are today. Nevertheless, new collections – like the Chronalights series – are constantly introduced, of which the latest have been shown at Euroluce 2017.

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