Architect Archetypes
Career paths and job titles in architecture can be confusing. The most “traditional” path is to get educated, get experienced, and get licensed. Some never get licensed. Others use their architectural skills in different industries entirely. Others flounder because they’re unsure of what to do next.
Q: How can we better identify the career paths available within the profession?
When we leave architecture school, no one is patiently waiting to guide us where to go next. Each of us is left to our own devices to take the next steps and discover own ways the world.
And why shouldn’t we? The last generation did it, right?
But perhaps there’s a different way to think about the path we choose. Maybe we can identify the patterns those before us took, choose what we’re interested in, and write our own stories.
Jobs in Architecture
If you were to ask one-thousand practicing Architects today (not that I actually did for this) what they consider the different stages of a ‘typical’ architect’s career to be, I’d imagine we might be able to draw a few conclusions:
There is no “typical” path for an Architect
There is no consistency across the profession for how to label an Architect
There are too many diverse and nuanced positions to count or catalog
Think about it this way. Let’s say that you just graduated college and you’re looking for your first full-time position. Are you a “drafter”? Are you an “intern”? Are you an “emerging professional”? Are you an “architect-in-training”?
If you begin your job search online, you’ll soon find that most architecture firms identify each position in confusingly nuanced ways. A “Project Manager” to one firm may mean “Project Architect” to another, or “Senior Drafter” to another.
When you’re just getting started, you won’t have enough experience in the industry just yet to realize many of these terms effectively describe the same basic positions. This is because there is no standard way to identify most positions in the profession.
Think Archetype, Not Title
I’ve observed in the time that I left school that people gravitate toward their interests over time.
What if we could identify our interests sooner and avoid the trap of titles?
As someone who’s been working in the profession for over 13 years (at the time of this essay), I think that a better approach to build a career in architecture is twofold:
Understand the Archetypes most people naturally gravitate toward in the profession
Reverse engineer the career you want based on the Archetype you most resonate with
If we look closely, we’ll find fundamentally different types of Architects throughout a given office culture. Some focus on design, while others manage people. Others still focus instead on construction and field work.
Instead of trying to set arbitrary levels and titles you might find in a confusing job posting, what if we looked to the personalities and skills of our peers to help guide our career metrics? Enter the Architect Archetype.
Archetypes
Merriam-Webster defines an Archetype as “the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations.” In other words, an archetype is an example of a common idea, person, or thing.
The reason archetypes are so powerful as a mechanism for career development is because archetypes are not tied down to a specific level or milestone in a career. Rather, archetypes exist as the combination of personality traits and areas of professional concentration.
Archetypes are not personas, nor are they stereotypes. A persona is an identity presented by the individual while a stereotype is a widely-held, oversimplification of people or things.
Archetypes are based in behavioral patterns represented by a unifying idea.
Architects of the same Archetype are likely to have similar personality traits and skills that align with each other. They’re more likely to make similar decisions about how they work and what career goals they set.
Side step for a moment with me. If you were looking to emulate someone in the profession right now, what makes you gravitate towards them?
Do they have a certain type of success you want?
Do they do a particular thing well?
Do they focus on a specific area in the profession?
Do they have skills you wish you had?
These types of questions provide a better connection to what we want for our careers than “I will to be an ‘Architect 1’ in two years because LinkedIn told me that’s what I should do.” What does that even mean?
Separate Traditional Expectation from Personal Aspirations
After school, there is one common path every Architect knows—obtaining a professional license. This path has been traditionally emphasized within the profession as a way to keep itself thriving and to measure a person’s given competency.
But that begs the question—do you even WANT to be licensed? What happens to the large portion of the profession who would rather support licensed Architects without a license and are perfectly happy never obtaining one themselves?
One of the greatest mentors in my own career isn’t licensed. It’s possible that he never will get his license either. Aside from a piece of paper that indicates he’s legally able to stamp drawings, I don’t trust his judgment or ability any less. In fact, he’s one of the people I would lean on most because of his experience and expertise.
We need to have a way to measure our career decisions that isn’t tied completely to a traditional system. There is a place for licensure, but there is also a place for alternative career paths within architecture.
Archetypes provide a way to set our personalized career paths free of traditional obligation. They allow us to find what works for us as individuals, what we naturally gravitate towards.
“[Most fundamentally] an archetype is a behavioral pattern and the reflection of that behavior in a story.”
Archetypes in Architecture
I’ve seen firsthand how the people around me gravitated toward different archetypes. As they gained more experience, they learned more about themselves as professionals and as human beings. They evoked patterns of behavior that took shape over time.
The thirteen archetypes below represent a collection of my observations regarding how these professionals focused their careers into different directions. However, it’s important to note that archetypes are not absolute. Each can overlap with the next and even share similar skills, abilities, and interests.
No archetype can represent a person completely. Rather, every archetype represents someone’s propensity for operating in a particular way. How much that person chooses to lean into that path is their choice to make.
These archetypes are not in any particular order as not one shines above the next in terms of hierarchical importance. The value comes from the eye of the beholder. We can choose to follow one path or blend a few together that resonate best with the path we wish to make for ourselves.
The Generalist
The Teacher
The Entrepreneur
The Designer
The Philosopher
The Technician
The Volunteer
The Builder
The Manager
The Scientist
The Operative
The Protector
The Marketer
The Generalist
The Generalist seeks the knowledge of a broad range of topics from across the profession.
Overview
The “Jack of All Trades, Master of None.” The Generalist can often be found looking into a very wide variety of different aspects across all subjects within the profession.
They are curious and ask as many questions as they can in order to understand the entire process from a thousand-foot view. They want to be self-sufficient and know just enough to be dangerous. They rely upon the expertise and specialization of others on their team to fill in additional gaps in their knowledge base.
Desire
Sufficiency
Traits
Balanced understanding of most topics in architecture
Comprehension of architecture project from concept through construction
Reliance upon team of specialists to complete projects
Practical Example
Norman Foster, Foster + Partners
The Teacher
The Teacher seeks to pass on the lessons of architecture to the next generation in order to preserve and advance the profession.
Overview
The Teacher is proficient in their design knowledge and their understanding of the profession. They may specialize in an area of expertise or research. They will often share all they know with others willing to listen.
The Teacher knows that the lifeblood of the profession depends upon the inherent transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Desire
Advancement
Traits
Incorporates teaching into daily practice naturally
Creates methods outside of given projects to teach others
Develops a following of those who believe in the preservation of the profession
Practical Example
Thom Mayne, Morphosis
The Entrepreneur
The Entrepreneur seeks to develop a successful business through the practice of Architecture.
The Entrepreneur sometimes dreams in the land of Excel. They thrive building businesses and will strive to propel the financial success of a firm forward. They are calculating and often very well-organized.
They have a solid understanding of how a project goes from a fee proposal all the way through construction. They are often interested in managing assets than designing buildings themselves.
Desire
Prosperity
Traits
Focus on financial success above design success
Understanding of how money can help drive practice forward
Ability to develop new modes/markets of practice based upon financial viability
Practical Example
Art Gensler, Gensler
The Designer
The Designer seeks the advancement of the profession through the process of pure invention.
Overview
The Designer specializes in creative endeavors. It may seem like every Architect is a designer, but that just isn’t so. They can often be found reading the latest issue of Architect Magazine or Dwell.
They spend much of their time trying to understand the world through drawing, modeling, building, and extensive research of the architectural masters.
Desire
Creation
Traits
Prefers to understand the world through drawing, modeling, building, and extensive research.
Practices solo and in groups in order to arrive at the best possible outcome for a project.
Develops a short-hand language over time that often becomes a signature “style.”
Practical Example
Le Corbusier
The Philosopher
The Philosopher seeks the answers to question in the design that few are brave enough to ask.
Overview
There are those in the profession who “walk the walk” and then there are those “who talk the talk.” The Philosopher falls into the latter camp. They are often the optimists in the room, open to new ideas. They are the dreamers of the profession who choose to focus on the big picture rather than the tiny details and technical drawings.
It’s possible that the Philosopher may never actually build a single project. But they are equally likely to influence an entire generation of the profession who will.
Desire
Enlightenment
Traits
Proposes ideas that may appear to be ‘radical’ upon first glance
Searches for truth in design and culture through the practice of architecture
Understands the need to question what has come before in order to achieve something more
Practical Example
Robert Venturi
The Technician
The Technician seeks control of their craft through the real-world execution of industry practices.
Overview
The Technician is the one person in an office most likely to know anything there is to know with respect to the construction of buildings. They seem to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every Specification ever written and can recite contractual obligations by heart. They will always be seen with a physical set of drawings on their table and a red pen in their hand.
The Technician can offer detailed support and guidance to their team. They will often do so by assisting with the Quality Assurance and the Quality Control of documents on a project.
They thrive in Construction Administration and basically live on the job site during construction.
Desire
Mastery
Traits
A seemingly encyclopedic knowledge regarding the technical aspects of any given project
Offers support to a team through mentoring, quality assurance, and administration
Thrives in Construction Administration because of their familiarity with proper documentation and enforcement
Practical Example
Renzo Piano, RPBW
The Volunteer
The Volunteer seeks to help others through the practice of architecture including society and the practice itself.
Overview
The Volunteer is inspired to help others in any way possible. You’ll often find The Volunteer on a local committee, whether professional or charitable. They understand the importance of giving back to those who need it.
Sometimes their efforts are focused on the advancement and protection of the architectural profession, while other times their efforts are set on the creation of communities through the giving of their time and expertise.
Desire
Service
Traits
Provides advocacy for the advancement and protection of the architectural profession
Builds communities through the giving of their time and expertise
Develops those around them and inspires them to a cause larger than themselves
Practical Example
Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang
The Builder
The Builder seeks fulfillment in design through the process of tangible construction.
Overview
The Builder is someone who practices through the effort of making. They can often be found in the field, trying to learn from the real world lessons of construction and the built environment. The Builder lives for real world mock ups. They use physical models less for presentation and more for the tactile and spatial feedback they provide.
The Builder excels in the design process, but chooses to prototype with built objects instead to push their construction experience forward. To the Builder, a detail isn’t real unless it’s been built.
Desire
Making
Traits
Prefers mock-ups and physical models for tactile and spatial feedback over drawing
Excels in design through prototyping and detailing with real materials
Often found in the field to connect site-specific experiences through fabrication
Practical Example
Tom Kundig, Olson Kundig
The Manager
The Manager seeks to create successful projects through the guidance of others.
Overview
The Manager is often the leader of a team. They may have a specific or general set of skills in design and construction, but can provide guidance to staff and coordinate an overall project successfully. The Manager will thrive in paperwork and people skills. They have heavy interaction with Clients, Consultants, Staff, and Contractors.
While they’re not always the designers creating the day-to-day drawings and documents, they are often the ones shaping the project through conversation and guidance.
Desire
Control
Traits
May have specific or general skill sets, but can oversee teams to overall project success
Often possesses leadership qualities that others gravitate toward
Shapes a project through shepherding conversation and collaboration over direct creation
Practical Example
Gordon Bunshaft, SOM
The Scientist
The Scientist seeks to push the boundaries of the profession through experimentation and optimistic curiosity in design.
Overview
The Scientist relies on data and experience equally. While they appreciate the built environment and the construction methods available, they also maintain a healthy optimism for new ways of doing things better.
They search for more efficient methods to achieve their designs. They know this makes them more capable of changing lives with the built environment.
They will share their ideas with others in the hopes for feedback. The Scientist is a tinkerer of ideas, constantly refining them into concepts that can be applied to larger problems.
Desire
Innovation
Traits
Reliant upon data and experience equally
Searches for better, more effective methods of design, communication, construction, and problem solving
Constantly refining case studies and their results for use in other applications and scales
Practical Example
Bjarke Ingels, BIG
The Operative
The Operative seeks to effectively execute the needs of a given project with the specialized skills they have cultivated with experience.
Overview
The Operative is a specialist who can get a job done efficiently and effectively with little to no push. They are often given complicated tasks that scare others on the team. The Operative has talents that extend beyond “average.”
While competent in most areas of the profession, the Operative has chosen to specialize in a few distinct areas that parallel their interests. Not pigeon-holed, The Operative thrives on the task at hand because they are comfortable in their specialty.
They are the rogue mercenary—prepared to support the team at a moment’s notice.
Desire
Efficiency
Traits
Often given complicated tasks that may scare others less qualified on a team
Successful in most areas with little to no guidance
Thrives beyond the norm in their specialty of choice
Practical Example
Louis Kahn
The Protector
The Protector seeks for balance and harmony within the built and natural environments.
Overview
The Protector has an eye for the defense of both the built and natural environment. They believe that the conservation of energy and the preservation of our collective past are amongst the most important endeavors to instill into the next generation.
The Protector advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves and will often choose a more difficult design path if it is in the best interest of the world.
Desire
Safety
Traits
Tendencies toward the conservation of energy and preservation of society’s collective past
Advocates through design for those who cannot advocate for themselves
Chooses the path of design that is right, not necessarily easy
Practical Example
Alejandro Aravena, Elemental S.A.
The Marketer
The Marketer seeks to unify the profession with the people who use and support it.
Overview
The Marketer is first and foremost a communication professional. They promote, not only the design skills of their team internally, but also the face of their firm to the community at large.
They often have an interest in speaking in front of anyone who will listen and know how to win over a room. They can sell a project with grace and they can sell an idea with surgical precision.
Desire
Connection
Traits
Establishes a face of their firm for the positive development of its projects
Interested in speaking to all who will listen and can easily win over any room
Ability to sell design and its importance with surgical precision
Practical Example
Liz Diller, Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Final Thoughts
An archetype is only a first step in understanding all the possible directions your architectural career can take you. These archetypes are not intended to be an exhaustive list. You may, and very likely will, fall into several of these categories.
Consider the following:
The decisions we make in our careers will sculpt our interests over time and influence the types of people we become.
You probably had a strong reaction or connection to a few of the archetypes you found here. Your connection is a magnet towards the type of Architect you were meant to be.
There is no one “right” way to build a career. These paths are just that, paths. The archetypes are only suggestions.
You could choose to walk down one that’s already been started or you could choose to make your own.
If anything, please treat yourself as something more than just “Architect 1” on the next hiring post.
Be yourself and keep the profession guessing.
Additional Resources
(Book) The Power of Myth // Joseph Campbell
(Article) Archetype // Wikipedia
(Article) 21 Careers You Can Pursue with a Degree in Architecture // Ariana Zilliacus
(Article) Writing 101: The 12 Literary Archetypes // The MasterClass Staff
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