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How to Become an Architect

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An architect is a steady hand that blends science and art to design and construct private and public buildings, rooms, complexes, and more. Becoming an architect takes hard work and perseverance, but it’s a journey made worthwhile thanks to high levels of career satisfaction, job opportunities, and salary.

1. Learn the Basics of Architecture

Architects primarily focus on designing, conceptualizing, and erecting buildings used by human occupants, though they will occasionally be tasked with designing the surrounding landscape, as well. The path to becoming an architect is often arduous, but the journey can be as rewarding as the destination if pursued properly.

Architects must have the mindset and skills to work both mathematically and scientifically, as well as creatively.  An architect must also be capable of meeting with and engaging clients in a fluid, social, and professional manner. The duties of a typical architect are numerous, though they all follow a central line of thinking. The typical 'day' in the life of an architect includes meeting with clients with prepared materials to discuss a project or projects, cost estimations, revisions, and deadlines.  An architect will meet with and prepare documents for building contractors, manage construction contracts, prepare scaled drawings, prepare structural specifications, and seek new work through presentations. An architect will work with pen-and-paper as well as Computer-Automated-Design & Drafting programs (CADD) in order to prepare drawings and documents. One popular piece of software is the Building Information Modeling (BIM) that most professional architects are expected to utilize.

The further up the ladder an architect climbs, the more people they will typically delegate tasks to.  Because of this fact, becoming a successful architect can also require the ability to work well with others in a managerial capacity.  Architects must also possess strong communication skills, engineering abilities, business aptitude, and design talent.  They must be able to conceptualize and visualize structures before they are even drawn, so creativity is essential to success.

As architects are the brains behind many of the structures we see in everyday life, it makes sense that talented architects are always in demand. In growing cities and in states with economic surplus, architecture jobs will always be in demand. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were over 133,900 professional architects on the job as of 2018. The expected job growth for this position going forward is projected at eight percent, between the years 2018 and 2028.  Architects typically work in offices, travel to meet with clients or contractors in the field, construction sites, or from home.

2. Earn a Degree in Architecture

To pursue a career in architecture, most architects will begin by tailoring their high school education as much as possible by focusing on classes like physics, geometry, and pre-calculus. High school is just the beginning, however, as becoming an architect requires at least a bachelor’s degree from an architecture school, prior to entering the field or moving on to pursue their masters of architecture.

By earning a bachelor's degree, a student will learn the history of the field, while also pursuing advanced methods that will be required as part of the job. Common concepts architects learn while in school include parametric construction concepts, spatial reasoning, contract negotiations, lateral systems, truss analysis, typographies, and codes and specifications. A master's degree will take an additional two to three years of schooling beyond earning a bachelor’s, and includes an in-depth study of spatial dialects, structural design methods, computer-aided design, environmental engineering, and technology for architects.

In 2016, DesignIntelligence reported the highest-rated undergrad architecture schools in America were Cornell, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, and Virginia Tech. Students pursuing a graduate degree in architecture were best-served considering the traditional Ivy League schools like Harvard, Cornell, Yale, and Columbia. Despite earning a degree from one of these institutions, students will be required to pursue even further education before professionally entering the field.

To enter the field, an architect must serve as an intern under a previously licensed architect. This internship can last up to three years. After the internship period is over, an architect must become both certified and licensed in the state they wish to work in order to offer their services professionally. This is accomplished by passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), which is an exhaustive test that covers seven key areas in the field:

  • Site Planning & Design
  • Programming, Planning, and Practice
  • Schematic Design
  • Building Design and Construction Systems
  • Construction Documentation & Services
  • Building Systems
  • Structural Systems

Thirty-four states currently require architects to hold a degree in architecture from a school accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).  In those states that do not have this acquirement, individuals can apply for licensing with eight to thirteen years of experience, in addition to a high school diploma or GED. Even so, most individuals in these states still obtain a degree in architecture.

Once serving in the field as a professional, The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an architect can immediately expect to see a better-than-average salary. Architects, on average, made roughly $76,000 per year in 2015, which translates to earning nearly $37 per hour.  Of course, location, years of experience, education, and company size all determine yearly/hourly wages.

3. Build Your Brand and Professional Connections

Architects do almost all their brand-building after they complete their education. That is to say, architects are advised to use their internship opportunities — which is required in a degree program anyway, to build a professional network to utilize at a later time. Firms like Gensler, AECOM, Jacobs, and Perkins+Will are some of the top architecture firms in the country. Internships and entry level positions at these and other well-known or smaller companies are coveted and can be instrumental in the launching of a career.

Though the field is growing, there are only about 100,000 professional, working architects in the United States. The size of the employment pool is small enough that the industry can be considered 'tightly knit' and competitive.  Still, some of the best ways that burgeoning architects can ingratiate themselves in the field is by attending networking events. During the year in places like New York City and Miami, Florida, there are architecture conferences that focus on the future of the industry. Attending industry conferences can be the first step toward landing an internship or an entry level position at an elite firm in the area. Attending these conferences is also a great way for employed architects to stay on top of their game. Architecture is beholden to the rapidly changing world of style and technology and it is at these conferences that new technology is often first displayed.

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become an Automotive Designer

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Are you an absolute ‘gearhead’ who loves most any vehicle that rolls down the road on four wheels? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment and are you looking for a career that bridges the gap between art and engineering? If so, then a career as an automobile designer just might be for you.

1. Learn the Basics of Automotive Design

In terms of car-related professions, gainful employment tends to fall into one of two different categories. You have the people who build, manufacture, and work on cars – the ones that are tasked with making sure a particular vehicle is running as intended at all times. Then, you have the people who are responsible for defining what "as intended" means. This, in essence, is what automobile design is all about; an industry replete with hardworking men and women who design not only the appearance, but the larger functionality of cars, trucks, vans, busses, and more.

Commonly, automotive designers work in one of three areas – interior design, exterior design, or color and trim design. Exterior designers sketch designs of what the outside of the vehicle should look like, and then convert them into digital formats. They then go on to sculpt their designs using clay, 3D modeling, or another similar process.  Interior automobile designers focus their efforts on making the inside of the vehicle as comfortable and functional as possible, by taking into consideration the placement of gauges, controls, and buttons that are accessible without affecting the safety of the driver or passengers.  To make the vehicle visually appealing, color and trim automobile designers decide what materials, such as leather, fabric, metal, and carpeting will be used, on both the outside and interior of the vehicle.  Color and trim designers don’t usually build models but are researchers who have advanced knowledge of color theory, color mixing, and the visual effects of specific color combinations.

Understand the Job & the Industry

Automobile designers specialize in the ideas, layouts, and overall make-up of automobiles and automotive components. This process begins with brainstorming and deliberating with supervisors and clients about the requirements, specifications, and preferences for the design, followed by an enormous amount of research into the production of the vehicle. Once everything is decided, an automobile designer will sketch a drawing, typically using CAD software, but initially sometimes with pencil and paper.

An automobile designer will draft layouts of all the integral parts of the vehicle, including the assemblies, components, structure, and systems using models, prototypes, and sketches.  The designer will also look at previous car models to determine if any design factors will affect or limit manufacturing by collaborating with automotive engineers. Based on a set of mathematical formulas and detailed calculations, as well as computer programs, the designer will then develop a unique and innovative design to fit the needs of supervisors, clients, and consumers, but that also reflects the company’s standards and values.

Automobile design is a creative-driven profession. It is a profession that also depends on a high level of technical skill and attention to every detail. Every car – from the cheapest on the market to the most expensive in the world – begins with a simple idea on paper. An automobile designer has the artistic instinct to understand the way a particular model should look, how it should be shaped, what features it should have, and more. Then, they're responsible for taking that idea and turning it into a functional vehicle, based on the core principles of design and how cars are intended to function.

Automobile designers work on every aspect of a vehicle’s design, from the final appearance to overall functionality. They choose how a car is shaped, along with what color it will become to be as attractive as possible and attract sales. However, they are also responsible for functionality – including making sure the vehicle functions as well as it looks.

2. Learn Advanced Concepts & Techniques

As stated, automobile design usually begins with a simple idea – "here's how I think this vehicle should look," or "here's what I think this car, truck, SUV, van, etc., can do that will make it unique and appeal to customers." Those ideas are then created in the form of drawings, which are then further honed and developed until they become a full-fledged concept. During this process, designers may work alone, but will usually they work in teams, bringing in both other designers and engineers to help create the most realistic concept possible as early in the process as they can.

Once that concept is finalized, however, the truly technical part of the design development takes over. CAD, or computer-aided drafting, is often used to bring these concepts to life in three dimension. This allows a designer to bring more detail to their concept than they ever could on paper, taking into account everything from the shape of the door handles to what the vehicle looks like on the inside. Once the concept has been further honed, a sculpture or other type of scale model is produced – offering the industry decision-makers the opportunity to make changes and additions, but also the chance actually to feel something tangible in their hands.

All throughout this process, a few core skills will serve an automobile designer well. Creativity is always important for this type of job, but basic drawing skills is also a requirement. A deep, intimate knowledge of how cars work, how individual components function, and how they all fit together to form a cohesive whole is imperative.

Most employers require automobile designers to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial design, transportation design, or mechanical engineering with an automotive design concentration. Design schools require students to submit portfolios or samples of work during the application process. They also sometimes offer summer programs to help applicants still in high school to prepare to enter a design program.  Coursework may include 3D design and modeling, vehicle systems, mechanical engineering, design theory, design for manufacturing, vehicle dynamics, and powertrain systems. An automobile designer will also take classes in sketching, design, physical science, CAD, mathematics, industrial materials, and other related coursework.

It's also important to note that the education you need and the skills you will require while earning your degree go beyond simply an understanding of cars – knowledge of math and physics are also required. Building an attractive car is one thing – building an attractive car that meets safety standards, regulatory requirements and offers a terrific experience while working within the confines of physics and other logistical restrictions is often something else. And, as the automobile industry is often international, with many companies having locations all around the world, you would also do well to study at least one foreign language. Depending on how your career as an automobile designer chooses to develop, it is very easy to end up working outside the United States.

3. Pursue Higher Education & Build Your Brand

One of the skills that will carry an automobile designer far is the ability to develop his or her own "voice." This means that you bring something fresh and unique to the table that is entirely your own. Your concepts are not derivative of anybody else's and your ideas are not ideas that feel like they could have come from other people. Your creativity is unique and that uniqueness doesn't just help separate you from the competition, but it also helps you develop the type of personal brand that is essential in a competitive industry like automobile design.

Developing your brand takes time, but participating in an internship can help get you started.  Many automobile manufacturers offer internships for students who are entering, or thinking about entering the automobile industry.  Internships give you the opportunity to develop a professional portfolio, which can greatly help when applying for a position following graduation.  A portfolio can also show your talent and progress and can be either in hard copy or in digital format.

Due to the competitive nature of automobile design, and the importance of the business end of the field, aspiring automobile designers may want to consider earning a master’s degree in business administration, industrial design, or mechanical engineering after earning their bachelor’s degree.  Earning a master’s degree makes graduates more marketable to employers, and may lead to supervisory positions and higher wages.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for automobile designers (more specifically, industrial designers) is expected to grow two percent between 2014 and 2024, which is slower than average for all career fields.  This is due in part to a slowdown in manufacturing and consumer demand in the US.  So, individuals who wish to work overseas and have learned a foreign language while in school may prove to be more fitting candidates when entering this field. In 2015, the median annual salary for people in this profession was $67,130 for those working in a commercial environment.  Of course, experience, company size, advanced education, and geographic location all play a part in overall wages for this profession.

About one in four automobile designers are self-employed. Most work in manufacturing, for companies specializing in design services, or for engineering firms.

Additional Resources for Automotive Designers

AutoDesignO
AADA
SAE International
AADA – African Automotive Design Association
automotive design (The Design Society)
Automotive Design ASME

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become a Copywriter

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A copywriter is a professional who writes carefully crafted text for the purpose of marketing or advertising in various formats. The written content, referred to as copy, is composed in a manner that attempts to persuade a reader or listener to take a desired action or to build brand awareness.

1. Learn the Basics of Copywriting

A copywriter crafts messages that engage, inform, and persuade. They write for catalogs, websites, brochures, and even compose emails. Primarily, copywriters write content for the purpose of marketing or advertising, and to raise a brand’s awareness. But, copywriters do not just craft advertising copy. They also develop content that is aimed at educating their audience and demonstrating a company’s industry expertise. In addition to effective writing skills, copywriters must also be adept at researching, editing, proofreading, and sourcing images while also having a working knowledge of marketing and how content fits into the marketing process.

Important Skills

The copywriting field allows individuals to take their creative talent and writing abilities and apply them to the profitable field of business. However, this career is not for everyone who likes to write. Unlike creative writing projects like books, poems, and short stories, copywriting often requires writers to take direction and work with other creative professionals such as graphic designers, producers, art directors, and marketing managers. This position may also require copywriters to work directly with clients. As a copywriter, you must be able to accept and incorporate criticism and be open to learning more about marketing concepts that may impact your work. Copywriters must also be able to solve creative problems, communicate, collaborate, and meet deadlines.

Typical Work Environment

Copywriters can work in a variety of environments, including as part of an in-house marketing team, with a full-service advertising firm, or as a freelance professional. Though a college degree is not a requirement, most successful copywriters have earned a four-year degree in a field such as English, Creative Writing, Professional Writing, Communications, Journalism, or Marketing. Some copywriters who work for niche brands may have a degree in an unrelated field with equivalent writing experience or courses in writing. Formal education can help individuals gain the necessary writing, grammar, research, and editing skills required to excel in this competitive field.

2. Learn Core Copywriting Methods and Concepts

Understanding Audience, Purpose, Format, & Technique Is Essential to Success

Before copywriters even begin to write, they need to identify who they are writing for. Ultimately, the audience will help determine the purpose of the piece, the format it will be delivered in, and the technique that will be used to write the piece of copy. Copywriters should take into account who the target audience is, what they find most important, where they are in the buyer’s journey, and what types of content they respond to best before they begin to strategize and write any piece of content. Market research helps reveal important characteristics of the audience that helps the copywriter create more engaging and effective content.

A Clearly Defined Purpose

Determining the purpose is another important part of crafting dynamic and effective marketing and advertising copy. Each piece of marketing copy needs to have a clearly defined purpose before the copywriter can begin brainstorming ideas and writing the first draft. Though the ultimate goal of marketing is to sell a product or service, not every piece of marketing copy is designed to convert leads into customers. Some pieces are written to inform, entertain, or persuade.

The purpose of the piece of writing will vary depending on the audience and where the consumer is in the marketing funnel. For instance, those at the top of the funnel who are still in the research phase of making a purchasing decision may need more general, informational content, while those in the decision-making stage need more specific, persuasive content. It’s the copywriter’s job to help choose content topics, formats, and techniques based on the purpose of the piece.

Format Is an Important Component

Format is another vital consideration in the copywriting process. While traditional marketing content was limited to television commercials, radio ads, billboards, newspaper ads, and mailers, digital marketing has opened up many new opportunities for copywriters to deliver targeted content in new formats. Blogging, email, social media, and PPC ads are just a few examples of popular and successful digital marketing formats that copywriters may need to create content for. The content format will ultimately impact the writing technique and best practices for topics, word count, and style vary across content formats.

Copywriting Technique

Copywriting technique is how the piece of content is created. Technique will vary across copywriters, and the technical approach may also vary with each piece of content, depending on the audience, purpose, and format of the writing. Storytelling is a popular and effective technique that many copywriters use to help establish a personal and emotional connection with the consumer. Effective technique is the key to successfully fulfilling the purpose of the content and achieving any specific content goals.

A General Understanding of Marketing Metrics

Unlike in the past, and with the boom in digital content, good copywriters will have at least a general understanding of conversion rate and search engine optimization. It is also useful to know a little about web design and development, content marketing, and social media integration. They must have good team-working skills, organization skills, be proficient at proofreading, be able to produce unique and innovation ideas, and manage deadlines, while often working under stressful conditions.

3. Build a Strong Portfolio and Professional Network

A Strong Portfolio, That Showcases Your Best Work Is Vital

Much like graphic artists, copywriters also need to develop a portfolio of work to showcase their capabilities as a writer. A thoughtfully-developed portfolio can help demonstrate your writing abilities and creative thinking to potential employees and clients, allowing them to determine if your style and experience is a good fit for the project. Whether you are looking for internship opportunities, applying for a job, or trying to land a freelance gig, you should have a website that highlights your portfolio and effectively and professionally demonstrates your writing skills and ability to think creatively to solve a brand’s biggest communication challenges.

Build a Professional Network & Industry Connections

Much like any other profession, copywriters also need to build their personal and professional network by connecting with individuals in the industry as well as other business professionals. Networking opens up a variety of opportunities for mentorship and professional growth, and it can be especially important for copywriters who work as freelancers or on a contract basis.

Joining clubs, writing associations, entering writing contests, etc., are all things copywriters can do to increase their writing ability, gain industry contacts, and gain confidence. After all, it is not uncommon for copywriters to receive less than favorable feedback, even if their writing is spectacular. Not all writing fits all projects, and a copywriter will sometimes be urged to change the tone of a piece, re-write a certain portion of the content, or completely rewrite the entire piece to meet a client’s approval. Like in most art fields, copywriters must have thick skin and be able to take criticism. In addition, all great copywriters must think creatively, have a good command of the English language (or another language) and grammar, an eye for detail, research skills, listening skills, and the ability to understand the viewpoints of others.

4. Additional Resources for Copywriters

Professional Writers Association
The Professional Copywriters Association
National Association of Independent Writers and Editors
ACES
The Copywriter Guild
Writers Guild of America East

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become a Furniture Designer

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Furniture designers are professional artists who create furnishings to be used and enjoyed. If you’ve looked at a chair or table and thought you could design it so much better, or have a fancy for architecture, a career as a furniture designer may be a good fit.

1. Getting Started in Furniture Design

Furniture creation has been an art form for hundreds of years. Historically, many furniture designers created pieces for the aristocracy and nobility. Today, furniture makers design for the masses, creating dressers, beds, sofas, and many other pieces for modern homes, apartments, offices and more.

Furniture designers are proficient in designing and creating furnishings, taking into consideration both functionality and fashion.  They design both exterior and interior furnishings, often keeping in mind things like customer preferences, sustainability, ergonomics, and practicality.  On any given day designers will work with clients producing new and unique designs or improving existing designs, forecasting and budgeting, testing new ideas using prototypes or models, preparing detailed final designs after alterations or improvements have been made, and carrying out research to develop new ideas and drawings.

Furniture designers are creative and practical. They have excellent drawing skills, as well as a thorough knowledge of computer design software.  Designers have an eye for grids and patterns, an understanding of layout, plot drawings and plans, good communication and listening skills, and spatial design skills as they relate to dimension and structure.

Like all artists, furniture designers must possess a keen sense of aesthetic beauty and a good eye for detail. These skills enable them to take a project from inception to completion, mixing beauty with practicality to create furnishings that are both functional and comfortable.

Ability to draw and conceptualize three-dimensional objects is also very important in this field. Furniture designers must be able to work with a variety of different materials like wood, metal, fabric, and paper and pencil. Many furniture designers also find computer skills to be helpful for creating an online portfolio, applying for jobs, and working with design software.

2. Pursue a Degree in Furniture Design

Furniture makers can choose different educational paths to achieve their objectives. Most furniture designers just starting out who would like to work for large companies often earn a bachelor’s degree. In fact, most large corporations require a bachelor’s degree in furniture design, architecture, or interior design. In this case, students will choose to study interior design, industrial design, architecture, or product design. Classes in the arts can help aspiring furniture designers develop an understanding of the history of art and architecture, the significance of artistic movements, and the principals of good design.

Typical College Majors Include Furniture Design, Industrial Design or Product Design

A furniture design major typically provides a comprehensive technical background in woodworking, while also allowing students to investigate a range of creative topics, such as studio art, interior design, or drawing. Classes teach the use of woodworking and hand tools, fundamentals of construction and design, portfolio development, art history, drawing, fundamental design issues, concept development, and business practices.

Industrial topics, like product design, can help furniture designers gain practical knowledge that will help them create stronger, longer-lasting, and more functional pieces. In addition, mathematical areas of study can teach students the functional and pragmatic side of the trade. Math training can also help students think logically about potential problems and solutions as they create new designs. Any student interested in furniture design should also consider attending schools offering woodworking and metalworking programs.

There are a significant number of people who choose to work for small businesses or who choose to produce furniture as an independent contractor. In cases like this, an apprenticeship may be more a more practical path to beginning a career in this field.

Apprenticeships can teach beginning professionals the specifics of running a small business, the basics of customer service, how to track orders, produce work on a deadline, and manage multiple projects at once. This on-the-job experience also helps new professionals learn how to work with different materials and produce work according to the needs of the customer.

Typical Industries

Furniture designers work for large companies like Ikea, or for small independent businesses. Some furniture designers work on a freelance basis creating furniture pieces on demand for customers.

Those who work for large companies may do much of their work in offices, and must occasionally travel to testing facilities, exhibit sites, showrooms, and other locations. Furniture designers who work for small businesses, like independent furniture stores, may spend most of their time in a workshop.

3. Build Experience & Industry Connections

Furniture designers who work for large companies should develop industry connections in order to advance their careers and find placement with a company of their choice. Creating a website, online portfolio, and LinkedIn page may help artists to develop these connections and stay tuned-in to opportunities in this career field. Designers who work for small businesses or as independent contractors may also benefit from an online portfolio or website but may rely more heavily on face-to-face customer interactions and word of mouth.

For these artists, it’s often more important to develop strong ties in the community and strong ties with local artist’s associations. Attending shows and local events will help independent contractors spread the word about their business. Keeping an up-to-date online portfolio is important for all furniture design professionals, as this can show potential customers or employers that they are still active and creating relevant work.

Building a Portfolio

Furniture designer’s portfolios often start simple. For students, portfolios may include drawings and photographs that show a basic progression from an early method to a more mature style, and a better understanding of materials used in furniture design. Mature artists will fill their portfolio with images of completed products, showing a range of styles and materials. It's very important for the portfolio to include quality photographs in order to capture quality and level of detail. Online portfolios are becoming more common. Students may choose to use an online portfolio service to simplify the process, while professionals may create their own website.

Professional Development

Professional development for furniture designers is offered by associations such as the International Furnishings and Design Association. Professionals who wish to continue their education and learn new skills can sign up for webinars, symposiums, and in-person classes. These associations also may post jobs online for professionals hoping to further their career.

Young people hoping to get into furniture design may have a challenging road ahead, as furniture designers occupy a small place in today’s workforce. Those who work hard to earn a degree, develop their customer service skills, networking skills and organizational skills will have more opportunities. Getting started early while still in school by taking advantage of apprenticeships or connecting with a mentor can help young professionals develop these skills.

Furniture designers are categorized under “Industrial Designers” on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website and can include cabinetmakers, bench carpenters, and general carpenters. In 2015, the median pay for these professionals was approximately $67,100 annually. In that same year, there were approximately 66,000 bench makers and cabinet makers, and approximately 10,000 carpenters in the country. This profession has a slower than average growth rate of approximately two percent annually.

Additional Resources for Furniture Designers

American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD)
International Furnishings and Design Association
International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
The Furniture Society
American Society of Interior Designers
Chicago Furniture Designers Association
Designers Guild
Design Guild Interiors

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become a Golf Course Designer

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If you like playing golf and have a flair for design but wish the sand traps were moved to the right of the hole, or the bunkers were larger and more difficult to navigate around, you may want to consider a career as a golf course designer.

1. Getting Started in Golf Course Design

Golf course designers are essentially architects. They turn ideas into reality while balancing the needs of golfers, golf course owners, and the physical and budgetary realities that go into making a golf course viable and profitable.

Golf course designers can work anywhere in the world. Golf courses are particularly popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, but there are golf courses in almost every country in the world. For this reason, golf course designers that see constant travel as a "perk" rather than a downside will be much happier in their career choice.

Beyond passion, golf course designers must have a wide variety of skills, including the ability to problem-solve, understand construction materials and their limitations, as well as be able to communicate both in writing and verbally with a variety of administrators, bureaucrats, and other interested parties. Designers must have administration skills and sharpened decision-making skills. They must know spreadsheet software, like Microsoft Excel or Mac Numbers, global positioning systems (GPS), how to operate a digital camera, and engineering technology.

2. Learn the Appropriate Skills & Knowledge

There are any number of skills that will be useful for all golf course designers to have when beginning their careers. An understanding of computer-aided design software (CAD) is essential, as is a strong knowledge of blueprints, engineering principles, and graphics software. In addition, a golf course designer must be acquainted with the various construction materials used in golf course design, as well as how to work within and among various administrative bodies. This means that possessing negotiating skills is key.

Golf course designers also should also understand the needs and wants of golfers, since they're ones that will ultimately be paying the greens fees that make golf courses profitable. Knowing how to deal with local governments and laws, as well as zoning and permitting issues, will make you a far more effective designer as well.

While a degree in landscape architecture is not required, it will make you a far more competitive candidate when searching for a job, and provide you with many of the skills you'll need to be successful. It'll also provide you with a network that will help when questions or concerns arise, or during your search for future employment. Typical coursework in a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture program covers planning and implementation, ecology, environmental design theory, technical and foundational design theory, and visualization.  Students are also advised to take advantage of internship or apprentice opportunities as most employers prefer applicants who have completed an internship as part of their education.

In addition, within a college landscape design program, students can expect to learn about several topics directly related to practical golf course design, including environmental engineering, topography and hydrology, and land surveying. More advanced programs typically will include topics like urban planning, landscape architecture, and, for some, advanced computer design and 3-D modeling courses.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that unless a landscape architect works for the government, they must be licensed by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.  Although requirements vary from state-to-state, applicants must have earned a degree and have between one and four years of supervised experience. Applicants must also pass a five-part exam to gain licensure.

It is also recommended that future designers find work at a golf course, team up with gold professionals, or get a job with a golf course company to gain experience. This may include private clubs, organizations, or communities.

Finally, golf course designers should be avid golfers. If you are spending a lot of time on the golf course already, you know what matters, and what doesn't, when making a golf course the best it can be. Sharing insight with the same audience that will ultimately spend money to be on your course will make you far more efficient at creating the best possible golf courses.

3. Build Your Experience & Industry Connections

Applying for a job or internship with a golf design firm will help you build your skill set and learn from the professionals. Try to find a firm that matches your philosophy, or at least provides you – over time – with the skills and experience you need to branch out on your own. In this field, however, internships can be difficult to find, which is why attending college, earning a degree and industry networking events can be a powerful way to jumpstart your career.

Joining professional organizations in order to meet other people in your industry and network is also a great way to get a start in golf course design. In the United States, the American Society of Golf Course Architects, or ASGCA, is the premier networking organization. In Europe, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects is the first one to consider. In Australia, it's the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects.

The BLS expects jobs for landscape architects to grow five percent between 2014 and 2024, which is as fast as average for all career fields. A bachelor’s degree is the typical entry-level educational requirement, and the median annual salary is listed at just over $63,000. Similar career fields include civil engineers, cartographers, geoscientists, urban planners, and surveyors.

Additional Resources for Golf Course Designers

American Society of Golf Course Architects
National Golf Course Owners Association
American Society of Landscape Architects
National Golf Foundation

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become an Interior Designer

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Interior designers are problem solvers with both a technical and creative flair. They work with clients to create home and business design solutions that are both functional and attractive. They combine practical skills and aesthetic vision to develop cohesive designs that impact the human experience. No longer seen as a luxury, businesses are realizing the power that interior design can have on the buyer's journey.

The traditional path to becoming an interior designer is comprised of formal education, work experience, and passing examinations. However, there is more than one way to learn how to become an interior designer. You can also embark on a self-directed course of study, independently covering similar material as courses taken in schools of interior design.

Steps to Become an Interior Designer

  • Get to Know the Profession
  • Choose a Path
  • Earn an Interior Design Degree
  • Develop Skills
  • Earn NCIDQ Certification
  • Create a Compelling Portfolio
  • Start Your Own Business
  • Establish Your Brand
  • Pursue Additional Certifications

1. Get to Know the Profession

If you think you may want to become an interior designer, you’ve likely done at least a little interior design work or have watched someone else do it. Before you sign up for design school though, get to know the profession a little better. Shadow an interior designer to see what their day-to-day work is like, and interview notable designers in your area to get a feel for what they like – and don’t like – about their job.

Understanding the Difference Between Interior Designing and Interior Decorating

Many people assume that "interior designer" and "interior decorator" mean the same thing. While these professions are indeed similar, they do differ in some key ways.

Interior design is:

The science and art of understanding human behavior to create spaces in a building that are functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Interior decorating is:

Furnishing a space with attractive furniture and fashionable decor.

The primary difference between the two professions is that an interior designer can decorate a space, but an interior decorator lacks the foundational knowledge needed for effective design. Designing an interior space requires specific methods to identify the client's needs and available resources, research and analyze current trends, and integrate this knowledge into the creative design process. Designers create spaces within a structure that embody technical accuracy, creativity, functionality, and environmental sustainability.

Interior designers must:

Be registered or licensed and document their formal training and education. Some states require that interior designers who practice earn the NCIDQ Certification to demonstrate their qualifications and experience in interior design.

Interior decorators:

Need no formal training and licensure is not required.

2. Choose a Path - Do I Need to Attend Interior Design School?

Whether or not you need to obtain formal education to become an interior designer depends largely on what type of designer you'd like to be and in which state you want to work. Interior design is an exceptionally diverse field, so not every job requires a degree. However, some states do require licensure via passing an exam before you can use the interior designer title. Other states mandate that no interior design work can be done without a license. Check your state's laws on interior design and plan ahead for regulations that may steer your career path.

What Type of Job Do You Want?

If you'd like to get a job designing interiors for commercial establishments, or you'd like to have a role on the construction end of various projects, it's likely necessary for you to obtain a formal degree. Being accepted into an established interior design firm is extremely difficult without a degree; most firms require at least a bachelor's degree and licensure. If you want to eventually lead an interior design firm or start your own company, it's generally expected that you would have a master's degree in design.

If you'd like to work in the interior design industry but don't necessarily want to become an interior designer or own your own design firm, you may not need to pursue a degree. You can follow your own independent study path to learn the same core principles taught in school and use your experience and skills to get an interior design job.

3. Earn an Interior Design Degree

For many individuals interested in pursuing a career in interior design, the path begins with formal education. The educational program you choose can have a significant impact on the career opportunities that are available to you. Formal education is becoming increasingly important in the field of interior design, and well-known firms want to work with designers who have their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

The Importance of Attending an Accredited Interior Design School

Hundreds of colleges and specialty schools offer interior design programs, making it difficult for students to identify the best option for them. Many students prioritize cost and convenience when it comes to selecting a design school, however, the most important factor is accreditation. Accreditation ensures that interior design schools use the same criteria for admissions and placement and are able to provide similar educational results.

Accredited interior design programs are eligible for benefits such as federal grants and student loans, or assistance with tuition from employers. If you wish to transfer design programs, you can do so more easily from one accredited school to another – if your current educational institution isn’t accredited, your earned credits may not transfer to the new school.

What You Will Learn in School

When attending interior design school, your curriculum will consist of a wide variety of courses designed to help you become a well-rounded interior designer. Depending on the educational institution you choose to complete your course of study at, your classes may include:

  • Introduction to Interior Design
  • Elements of Design
  • History of Built Environment
  • Drawing & Composition
  • Quick Sketching for Interiors
  • Design Showroom Protocols and Procedures
  • Color Theory & Application
  • Perspective & Rendering
  • Building Codes & Standards
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Textiles
  • Materials & Applications
  • Design Philosophy
  • Environmental Studies
  • Lighting Design
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Business Practices
  • Portfolio Creation & Presentation
  • Spatial Organization
  • Fabrics & Furniture Styles
  • Wall & Floor Treatments
  • Design Trends & History
  • Measuring & Drafting
  • Drawing a Floorplan
  • Sustainable Building Design
  • Material Sourcing & Specification

 

4. Develop Skills Interior Designers Need

It's important for an interior designer to fully understand the needs of their clients to create functional and aesthetically pleasing design solutions. Often, this causes designers to gravitate towards a market sector or design specialties, such as restaurants or hotels. The success of your interior design career depends largely on how well you can satisfy the needs of your clients. To do so, you must possess the following critical skill sets:

Creative and Technical

An interior designer must have the ability to visualize the client's goals and transform them into an attractive and functional interior environment. The design should not only look appealing, it should also cater to the behavior of occupants of the space, adhere to building codes and regulations, and protect the safety and health of those occupants.

Designers use a systematic approach to achieve interior design solutions that influence the experience inhabitants have within the space. They apply concepts of color theory, two and three-dimensional design techniques, and the addition of sensory elements to balance the visual and visceral experience of a room.

Professional Communication

An interior designer must be extremely comfortable with meeting new people and collaborating with a wide variety of different personalities. It's critical that designers have exceptional verbal, visual, and written communication skills to work with collaborators and clients.

As an interior designer, you can expect to work closely with architects, construction contractors, and other related service providers who will be collaborating with you on the overall project. Understanding their role and how it impacts your own during a design project is critical to bringing a project to successful completion.

Project Management

An interior designer should have superior project and time management skills. Since you'll likely be working on more than one project simultaneously under strict deadlines, it's crucial that you develop the ability to multitask well and stay organized.

At the same time, you'll need to actively be marketing yourself and your services to procure new clients. This often involves developing design proposals and making presentations to potential clients, all while juggling the tasks for your current clients.

5. Earn NCIDQ Certification

The NCIDQ certification is the most commonly used licensing exam for interior designers and is administered by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). In the U.S. and Candata, the NCIDQ is the only nationally recognized competency assessment, and 27 states require the certification for the practice of interior design. This certification allows interior designers to validate their skills and experience to both clients and employers.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered eligible to take the NCIDQ certification, you must have an Interior Design degree from an accredited CIDA or Non-CIDA school. If you have an associate degree or an architecture degree, you are also eligible to sit for the exam.

You must also have a documented number of hours of work experience. For CIDA and Non-CIDA degrees, up to 1,760 can be earned before you finish school, but 1,760 must be completed after your education for a total of 3,520 hours of work experience. For interior designers who have a 60-hour associates degree and individuals who have an architecture degree, 5,280 hours of work experience must be completed to sit for the NCIDQ exam. For a 40-hour associates degree, you need 7,040 of qualified work experience.

What Is on the Exam?

The NCIDQ exam consists of three parts – the IDFX, the IDPX, and the practicum exam.

Topics covered on the exam include:

  • Construction Standards
  • Design Application
  • Project Coordination
  • Building Systems and Codes
  • Contract Administration
  • Project Coordination
  • Professional Practice

Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX)

This is the initial part of the NCIDQ and is available to individuals who have finished interior design school but may not have met all work experience requirements. There are 125 multiple questions; 100 of them are traditionally scored, and 25 are experimental questions that are unscored. These are often used as “test questions” that may be used for next year’s exam.

The exam takes approximately three hours to complete and is scored between 200-800. A score of 500 or greater is required to pass. The cost of the IDFX test is $295 plus up to $225 in fees.

Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX)

This is the second exam of the NCIDQ and is only available to designers who have completed both their education and their required work experience. It consists of 175 multiple choice questions, 150 that are scored and 25 unscored. The exam duration is about 4 hours and scoring is the same as the IDFX. The cost of the exam is $350.

The Practicum Exam

The practicum exam is the final exam of the NCIDQ. Candidates who have completed both education and work experience requirements are eligible to take this portion of the exam. The exam has 120 questions, all of which are scored. Each is worth 1 point and no partial credit is given. The exam costs $450 and up to $225 in fees.

6. Alternatives to an Interior Design Degree – Independent Study

If you want to learn how to become an interior designer but the traditional path of design school isn't for you, you can undergo independent study. You may have certain limitations in some states as to where you can work without licensure, and licensure requires education. However, there are many interior design career opportunities available for self-taught designers, provided that they have the same robust skills that a design school graduate does.

Here are the basic concepts you'll need to study:

Principles of Interior Design

Read books and study other materials that cover the basics of interior design, including the principles of color, light, scale, and space. Learn how to design a space from concept to completion.

Drawing and Perspective

As an interior designer, you'll need to create sketches of your ideas to show to clients. Learning how to draw well is essential, as is learning how to use perspective. These skills allow you to sketch a room with proportionate furniture with accurate angles and placement to give a feel for your design vision.

Computer-Aided Design

While learning to be adept at creating sketches of your design ideas manually is important, so is learning today's tools of the interior design trade, including computer-aided design (CAD). CAD allows you to render your design ideas in 2D or 3D models with color, texture, and other fine details. With augmented reality technology, you can photograph a space, upload the image to a CAD program, and design within the actual space and its constraints.

Architecture and Design History

To ensure you have a good foundational background in design and architecture, it's important that you study the history of interior design and decorative arts and architecture. Study both contemporary architecture and design and that of ancient civilizations who still influence design concepts today. Gain a basic understanding of furniture styles, classical design forms, decorations through the ages, and the use of motifs.

Interior Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important concepts in interior design, so it's a good idea to comprehensively study this area. You should understand different types of light, how light bends and reflects, and how to use it to draw attention to the most important parts of your design. You should also learn how to use light functionally -- not only should lighting complement your design aesthetics, it should also complement the behaviors of the people who use that space.

Use of Color

Color evokes strong emotions and can be used in interior designs to create spaces that serve different purposes. For example, yellow is typically associated with food or eating and is often used in restaurants and kitchens. Blue is calming, and red is energizing. Study the psychology of color to learn the wheel and how complementary and contrasting colors can be used within a design to add further functionality to the space you're creating. Nick Kolenda wrote an anormous guide around color psychology.

Local Laws and Codes

If you're embarking on a course of independent study to learn how to be an interior designer, you may not need to be ultra-savvy when it comes to building codes and local laws. However, you should still have a basic understanding of electricity and wiring, building and plumbing codes, load-bearing walls, and how they relate to or impact the design process or your end design.

7. Create a Compelling Interior Design Portfolio

Whether you go to a traditional interior design school or complete a course of independent study, one of the most important assets for your career is your portfolio. An interior design portfolio is a collection of photographs, sketches, and fabric swatches that showcase your best work. Your portfolio not only gives clients a feel for your design skills, but it can also illustrate your professionalism.

Early in your career, you'll include all your work in your portfolio. As you complete more projects, you'll want to choose your best work from a wide variety of different project types to showcase your adaptability. Make sure to photograph every project you do with a high-quality camera. Before-and-after shots are ideal.

Ask satisfied clients to write a short testimonial about their experience working with you or to give a recommendation. If you don’t have paid clients yet, offer to do some interior design work for friends and family to add a few starting projects to your portfolio.

Putting Your Portfolio Online

You'll want to have both a hard copy of your interior design portfolio and an online one. You can use a free templated website to display digital images and set up tends to be quick and easy for these types of sites. You can scan your sketches and upload them as well.

As your career grows, your online portfolio will too. After your first several projects, invest a little money into having a web designer create a customized portfolio website for you that you can update easily as you get new work.

8. Start Your Own Interior Design Business

For the most creative control over your career and the interior design projects you do, you should consider starting your own business. This can be difficult but extraordinarily rewarding for design entrepreneurs who have something new to bring to the interior design market. Here are some steps to take as you start your own interior design business.

Identify Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is the first step to taking on the types of interior design projects that you want. It's important to understand who your ideal client is, what motivates them, and what their goals are for their spaces. Don't make the mistake of thinking you want to create designs for everyone -- home in on an audience and focus on being competitive in that area. Know what your clients expect from an interior designer and aim to deliver.

Develop Solutions to Design and Functionality Problems

To start a business, you must first be able to offer a solution to a problem. This is where getting to know your ideal clients and what their pain points are is crucial. You should understand what problems they face within their interior spaces and what might drive them to reach out for the help of an interior designer. Then, create solutions for those problems. Offer your clients functional and aesthetically pleasing interior designs that cater to their specific needs and are tailored to solve a problem they've been having.

Set Your Rates

When you first start your own interior design business, it can be difficult to know what to charge clients. Naturally, you'll make less than your target hourly rate in the beginning, and when you build experience, you can raise your rates accordingly.

Put some time into researching what interior designers in your area charge. These are your competitors, and you'll want your prices to be in line with theirs, adjusting for things like experience and firm size. As you work on projects, keep a detailed log of how much time each step of the design process takes from start to finish. This can help you determine how much you want to charge hourly, or per project. Remember to account for your overhead costs and add a little extra as a buffer.

Create a Client Contract

For every client you work for, it's important that you both sign a contract or letter of agreement. The contract should outline the expectations of both parties, particularly what services you will be providing and how much your client will be paying for them. It should also include the scope of your design project, expected time of completion, and other important details that need to be hammered out prior to getting started. A contract protects you and your client from potential problems during the design process.

9. Establish Your Brand

Branding is important for every business owner. As a solo interior designer, your brand is you. Create a logo featuring your name and have professional headshots taken that you can use on business cards and other marketing materials. Not only are your clients purchasing your interior design services, they're also paying for a great experience. Make sure this comes across in your branding.

Your brand should be professional, captivating, and unique. It should grab the attention of potential clients in your target market and quickly communicate your core message.

Build a Functional Website

If you're starting your own interior design business, you'll need more than just an online portfolio. Build a user-friendly website that discusses your services, features client testimonials, and functions as a primary point of contact for potential clients interested in your designs. You'll have a space on your site to showcase your best designs, but clients should be able to interact more with your website as an entrepreneur than a simple online portfolio.

Create a Dedicated Workspace

Another important aspect of starting an interior design business is deciding where you will work. You'll need to design your own space that functions well for the projects you'll be working on. Make a dedicated area for your computer, as well as space for storage, and a craft table for sketching and working with fabrics. Make sure you have enough space to move about and that your lighting is top-notch. Depending on your available resources and career goals, you can purchase or rent office space, or create a home office.

Market Your Brand

Unfortunately, most of your ideal clients aren't going to find you on their own. You'll need to market your brand in a variety of ways to make sure your business is highly visible within your community. The most effective forms of brand marketing for interior designers include:

  • Optimizing your website for highly searched keywords in the interior design industry
  • Gaining traction on social media by engaging with potential clients in your market
  • Strategically publishing paid Google ads (PPC) and social ads
  • Attending networking events in your area, such as tradeshows
  • Joining well-known interior design associations

Marketing is an ongoing process for your interior design business. While creating business cards and a few social media accounts is a great start, you'll need to be strategic about how you continue to market your brand over time.

Build Relationships with Contractors and Suppliers

In your line of work as an interior designer, you'll come into regular contact with suppliers and contractors. Set a goal to develop strong professional relationships with the firms and individuals you work with, so you can have reliable connections that will deliver what you need, when you need it.

Professional relationships you'll want to facilitate include those with general contractors, appliance distributors, textile suppliers, and cabinet and countertop suppliers. The more connections you can make within your industry, the easier your work will be.

10. Pursue Additional Certifications

Stopping at your formal or independent education as an interior designer will limit your career in today's playing field. Continuing education and pursuing additional certifications is an important part of showing clients that you're committed to staying abreast of the most current interior design trends and offering top-notch service. Additional certifications to consider include:

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist

This certification is for interior designers who want to work specifically within the aging-in-place sector. A growing number of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, requiring residential remodeling services to create functional spaces for their changing needs. Certified Aging-In-Place Specialists will help design remodeled spaces for wheelchair accessibility, low vision, and more.

Certified Healthcare Interior Designer

A Certified Healthcare Interior Designer focuses specifically on creating aesthetic and functional spaces within the healthcare industry. Common design projects include waiting rooms in hospitals, exam rooms in doctor’s offices, laboratory facilities, and other medical establishments.

Evidence-Based Design Accreditation

Evidence-based design is an interior design theory used in a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to schools and healthcare facilities. It focuses on using established evidence to design interior spaces to achieve a specific outcome. For example, evidence-based design in a school classroom might suggest that putting the white board in a certain area of the room facilitates improved attention spans among students.

LEED Professional Credential

Environmentally friendly and sustainable construction and design is growing in popularity. A LEED credential shows clients and interior design firms that you’re committed to the green building sector and sustainable design. As the building industry continues to prioritize ecologically sound construction and design practices, this certification is essential for interior designers who want to stay on the cutting edge of the industry to have.

WELL Accredited Professional

The International WELL Building Institute is a leader in the worldwide movement to use design and building skills to create change within communities that help people thrive. A WELL Accredited Professional is able to understand how everything within a building, including its design, can affect human comfort, enhance health and wellness, and influence choices.

Ready to Become an Interior Designer?

Interior design can be an exceptionally rewarding career for individuals that are both creative and technical minded. Whether you pursue a degree at a traditional interior design school or embark on independent study, learning how to become an interior designer is a step towards fulfilling future doing what you love.

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become a Landscape Architect

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In many ways, landscape architecture is a unique profession because it requires equal amounts of both artistry and science. People who are both creatively driven and who have a deep appreciation of science and analytics would be ideal candidates for this career.

1. Getting Started in Landscape Architecture

If you're a person who loves both visually pleasing landmarks, and other outdoor areas and who is passionate about preserving a specific environment, becoming a landscape architect is absolutely something you will want to consider.

When people hear the term "landscape architect," they tend to picture individuals who choose the most appropriate flowers for a given climate or who make sure that a new brick walkway sits as level as it can given the anomalies of the space they're working to improve. While it's true that landscape architecture involves the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and other spaces, the end goal is a great deal more complicated. For instance, landscape architects are master craftsmen in terms of important areas like site analysis and inventory, land planning, planting design, grading, sustainable design, and so much more.

A landscape architect is essentially someone who serves two different masters at the same time. Not only are they often tasked with creating an aesthetically pleasing setting in an outdoor area (like in a public park or some other type of environment), but they must do so while also protecting and preserving the natural environment. In many ways, landscape architects are artists of a different sort – they're tasked with making decisions in the context of both the structure and the culture of a landscape while still creating a setting that people can use and enjoy as intended.

In addition to the development of plans for the environment, a landscape architect must also make sure that all decisions meet current building codes, as well as both federal and local ordinances. To that end, they must often be knowledgeable (and passionate) in the greater field of landscape design while still understanding local politics and environmental issues as well.

2. Develop Essential Skills and Techniques

In terms of day-to-day work, a landscape architect will commonly spend much of their time split between two different locations: an office and the great outdoors. Whenever landscape architects become a part of a new project, they often spend a great deal of time using computer-assisted drawing (CAD) and other software to create designs, prepare models, and more – all in an effort to make sure their vision for a particular space like a park, a recreational facility, or even a college campus remains in line with the requirements and other restrictions of the job.

Once the project gets underway, they will begin to spend more and more time at job sites, making sure their plans are adaptable and that they're able to make certain adjustments or improvements as new information comes to light.

In addition to the planning of new spaces, landscape architects will also design and plan the restoration of natural places that may have been disturbed by humans over time. There are many wetlands, mined areas, and forested lands across the country that people are working hard to restore to their natural beauty. Landscape architects play an important role in these efforts, not only with their deep knowledge of how these environments operate in relation to the long-term damage that may have been done but also in regard to creating plans to return these areas to sustainability in a way that will stand the test of time. This is a large part of the reason why many landscape architects are employed with local and federal governments and working on national, regional, and other historic sites.

As a landscape architect, you will need to be comfortable working closely with not only large internal teams but also in navigating the bureaucracies that come with environmental protection. Landscape architects will commonly find themselves working with city planners, civil engineers, local government representatives, other types of architects, and more. Everyone will have their own different ideas on how certain natural challenges should be addressed, but everyone should be focused on two core areas: making sure that the needs of environments and the needs of the people who live around and who use those environments can co-exist in the safest ways possible.

At the end of the day, the goal of a landscape architect is the same regardless of the project they're working on; the environment they're dealing with and the challenges they're trying to address. They use their passion, their artistry, their education, and their experience to help ensure that human beings are using our environmental resources in the smartest way possible to guarantee that those resources will still be around for decades to come.

To ensure work is accomplished in a professional way, a landscape architect must have a number of skills and abilities, which include complex problem solving, decision-making abilities, critical thinking skills, and time management. They must be socially perceptive, persuasive, willing to learn new techniques and skills, and instruct others. Working well within a team environment is imperative, as is understanding that everyone will not come to the same decisions all the time.  They must have integrity, be dependable, have attention to detail, initiative, and persistence.  They must also be flexible, and able to travel to work sites when necessary, sometimes at a moment’s notice in an emergency.

3. Pursue Higher Education

Per the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common path to employment as a landscape architect involves first earning your degree from an accredited program, after which you can then gain experience by interning with a local organization. As you continue with your education and gain real-world experience, you can then pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination and begin your career in earnest.

Regarding a formal education, the vast majority of states require a landscape architect to be fully licensed. As is to be expected, those requirements will vary depending on exactly what state you are interested in working. According to the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, for example, those interested in working within sustainable planning, design and management must complete either an undergraduate (bachelor’s of landscape architecture) or a graduate degree (master’s of landscape architecture) that has been accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board. The University of Maryland is just one example of an institution that offers two such programs that meet that requirement, which itself is necessary to obtain licensure and begin your career in Maryland.

Coursework found in most university programs include environmental design and landscape creations, CAD design, geographical information systems (GPS), principles and theories of landscape architecture, rural and urban design, and design studio courses.  To gain practical work experience while in college, students should consider completing an internship. Beyond the experience they’ll gain, students will also make valuable professional contacts and mentorships with their professors, both of which will help further their career and enhance their development in the profession.

The BLS states that there were 22,500 people employed in the field of landscape architecture in 2014. The entire industry was expected to add roughly 1,200 jobs between 2014 and 2024, marking a growth rate of about five percent – or roughly as fast as the national average for all professions.

Additional Resources for Landscape Architects

American Institute of Architects
The American Association of Architectural Students
Association for Environmentally Conscious Building
American Society of Landscape Architects
Association of Architecture Organizations
Royal Institute of British Architects
Design Corp
The Architectural League of New York

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Toy Designer

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How to Become a Toy Designer

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If you’ve ever considered doing something creative that also lends itself to childhood play, product development, and learning, becoming a toy designer might be the most fulfilling career imaginable.

1. Learn the Basics of Toy Design

A toy designer, as the name indicates, is someone who designs and creates toys. Some other job titles you'll see in employment listings for this field include, toymaker, toy engineer, and toy creator, among others. However, most colleges and universities don't have set majors in toy design, and there aren’t many courses designed specifically for this field, although there are many courses that lend themselves to the unique skills that a toy designer will need and use on the job.

Today's toys are often manufactured by a few large companies, so the career path is highly competitive, especially for designers looking for full-time employment. That doesn't mean that toy design is an impossible field to get into. Quite the contrary. But, it is important that you focus on toy design as a field – this isn't a career path that you'll likely fall into accidentally. There are set skills that are more highly sought after in this field and, in many cases, a four-year degree is highly desirable in the hiring process.

The most obvious attribute for someone who works as a toy designer is a love for toys. If you're considering this field, you should be excited about toy development and the ideas surrounding improved play for all ages. That's only the most basic requirement, though. Toy designers often create the toys from the ground up – this means sketching or CAD drawings of the original concept and creating a prototype. Toys must be intricately designed, mainly because there are many safety regulations involved and the toy must meet certain standards after repeated and harsh treatment.

Toy designers may work with a whole team or alone to create a new concept. They may be responsible for estimating production costs as well as the retail prices to get the production of the toy approved through their company, as well. So, the toy designer may wear a number of hats, from creativity and business to marketing.

Successful toy creators also have exceptional knowledge of children's play. They may watch play studies and conduct focus groups to further their ability to create marketable toys, as well as fine-tune current prototypes. This may sound like a great many skills to master. In reality, you might find that specializing in one area is more beneficial to your success in the field. You may also want to specialize in one set type of toys – such as board games, scientific toys, or dolls. There are many areas of play that can be cultivated to great success.

2. Develop In-Demand Skills

Plan Your Academic Coursework to Meet the Requirements of Employers

There are many skills that are indispensable in the field of toy design. However, there aren't many programs that award Toy Design degrees. Because there isn't an academically pre-determined path for entry into the field, budding toy designers often need to look at the career path and plan their coursework according to the most highly sought after skills from employers. Many toy designers start with a degree in the arts, such as a design degree, or in areas such as consumer engineering. The necessary skills include design creation, often computer-assisted or CAD, and engineering skills to complete production of a prototype. So, a toy designer will often be well versed in both the creative thought process and the technical aspects associated with materials and construction.

The most in-demand skills for a career in toy design, include:

CAD Systems & Hand Design:  Toy designers often use a combination of CAD and hand design. So, it's important to have some education background in both computer-aided drafting and drawing or architecture. Architectural design is often quite similar to the process of commercial engineering for toys because blueprints and plans are designed for similar fine measurements to meet building specifications. Fine arts courses, such as sketching still life, may not be as helpful in toy design as courses in math, measurements, and logic-based engineering and drafting courses.

Materials and Production:  Toy design is not just coming up with a great idea, though that's certainly part of it. A great toy designer will have an intricate knowledge of materials and production. This means that you'll be able to look at a design and determine which materials will best fit for function, style, and safety. You should also be able to accurately estimate production costs so that you're not choosing materials which will price you out of the market.

Marketing Basics:  Toy designers don't necessarily need to have their hand on the pulse of how the marketing department works, but they do need to have an intricate understanding of their consumer. Marketing coursework and continuing education can help toy designers better understand the individual consumer, both child, and parent.

Safety Standards and Regulations:  Meeting regulatory requirements is of paramount importance in this field. Regardless of your position in the company, you should have intricate knowledge of all safety regulations, both state and national, in order to create the best prototypes and stay within the safety guidelines. There are often employees who specialize in verifying that new creations meet standards, as well.

There are also a number of ‘soft-skills’ that all toy designers should have, such as critical thinking skills to give full attention to what clients, managers, supervisors and the public are requesting and using reasoning and logic to reach solutions or approaches to problems.  Designers must also be able to solve complex problems, use sound judgment, be able to analyze needs and product requirements, and have good time management skills. They should be able to adapt equipment and technology to meet the needs of the design, determine how a product works, and whether it is successfully designed to function as it should, Designers must be good communicators, within a team environment, and be able to bring other members of the team together to solve problems or reconcile differences. Designers must also have a strong knowledge of math and science, and be willing to instruct and take instruction.

Because toys must meet strict standards for safety and must function as intended for each age group, toy designers should also have a design, engineering and technology, mechanical, math (algebra, geometry, statistics, calculus, and their applications), and electronic and computer knowledge. They must be innovative, adapt easily to change, deal well with stress, have leadership abilities and drive to succeed, be cooperative, dependable, and persistent.

3. Pursue a Formal Education

While many sources indicate that there is no mandatory education requirement, the truth is that most designers need at least a four-year degree to be considered for a position within a company that manufactures and designs toys. Not only will you need education in order to compete for employment, but you'll also need the experience in order to excel in the field.

Some degrees you might consider to move forward with a career in toy design include:

Liberal Arts:  Courses that include drafting and drawing skills, as well as those that include humanities will be extremely beneficial in the design and to understand the consumer market.

Childhood Development:  Someone with a childhood development degree who also has design and artistic skills can do exceptionally well in the field.

Engineer:  An engineering degree in consumer or industrial design can be an exceptional background for toy design. This coursework will teach you the skills necessary for taking a design from concept through production with great precision. For someone with this educational background, taking extra study in the humanities or child education might be a beneficial idea.

Your career path in toy design might not be linear. If you're currently enrolled in a four-year degree program, a great way to get in the door might be to intern with a manufacturer or toy company. You might also apply right out of college for an entry-level job in your field. Because this is a competitive field, you may have to adjust your goals and realize that this is a long-term path. You may start in design in a different industry and use that experience to apply later to a toy company. You might also consider freelancing by creating your own toy concepts. In the case where you create your own toys, you can then sell that concept to a toy manufacturer or gain funding to produce and market the toy through your own venture.

A few kinds of toys that designers can specialize in designing include dolls, action figures, outdoor play toys, toy vehicles or instruments, water toys, scale models, puppets, plush toys, electronic toys, toys made specifically for animals, puzzles and games, mechanical toys, and scientific exploration toys, among others.

Additional Resources for Toy Designers

Toy Industry Association
The Toy Association
IDSA
International Council of Societies of Industrial Design
JIDA
SVID

Additional Guides for Applied Arts Careers

Are you considering a career in Applied Arts? Check out these how-to-become guides for related careers.

How to Become an Architect
How to Become an Automotive Designer
How to Become a Copywriter
How to Become a Furniture Designer
How to Become an Interior Designer
How to Become a Landscape Architect