When you type “Young Architect” into Google, you will find this site at the top of the search results. A few links down you will find the AIA’s Young Architects Forum. Upon entering the site, you can also find an accompanying blog.
Why is this important to look at? If our industry’s most prominent association has a special forum for its youth, then it should really cater to young architects…right? However it is greatly lacking in so many areas that it is disappointing to read through. In addition to the lack of information, the articles are out of date (2007) and don’t relate to real young architects.
The AIA should be crafting a highly interactive tool for young architects; one that engages us at every level of inquiry. The interface should be graphic and creative in keeping with the talents and interests of its users who are design professionals. Also, it is painfully obvious that it is not administered by young people nor is it a focus of the AIA.
We are a captive audience. Aside from Archinect ( a much better resource), there is no other place that architects can look to for guidance. We are expected to be involved in the AIA as soon as we start school. Keeping this in mind, we should not have to search for their outlets or for local groups. The AIA should be in our face and fully integrated into the educational/professional experience.
It seems as though the primary focus of the AIA is to cater to established architects. While this upper percentile is an important group to foster as they take the most risks in the profession, the AIA is leaving the rest of us behind. So where do we turn to? How do we connect? A goal of YoungArchitect is to fill this void, however I don’t think it should be necessary.
Are young architects financially supporting the AIA? This is probably true. Are those architects receiving a proportionate value for their patronage? I argue that they are not.
In truth, there are no great benefits to becoming a member to the American Institute of Architects and the membership is not worth the yearly cost ($105). When I was a member, I received a cheesy certificate and annoying e-mails. I was able to take advantage of some benefits as I was based out of New York City and could attend a lot of AIA sponsored lectures. But what about people that don’t live in great metropolitan centers? Do they get the short end of the stick?
After two years, I canceled my membership. My career is no worse for it and my inbox is better off.
P.S. is the AIA just an excuse to put recognizable letters at the end of our names? Can you think of any other professionals that use their trade organization as a marketable suffix?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yikes, a pretty damming argument my friend. Sadly, a common one though. As the officially accepted governing body of the profession, the net results seem to be…
• An extraordinarily regulated education accreditation process yielding bulky, redundant degrees that are at the same time limiting to institutions and sap competitiveness degree holders
• An equally cumbersome, bloated licensure process
• A lack of ability to unify educational and professional efforts – it’s as if the two exist in entirely different universes
• A “continuing education” program begging for refinement – is it about tracking credits or actually learning + applying???
• A fragmented organization of more sub-organizations (”components”) and bureaucratic programming efforts than most people care to keep track of
• Lackluster governmental lobbying efforts
• An organization whose culture seems inwardly focused – compare the numerous awards AIA members give themselves versus the lack of outward reach toward other relevant industries
• Bringing up the rear on technology and sustainability – why are clients the ones requesting (demanding) sustainability in design and stand-alone organizations (USGBC) forced to be formed to deal with regulating sustainable practices while industry leaders neither lead the charge nor even work to insure students are being educated to meet such a compelling market shift???
Rather than lament the inexcusable state of affairs however – I hold no one responsible other than ourselves for apathetic involvement. Complaints don’t change anything; they merely highlight what actions are most needed. So hey, Young Architects out there: what are we going to do about this?
Ian: another great sentiment. It is true. We are taking a passive role in this process and merely commenting as outsiders looking in. Instead, participation/communication is critical.
It is for that reason that I have started this site and why I am pushing for more interaction in the architecture community. Many of us see problems with the way things are, but we don’t express our concerns enough, or at least to the right audience that can make change happen.