How to Make It in Architecture in 2026 – Noris Obijiaku

Noris Obijiaku, known online as Mr Chuck, is an architecture student and content creator with more than 300,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

He’s become known for his tours of London’s housing estates, leading him to interview London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, speak on panels and partner with the likes of Arsenal and Dezeen.

Born in Italy, raised on a London estate, now finishing his Part 2 at the London School of Architecture while working in practice at BPTW.

In this episode we get into the estate tours, the crits that skin you, and the new roadmap for ‘making it’ in architecture.

With Sadiq Khan at the Mayor’s Media Reception.

Student in the Crit. Communicator Online.

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

The architectural profession runs on patience. People study, build up their career, move into practice, and maybe at some point they have their own voice. You’ve really circumvented that and pushed yourself forward. What’s the plan?

Noris Obijiaku

Social media has really changed the game if I’m being honest. I’m still learning. I still need to earn my place within the architecture profession. People have worked so hard, and for social media to give that platform to young people, to anyone, to speak their mind and show their journey. Essentially what I’m doing on social media is documenting my journey from bachelors, which is where I started, until my masters, which I’m going to finish very soon.

Did I think I was going to go this way? No, absolutely not. I started with sketching. I just asked a bunch of questions and here we are.

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

One minute you’re in a crit having your ideas criticised. The next, you could be talking on video where lots of people see you as an authority. Where do those two things sit?

Noris Obijiaku

Within the uni and studying, I’m a student. I’m a learner. Online I’m a communicator. Two very different mediums. The biggest thing right now is just understanding that no matter where you are, you’re always going to be a student. A student of life, a student of everything.

In crits, you do get skinned. But it’s part of the process. Online, on the comments, you can see how much people are so enthusiastic and so appreciative of architecture. If anything, it fuels me to want to learn more. I go into uni with that same hunger. There are so many people, from comments or through site visits, that are eager to understand or want to say something but don’t have the voice to say it.

My Background Is My Biggest Strength

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

Architecture school has a certain way of talking, a certain way of communicating. How has the new skill of communicating online reinforced the way you express your ideas in school?

Noris Obijiaku

Before you study the profession, you feel things, but you don’t know how to express them. You feel the streets, you know, the darkness when you walk through places. You feel the windows over you, being watched. In many cases, in postwar estates, you see the cameras, the cages in front of your door. Going into the profession gave me the ability to label that.

In school there’s a uni culture, a way of talking, and I didn’t come from that. The difficult part is finding a way to fit in. I struggled with that. I was thinking, I don’t quite fit in. How do I get involved?

Then I realised that my background is my biggest strength. My upbringing, the way I speak, the way I go about things, my mannerism. Everything that has made me myself is very valuable. Figuring that out changed the whole thing. I was able to just look at something and use plain words to say what it is, as opposed to trying to sound clever or intelligent.

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My background is my biggest strength. Figuring that out changed the whole thing.

Italy, Then a London Estate

Noris Obijiaku

I was born in Italy, in the Venice area. I lived there for 11 years. It was a very communal culture. Our neighbours grew vegetation in the front and people would just pick it. A shared, communal vibe. In summer we had this thing called gest, a church that gathered all the young people and took them out on trips. It was almost whimsical. Maybe I’m romanticising it.

In 2011 I moved to the UK. The crazy thing is, I had this idea London would be the Victorian times. I thought we’d see the old buses, the old cabs, the hats and the dresses. When I came here, I remember seeing diesel buses and thinking, what’s going on?

I quickly settled in. Lived on a London estate. A rough area back then. The first thing I remember is not being allowed to play out. In Italy, I played from morning until evening till it got dark. My parents wouldn’t even call me once. All of a sudden my mum was like, 5pm be upstairs.

I also remember saying I’m from this area, and people looking at me like, bit rough, innit? Somewhere you live, somewhere you’re proud of, is almost looked down upon. I had those two feelings, and I think that shaped who I am.

A young Noris.

From Engineering to Architecture

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

I read somewhere that you started in engineering. What moment did you realise it wasn’t for you?

Noris Obijiaku

Engineering gave me structure. It let me understand how things stand up and come together. The logic part. But the love for people was missing. And I just like drawing. DT was the only module out of all five I actually enjoyed. I turned up early. For once.

DT was the only one where I was the standout in the class. I’d have people ask me to do their drawings and I’d happily do it. I remember speaking to my lecturer and asking him, I like drawing, but I like construction. Is there an in between? Is there something to fill that gap?

He said architecture. And by the way, I couldn’t say this word. I don’t know why people find it so hard to say. I went home, searched architecture, saw a bunch of buildings, saw the skyscrapers. I love New York, by the way. Searched what do they do. They design buildings. I had this lightbulb moment. I cut off my engineering course and took that leap of faith.

Coventry University graduation.

Failing the First Module

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

I also read about you failing the first module, and the impact it had on that early career.

Noris Obijiaku

It was so dark. It was very dark, because it was during Covid. It really did humble me. At the time it made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. It was my first time figuring architecture out. I almost felt like, that’s a bit harsh.

If anything, it taught me more about myself. That’s when I realised I was very resilient. My mentality was, maybe it’s a bit strange but you tell me: if you’re not going to give me the ability to become an architect, I’ll figure it out myself.

I will do it myself. I don’t need you to tell me I can become an architect. That’s why I started posting online. If I’m not going to get it this way, then I’ll make myself visible to the world. What’s the one thing I’m really good at? Sketching. Let me start posting my sketches on TikTok.

I asked my sisters before posting, because at the time TikTok was quite cringey. The dance period. I was not trying to dance on TikTok. Posting your sketches on TikTok was very alien to me. I’d never seen anyone do that. I rolled the dice. I had nothing to lose. With or without you, I haven’t become an architect. That mentality was what pushed me through.

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If you’re not going to give me the ability to become an architect, I’ll figure it out myself.

Sketching at the desk.

First Post: Fifty Views

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

What was the first thing you posted? Was there any reaction?

Noris Obijiaku

A floor plan and a section of a building I’d done. A design studio in my first year. One of the modules I failed that year. Very amateur. Very much like, what do I do with this camera? It got 50 views. I was like, damn, that’s good.

It might not sound like a lot. But 50 views, in perspective, meant 50 people had seen that work. And I know the value. Out of 50 people, one person who really needed to see that would watch that video.

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

At what point did being consistent start to pay off?

Noris Obijiaku

The drawing aspect, I did that for a year. It built its own community of people that love sketching. People didn’t have the ability to express the love for drawings on TikTok because a lot of people were still doing the dancing. The comments were amazing. People were writing, oh my god, I’m going to pick up a pen and start drawing again. People found the love for drawing.

The transition from sketching to talking about the estates came after I finished my bachelors. My dissertation explored the stigma in social housing. That was a stepping stone to my manifesto today.

I’m very camera shy. I don’t like cameras. If you see my old videos, it would be: structure of the building, two seconds of my face, turn away. Two seconds, turn away. Let the drawing do the talking. But if you want to build a brand, have a voice, you need to talk to people. You need to show yourself.

My first video was the Trellick Tower. Love that building. I did it with my friend who I studied architecture with. When I posted that video, that’s when I realised, oh, there’s something here.

Beauty Where People See Failure

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

What does that type of content hit on that gets people’s reactions? Is it the architecture? The story behind it? The people?

Noris Obijiaku

These homes, I wouldn’t even call them estates, they’re homes. They’ve been put in the limelight in a very bad way by the media over the years. Obviously there’s political stuff. There are some design flaws. But it’s very easy to go on social media and make a skit about being in estates and get the clicks. Very easy to make funny videos calling these estates ugly.

I looked at it in a different light. Someone designed it for a reason. People deserve to know why. What was the story behind it? What was the incentive? Truly see the beauty in where people see failure.

At the end of the day, people are proud of where they live, and seeing someone tell that story for them is something that pushes them to say, wow, we needed that.

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Truly see the beauty in where people see failure.

Hypebeast UK reposting the work: The Design Suite lifts the lid on London’s estates.

The Channel

Mr Chuck at a Glance

Noris Obijiaku, aka Mr Chuck, founded Thedesignssuite in 2023. The channel started with hand-drawn sketches posted to a quiet 50-view audience and grew into walking tours of London estates that consistently land six-figure views. The work documents his student life in real time, from failed first-year modules to Part 2 at the London School of Architecture, alongside his day job as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at BPTW.

The content has been featured on BBC London Radio, Another Magazine, The Face and Dazed. He has spoken at RIBA, met Sadiq Khan at the Mayor’s Media Reception, and has done collaborations with major brands such as Arsenal and Google.

“I rolled the dice. I had nothing to lose. With or without you, I’m going to become an architect.” Noris Obijiaku

The Residents Are the Real Experts

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

What are the conversations like when you’re on the ground filming?

Noris Obijiaku

That’s when I realised the residents are the real experts. We know nothing. They know a lot more than we do.

Branch Hill estate in Camden. Lovely place. It sits on a slope and each roof is another person’s garden. I love that estate. There were stairs running in the middle with small ramps on either side. It almost looked like the ramps were designed for bikes to go down.

I was speaking to a resident and she said, yeah, but the slope of the stairs makes it so hard for the elderly to walk down. I was like, oh my god, I didn’t notice that. I was walking up and down perfectly fine. Then she mentioned the buggies, women carrying children, how tough it was for them to get down. Although they made the slopes for bikes, the buggies really struggle.

She said, they need to design these spaces. Women need to design these spaces. If a woman was designing that space, she would understand how do buggies get down. There’s no lifts. Another lady talked about the acoustics. You realise that the residents have so much to say. What we need to do is have that one-on-one conversation, talk to people that live there, to really understand how to design for the future.

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The residents are the real experts. We know nothing. They know a lot more than we do.

Come With Me, Not At Me

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

Architecture has a particular way of making films and stories. Beautifully shot but atmospheric, removed from the things you’re talking about. What could other architects learn about storytelling from your experience?

Noris Obijiaku

Other professions have great propaganda. Law, doctors. They have films and series and episodes about what a doctor does. They make it dramatic. Architecture doesn’t have a Grey’s Anatomy vibe. I hope the more we have creators online speaking about architecture, the more we can one day have a series about an architect in reality.

My style compared to Grand Designs is quick, choppy, vloggy. People gravitate towards something that feels real. Something that feels like, I’m coming with you, as opposed to, you’re talking at me. So if I had to say, what could you pick up? Really make it feel personal. Make it feel like, I’m experiencing this for the first time. I want you to come along with me.

My sister said this to me when I did the Lloyd’s building, and it performed so well. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. She told me, I can see the excitement on your face. It was almost like I was seeing it at the same time as you. That’s the power of it. That’s what people want. They want to feel that excitement. They want to feel like, oh my gosh, you’re taking me into your world. A discovery. As opposed to, I’m super intelligent, you should listen to what I have to say.

One Per Cent

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

There’s a figure that says 1% of UK architects are black. Where do you sit on that?

Noris Obijiaku

There’s no doubt there’s more that can be done. When you look at the broader architecture industry, you don’t see a lot of people from the global majority, or mixed. You don’t see enough of people that make up society. And the funniest thing is, when architects design, your duty is people first. Your duty is to design spaces for the people. If the people designing these spaces don’t reflect the people you’re designing for, how does that add up? How does that make sense?

The profession could do a lot better in terms of design if different cultures were represented. Think about what that could do to urban design. To a building. I don’t think we’d see the style of buildings we see today if mixed cultures had a voice and contributed. I could just dream of it.

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

Where do you see your place and your responsibility in that?

Noris Obijiaku

I quickly realised this is not about me. It dawned on me. This is bigger than myself. I’ve got a responsibility to create access into architecture. To show people, get into architecture. We need more voices. Young, old, female, male. We need you to be involved.

I’m also talking to the man dem. The guys I grew up with, they look at me like, oh my god, how did you even know to get into architecture? The whole vibe of, yo, I can be a young black guy from London studying architecture doing this. That’s what I want to show.

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I can be a young black guy from London studying architecture doing this. That’s what I want to show.

In the Room

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

You’ve spoken on panels, met the Mayor. These are incredible rooms to be in. What does that do, positioning yourself in them?

Noris Obijiaku

I’m super grateful to be in those rooms. Especially the fact that I’m still a student. One thing I have to remember is that I’m in those rooms because there’s something to contribute. It’s very easy to shrink yourself. This is a message to anyone that gets in those rooms. There’s a reason why you’re there. You have something to contribute. You have something to say. Just be yourself. That’s about it.

What School Needs to Change

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

What part of the architectural education experience needs to improve? What has frustrated you?

Noris Obijiaku

If I’m being honest, I don’t have a lot of them. The way the architecture profession is, it builds you up. The stress, the crits. Although it’s hard in the moment, when you make it out on the other end, you have that extra layer of skin. Stronger. I wouldn’t change that.

If I’m going to throw anything out there, it’s encourage more people to use their biggest strengths. If someone’s really good at sketching, train them up to be great at sketching. If someone’s good at rendering, train them up to be great at rendering. Too many institutions have this way of shaping people.

I really struggled figuring out how my sketches could be harnessed in my work. Bachelors was where I struggled most. Most of my work from my bachelors didn’t even include a sketch. And that was my biggest strength.

London School of Architecture, 4 Beechwood Road.

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

You’re now at LSA. It’s a different way of doing Part 2. What’s that been like?

Noris Obijiaku

One of the best decisions I’ve made. The ability to earn and learn. That pathway wasn’t something I had knowledge of before. One day you’re speculative designing, having a bit of fun. The next day you’re going into practice, designing something real. That realism, the balance between concept design and realism, builds you up as a designer.

I’ve learned so much more in practice in that one year. When you’re in practice, you really get into the nitty-gritty. You understand work culture, how you speak to people, how you treat other people, how you work in a team.

The Bridge

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

Do you have a plan? Do you see yourself in practice? In communication? Or are you just seeing what happens?

Noris Obijiaku

Being the bridge between the profession and the public, there’s something real in that. It’s only going to get better from here. A lot of professionals are really understanding the importance of speaking to people, reaching out, public perception. The next steps are getting more experience and doing more of what I love, which is communicating and showcasing my work online.

With the BPTW team.

For the Kid From the Estate

Bespoke Careers (Chris Simmons)

If a young person from one of the estates you’ve been to sees one of your videos and has an idea of what architecture might be, what would you say to them?

Noris Obijiaku

100% encourage them. I’d tell them to ask more questions. Keep asking questions. Keep being curious. When you keep asking questions, it forces you to seek answers. The seeking is what led me here. Even if it’s not architecture, if you ask questions, your mind and the way you live will take you to your way of finding the answer.

Quickfire

Q01

Most interesting estate?

Noris Obijiaku

Alexandra Road Estate. Grade II listed, designed by Neave Brown. Ended up costing £20.9 million, four times the original budget, and still the UK’s most expensive social housing. You either hate it or you love it.

Q02

Ugliest building in London?

Noris Obijiaku

I love all buildings. Sounds very PR, but I actually love all buildings.

Q03

Most underrated?

Noris Obijiaku

Trellick Tower.

Q04

Favourite architect?

Noris Obijiaku

Ernő Goldfinger. I like his way of thinking about buildings. Honourable mention, Neave Brown.

Q05

Favourite style?

Noris Obijiaku

Art deco. You thought it was brutalism? I love art deco. The abundance and just having fun with design.

Q06

What did you ask the Mayor?

Noris Obijiaku

About the green belt. What’s the point of releasing it? His answer was that the green belt is misunderstood as this lush forest green, and that releasing it will help with the housing crisis.

Q07

What do you wish someone told you before you started studying architecture?

Noris Obijiaku

You’re going to have a side hustle to make up for the lack of salary. That’s the one thing I wish I knew earlier.

Q08

Best building in London?

Noris Obijiaku

Alexandra Road. That one is a spectacle, and might be for the next couple of years.