Lindsay's daughter is weeks from leaving school. The dinner table conversation turned to careers — and it sent her back to the panel with a direct question.
Survey of 57 professionals.
Below, ten industry leaders explain why — and a few make the case for the other side. Select someone to read their full view.
Absolutely not!
Absolutely not!
I feel that I have been very lucky, and that my experience is not indicative of most women in the profession.
Sadly, I could not in all honesty encourage either of my daughters to pursue a career in architecture — unless it was their all-consuming passion. I say this despite having loved my 30 years in the profession, and having enjoyed career success and good pay. However I feel that I have been very lucky, and that my experience is not indicative of most women in the profession.
A predominantly male workforce, inflexible workplace practices, long hours and slow career progression all continue to make architecture a profession that requires tough compromise if you intend to try and balance a family and career.
Buildings and places that could only exist because they emerged in our minds first.
The fundamental needs of humanity include water, food and shelter. Architects work with other skilled people to create shelter — and that's been happening since before humans developed farming or the earliest civilisations.
As architects we continue to see buildings and places being built that could only exist because they emerged in our minds first. We experience the huge personal fulfilment of creating places where communities thrive. At every stage of human advancement the new technology gets added to the tools available to support architects do what we do, and the profession remains the career of choice for creative, civic minded, technically adept young people who want to make a better world.
A steady decline in opportunities for creativity — and a dramatic rise in bureaucracy and legislation.
I've been working in the architectural profession for 50 years now and I've seen a steady decline in opportunities for creativity and innovation — and conversely a dramatic rise in bureaucracy and legislation. These dynamics are strangling architects and making life a misery for them. I would therefore not encourage my child to enter the profession.
I make sure they go in it with their eyes wide open.
Architectural education is long, challenging and extremely expensive. More often than not, young aspiring architects leave their education in crippling student debt, embarking on a very competitive professional market, expected to often work gruesome hours whilst usually being severely underpaid. When I am called upon to advise someone in my close personal circle, I make sure they go in it with their eyes wide open.
At the end of the day it is a highly personal decision and relies on the individual's aptitude and appetite. There are always other avenues to solve the world's hard problems, to work with hugely talented and inspiring people, and to support communities — possibly through other industries outside the built environment.
I'd encourage young people to explore careers that can't currently be solved by AI.
Unpopular opinion, but no. Too many design firms are scrambling to take advantage of AI to remain competitive and increase profitability, and it's hastening our demise. Instead of a traditional career path in design or any other field, I'd encourage young people to explore careers that can't currently be solved by AI.
Better yet, I'd encourage them to develop strategies and build companies that respond to the myriad problems created by AI. I have two grown kids. I hope I've prepared them for what's next.
The industry is on its knees and does not look after its people well enough.
I would not encourage my child to pursue a career in architecture. The industry is on its knees and does not look after its people well enough, both financially or emotionally. I know some places are changing that, but in all honesty it is an industry that needs significant review and intervention.
There remains no better industry to pursue.
YES 100%. It is so easy to focus on the negatives and challenges — the fear of being replaced by AI, tighter margins, more regulation. But Architecture and Design remains a brilliant and exciting industry, full of beautiful, incredible, talented people who are a joy to collaborate with. There remains no better industry to pursue.
Architecture and Design remains a wholly fulfilling creative career with wide opportunity for specialism.
Absolutely. Architecture and Design remains a wholly fulfilling creative career with wide opportunity for specialism and diverse opportunity to explore different typologies and interests. We should continue to inspire and encourage the rising generation.
That response isn't without some caveats, including realistic expectations of the day-to-day life, including salary. As long as there is an understanding that being an architect is not the grand bespectacled Hollywood image that many still think it is. And whether you will be as appreciated as you think you should be — well, that's a discussion for another time.
It was my passion that sustained me in this field.
I have three grown children, and none of them chose to pursue architecture. It was not something I encouraged or discouraged. What I hoped for is that they would choose a path that fired their imagination. I chose to pursue architecture because I was curious about it since I was 14. I loved looking at and thinking about buildings and cities.
As a suburban high schooler outside of Baltimore, as my friends were hanging out at local malls, I was thinking of excuses to ride the bus into Downtown, just to walk around, and immerse myself in the place. That passion sustained me through a rigorous college career, and the ups and downs of the economy ever since.
Predicting the future is a fool's errand. Thirty years ago, guidance counselors were telling students not to pursue architecture because computers would replace the profession. The opposite happened. AI represents a different challenge — but there will still be a role for decision making. Skill sets will evolve, but I still imagine an industry that can thrive.