You’ve been hired to (1) design a 1200 SF house with a basement on an urban lot that has an existing shed with an attached carport and gravel drive, and (2) convert the shed into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for the client’s parents to comfortably age-in-place. It is important to the client that there is a shared outdoor space with a path connecting the two dwellings.

9 high-school and post-graduate students spent an entire Saturday working through the brief above we crafted out of our non-profit arm Do Good Work for the 2023 SkillsUSA Architectural Drafting Competition in Michigan. Wanting our problem to be less of a puzzle and instead focus more on the constraints of the given site and specific zoning/code requirements, we left room for the contestants to fill in the gaps. We weren’t rigid about the layout or style. We wanted them to feel they had some agency in making design decisions, and hoped those decisions would be informed by the given context. Because as a practice we believe good design is responsive to the site and surrounding community. We were told they spent the first hour settling into the lack of prescription, but in the end they said this was the best problem they’ve ever had! 

Studying architecture equips individuals with design-thinking skills that can be applied to various creative endeavors.

Following the competition, the high school drafting teacher who asked for our assistance creating this year's problem brought his class to our studio for a field trip. We spent time showing the students how we operate, projects we’re working on, and discussing our trajectory as both a small-scale studio and as individuals. Asking them what they wanted to do after high school, we advocated for the pursuit of architecture and adjacent disciplines, including the trades! We even showed them examples of former classmates who had taken alternative paths after studying architecture i.e. website design, floral design, furniture design. 

As a recent M.Arch graduate myself with a background in art and literature, I thought back to what I knew about architecture in high school. Nothing, lol. Honestly, pursuing architecture wasn’t on my radar until after I graduated with my BA and reached out to Lisa and Adam (Synecdoche’s co-founders) to pick their brains because I was considering pursuing a Master’s degree in colors and materials, furniture, or interior design. I ultimately decided to study architecture for the design-thinking skills, believing I could apply them to a broad range of design disciplines post graduation. But I chose an accredited program in case I wanted to pursue licensure afterwards, turns out this was a good move!

Demystify the practice of architecture

Architecture is hard to describe. We’ve all heard it when asked what we do for a living: “oh you must be good at math,” “commercial or residential?” or just *crickets*. Depending on who you talk to we’re some combination of problem-solvers, social agents, multi-disciplinary designers, stewards of the built environment, thinkers, doers etc. None of these really get to what we do in the day-to-day. And to those who don’t study it, we’re often viewed as superfluous. As a studio of interdisciplinary designers we believe in the value we bring to each project no matter the scale. We work to define each project's aspiration from the start, and use it to inform decisions made along the way; through the design process and into construction. 

Introducing kids to architecture as a feasible career path early on in their education will help demystify the practice, and make it a more equitable and diverse profession. Here are some of the advantages of studying architecture:

1. Enhances spatial awareness and critical thinking

2. Promotes problem-solving and analytical skills

3. Boosts creativity and imagination

4. Cultivates an appreciation for the built and natural environment.

Bonus Impact of Doing Good

After the drafting class visited our studio, one of the chaperones (who wasn’t supposed to be there and was planning on just sitting in their car) was so inspired by the visit that they reached out afterwards to hire us to perform feasibility for a Career and Technical Education Facility (CTE) focusing on STEM/trades/alternative ways of learning. We’re so excited about this opportunity to keep doing good work!