Architect Magazine: How to Find Work, article contribution

Co-founders Sauve and Smith share their experience starting Synecdoche during the 2009 recession and tips for creative gigs and alternatives when the economy shifts.

Work for Yourself

In 2009, when Ann Arbor, Mich.–based Synedoche Design Studio founders Lisa Sauve, AIA, and Adam Smith, Assoc. AIA, graduated from Lawrence Technological University, in Michigan, no one was hiring and summer internships “were even less likely,” Sauve says. Rather than scramble for jobs, the duo began working on their first project, a small graphic design office that they found on Craigslist while in school. The project, which caused them to miss their own graduation ceremony, won an award and helped win them their next client.

For those who go out on their own, Sauve advises befriending local small businesses for leads on potential projects. “We feel like we have more in common with other small business owners in the community,” she says. “We’re all trying to grow and succeed together.” Let your school’s career office and local AIA components know that you’re available to take on short-term work, such as taking measurements or drawing floor plans, Ganem suggests.