topic Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan in Modeling

RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career change..

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:10:34 GMT

Dear Sirs / Madames,

Hello. This is my first foray into the ArchiCAD forums and I am looking for some advice.

I am currently a Senior Graphic Designer / Art Director in CANADA with R.G.D. (Registered Graphic Designer accreditation) (16 years in the business) that has been interested in technical drawing and rendering for years. I have made some short excursions into CAD with Carrara 3 (though I've hardly touched it) and by using an Adobe Illustrator plug-in called CADTools (which I think is great!) to create P.O.S., packaging, tradeshow booths, etc.

I've examined numerous posts on the forum with regard to learning curves, Mac vs. PC, PPC vs. Intel vs. Linux, etc., and I'm considering a career change into Architecture. Would anybody care to advise me on how best to reach my goal? BTW, I'm 42 years young, with a TON of high-end Mac equipment at home already...

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Dwight — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:30:43 GMT

Do you know any building technology?

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Richard Morrison — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:34:32 GMT

GraphCorp wrote:
Would anybody care to advise me on how best to reach my goal?

Going to an accredited architecture school might be a good start, not to mention probably required if you want to become an architect. Unfortunately, I don't know much about Canadian architectural registration requirements.

If you want to be "just" an architectural illustrator or a CAD drafter, then the requirements would be much less. Having a TON of computer equipment is nice, but not much help if you don't know what you're doing. (In fact, it will probably allow you to make mistakes much faster than you could otherwise.)

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:58:40 GMT

Dwight wrote:
Do you know any building technology?

Dwight,

Other than doing exceptionally well in High School (took Mech. Eng. all 4 grades as well as Engineering Graphics in Grade 13), that's about it. I have also created a number of floorplans and structural additions for friends that have been accepted by the city building department, but again, I have no formal training as of yet...

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Dwight — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:58:55 GMT

Well, if you want to illustrate architecture, put a portfolio together and go for it. You'll be brokenhearted because if you think graphic artists receive undue and arbitrary criticism from bad taste bullies just wait until you start getting blamed for bad architecture. "Can't you make the building look nicer?"

The other challenge is that the Asian illustrators are doing photoreal illustrations AND building the model from sketched for less than $500. Of course I mean REAL CANADIAN DOLLARS, not that bumwad they have South of the border [and in which currency i mainly work. Dang!] . This takes the guts out of the illustration game: more great illustrators competing for fewer great opportunities.

While ArchiCAD is an excellent architect's tool and a quick modeler, is not the only tool for you if you want to be at the top of the illustration game. Try Cinema 4D or LightWave or Electric Image for top quality rendering on Mac.

This is also a quick-moving business, with lots to learn and hours to invest. Best if you are single and not too vain or concerned about body odor since you won't have time for grape peeling or hair frosting.

It also has bad business math:

40 billing hours = 40 billing hours+40 learning hours+40 swearing hours [38 if on Mac]

As for technical drawing, hanging out on our forum is misleading because we never talk about what really drives us as architects - the nuts and bolts of assembling buildings. Archicad lets us translate our abstract thoughts into real buildings quickly. Every user you see here is secretly a building wizard - the drawing or BIM is a superficial description of a complex technology. You will not pick this up without several years of training. There was a time when firms employed "draughtsmen," but today an operator is a highly trained technician in addition to knowing his technology. Archicad makes it hard to apprentice since effective workers tend to be more senior.

As far as a professional life goes, you'll be fifty before you get registered as an OAA if you start school next fall and don't take any time off.

Congratulations on wanting to grow - i can see how graphic design is a young person's game judging by the fresh things our Emily Carr College grads put up at their show - and how one feels stale after a while. I felt this way about architecture until Archicad came along. Then architecture became a video game.

However, i am not optimistic for you unless you know lots of rich people who need large homes. Call me at 604 266 7322 if you want to discuss this further since changing careers deserves sympathy and consideration.

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:46:55 GMT

GraphCorp,

I don’t know how relevant my input will be, because I’ve been out of the architectural visualization business for almost ten years. But, here goes.

After working in architecture for almost twenty years, I started my own business doing 3-D computer modeling, rendering, and animation. My clients were mostly design professionals and some feature film production companies. This was back when the new PPC’s first came out. My workflow included ArchiCad, StrataStudio, Artlantis, Photoshop, and FreeHand.

Notwithstanding some of the drawbacks posted by Dwight, I think if you have the right “stuff” and develop the right skillset and range of services, you still might be able to earn a decent living.

My guess is that architectural offices using AutoCad still rely on outside artists to produce renderings, so this is one of the markets you would be competing in. Unfortunately, back then in most cases it was far easier and quicker to produce lively, sumptuous renderings the old-fashioned way. Nowadays, with a well developed work flow, libraries of props (people, trees, vehicles), and textures, along with the added horsepower of today’s computers, you can compete for the higher profile projects, especially when multiple images are required. It may take 40 hours to produce one rendering, but only a few more hours to produce another five.

With architects fees being so tight, they are not going to be providing the lions share of your revenue from their pockets. You can however, make a good portion of your living from them if you can provide skills and services that mesh seamlessly into their workflow. That was my advantage. I often worked on projects from beginning to end by providing 3-D imaging services during the design development and approval stages. My knowledge of building methodologies, codes and the like made it tantamount to having another technologist on the job.

With one of my Architectural clients we created a workflow for producing a number of very appealing “renderings” in a few days. I would build an accurate but simplified model of the project and create simple 3-D line drawings from different locations throughout the model. We would give those line drawings to an artist who would then use them as templates to produce a number of prismacolour renderings. This reduced the time required (to zero) for the artist to plot the perspective for the architects approval prior to rendering.

The real money resides with the developers through their sizable marketing and promotional budgets. Your graphic arts background will serve you well here as you may provide them with architectural imaging as well as a plethora of other promotional material, whether it be brochures and other traditional media, or multimedia and web-based presentations.

Tips And Warnings

• At least to begin with, Dwight is correct. For every 10 billable hours, you will spend twice that amount of time experimenting, fiddling, and otherwise constantly thinking of ways to get the best results for the least amount of work.

• You must love learning new things. In this field, “new” is an every day occurrence.

• ArchiCad is a wonderfully simple yet powerful modeling program, and you’ll probably only be using a tiny subset of its features. It’s also not very good at doing free form modeling, but for buildings, it’s a dream. Even still, to get to the real power of the program you’ll need some serious “geek” skills. GDL (ArchiCad’s object description language) is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re good in math and geometry (and logic) you should be able to handle it.

• You sound like you have somewhat of a tactical mind, which will serve you well. I’d also suggest taking some building technology courses at your local technical college.

• Many deadlines would be on a Monday, and the architect would be tweaking his design in the final days, so say goodbye to your weekends. Also, long weekends were a pain. One less day for your client to be available to answer questions.

• With architectural renderings it’s not good enough for the scale and look of your textures to be close. They have to be right on. It requires a whole different level of discipline and technical know how to accomplish this.

In closing, my years doing this kind of work were my most enjoyable of all my years in the workforce. I worked far more hours than I billed, but I billed at $60/hour. So I made a good living and my clients got their money’s worth. I had to stop working for health reasons, but I wish I was still doing it, especially considering the availability of cheap processing power with the modern machines.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, but if you like, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Ron
604 681-5559

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:40:22 GMT

You sound like you have somewhat of a tactical mind...

That should read "technical mind".

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Rakela Raul — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:00:28 GMT

never is too late to do anything..im surprised you havent learned that so far...you shouldnt even be asking for opinions,,,just go for and enjoy the rest of your life....havent you learnd that life is too short either??

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:17:04 GMT

Hi,

I agreed with you. Any way, your points of view make me thinking about some thing for my project.

Pls try to keep posting.
If you want to do more info, you also visit at:Career change
Tks and best regards

GraphCorp wrote:
Dear Sirs / Madames,

Hello. This is my first foray into the ArchiCAD forums and I am looking for some advice.

I am currently a Senior Graphic Designer / Art Director in CANADA with R.G.D. (Registered Graphic Designer accreditation) (16 years in the business) that has been interested in technical drawing and rendering for years. I have made some short excursions into CAD with Carrara 3 (though I've hardly touched it) and by using an Adobe Illustrator plug-in called CADTools (which I think is great!) to create P.O.S., packaging, tradeshow booths, etc.

I've examined numerous posts on the forum with regard to learning curves, Mac vs. PC, PPC vs. Intel vs. Linux, etc., and I'm considering a career change into Architecture. Would anybody care to advise me on how best to reach my goal? BTW, I'm 42 years young, with a TON of high-end Mac equipment at home already...

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:16:03 GMT

At the risk of being a bit of a wet blanket, it is rare for a late career switch into Architecture to be successful. Of course it can be argued than an early career choice of Architecture is rarely successful 😉 On the other hand a friend of mine left a very successful career late in life to practice Architecture and has done quite well.

I don't mean to discourage you from doing what you want, but you should be aware of how difficult the undertaking may be. One possibility would be to get into architectural graphics (signage and such). This would put your existing skills and talents to use while also leveraging your interest in architecture.

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

gpowless — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:44:00 GMT

GraphCorp wrote:
Dear Sirs / Madames,

Hello. This is my first foray into the ArchiCAD forums and I am looking for some advice.

I am currently a Senior Graphic Designer / Art Director in CANADA with R.G.D. (Registered Graphic Designer accreditation) (16 years in the business) that has been interested in technical drawing and rendering for years. I have made some short excursions into CAD with Carrara 3 (though I've hardly touched it) and by using an Adobe Illustrator plug-in called CADTools (which I think is great!) to create P.O.S., packaging, tradeshow booths, etc.

I've examined numerous posts on the forum with regard to learning curves, Mac vs. PC, PPC vs. Intel vs. Linux, etc., and I'm considering a career change into Architecture. Would anybody care to advise me on how best to reach my goal? BTW, I'm 42 years young, with a TON of high-end Mac equipment at home already...

I can tell you with all honesty to pick another field.

To become an Architect up here you need a degree in Architecture, then at least 1 year articulation just to work for another Architect doing all the things they don't like to do. If you want your own practice I would suggest that working for an Architectural firm for 5 years probably won't be enough just to compete for the smallest of projects.

If you go the other stream to become a Registered Designer, you will need to pass the Ontario BCIN examinations even to give advice on any building. That requires a strong knowledge of building science, as well as an intimate knowledge of the Ontario Building Code, it relevant parts and its Supplementary Guidelines.

If you succeed and just want to do small buildings or houses also understand that there are probably 50 registered designers already in the Hamilton area - many with far more education (many with architectural degrees) and far more experience just doing houses and additions. The competition is high, start-up costs are high and the income is low so be prepared for a number of years of not breaking even.

Someone without an thorough education in building sciences, a thorough understanding of construction materials and methods and no understanding of the Ontario Building Code (you must also take and pass the Building Code Act legals course) and little business experience has no hope of making it it. I know a number of fully educated individuals who passed the required exams and still could make it past a year.

So I will reiterate that you would be wise to chose another field. However, if you have the next 10 years to commit to returning to school, spending working and apprenticing with someone with the knowledge and experience and saving enough money to take the OBOA courses and exams, then you might have a chance. Architecture and design is no longer a do it yourself or for a friend business. Unless you have a license you can't even give advice about what colour of toilet to use. It would be an offense under the Building Code Act.

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Dwight — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:23:27 GMT

Since this topic is three years old, I wrote to the original poster privately. His reply:

"Thank you for your kind thoughts! As it turns out, I’ve stayed in the Graphic Design industry, but have broadened my focus to include 3D Modeling. The conversations on the ArchiCAD forum really woke me up to just how competitive your business is (what with Asian professionals creating and selling renderings at a fraction of what we in N.A. Can charge).

3D Modelling (and rapid prototyping) are my new hobbies as I am in the process of designing some historically accurate WWII battles – complete with custom-designed figures, etc."

Re: RE: I'm a Graphic Designer looking to make a career chan

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:13:58 GMT

Richard wrote:
GraphCorp wrote:
Would anybody care to advise me on how best to reach my goal?
Going to an accredited architecture school might be a good start, not to mention probably required if you want to become an architect. Unfortunately, I don't know much about Canadian architectural registration requirements.

If you want to be "just" an architectural illustrator or a CAD drafter, then the requirements would be much less. Having a TON of computer equipment is nice, but not much help if you don't know what you're doing. (In fact, it will probably allow you to make mistakes much faster than you could otherwise.)

Hi,

I agreed with you. Any way, your points of view make me thinking about some thing for my project.

Pls try to keep posting.
Apart from that, you also can ref more resources at: Career change
Tks and best regards