125 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Architecture School

Architecture school can be one of the most inspiring and challenging experiences in a designer’s life. But very few students start this journey fully aware of what lies ahead. This article isn’t about software recommendations or where to buy supplies—it’s about the mindset, habits, and small truths that shape the real student experience. If you're just starting out or already deep in your architectural education, these lessons are for you.

The Reality of School

1. You won’t be taught how to design. Instead, you’ll be expected to learn by doing, failing, and trying again.
2. You’ll be asked for ideas before you understand the question. This is how you develop your own voice—by trying anyway.
3. Tutors will contradict each other. You’ll have to learn how to filter advice and think critically.
4. Good drawings ≠ good design. A clear concept and logic are more important than perfect linework.
5. Most people feel lost. Even the ones who look confident. Feeling unsure is part of the learning curve.
6. It’s normal not to know your “style”. Style develops with time, practice, and exposure.
7. You don’t need to know everything to start designing. Start where you are and build knowledge project by project.
8. You’ll learn more from trying than from waiting. Doing is the fastest way to figure things out.
9. Design takes time. No shortcut. Expect long hours and lots of iteration before ideas become clear.
10. You won’t always know when a project is “done.” Learn to let go and submit with confidence.

Studio Culture

11. Studio is intense. Protect your energy. Balance is key to long-term success and creativity.
12. Being quiet in crits can hurt you. Speak. Even sharing unfinished thoughts helps you grow.
13. Comparison kills creativity. Focus on your own progress, not what others are doing.
14. You’ll get used to being behind schedule. Deadlines teach time management—and forgiveness.
15. “All-nighters” are not proof of passion. They’re often a sign of poor planning or pressure.
16. Nobody’s tracking your hours. Don’t burn yourself out to impress others.
17. You’ll learn more from talking to peers than from lectures. Peer learning is informal but powerful.
18. Some days, just showing up is a win. Consistency builds resilience more than talent does.
19. Everyone’s project looks better on the wall. In reality, we all struggle. Presentation hides the process.
20. No one cares how many layers your Photoshop file has. What matters is what it communicates.

Drawing, Modeling, Making

21. Hand sketches can express more than a render. Sketching helps you think and communicate fast.
22. Don’t wait until it’s perfect to print it. Progress is more important than perfection in school.
23. Model-making is design thinking—not a side task. Physical models reveal problems digital ones hide.
24. A clear drawing is more powerful than a “beautiful” one. Legibility matters more than decoration.
25. Details matter—but not more than the idea. Don’t lose sight of the overall concept.
26. Learn scale early. Think in 1:100, 1:50, 1:20. Scale helps you design in real dimensions.
27. Section drawings are not just technical—they tell stories. They show how people move and interact inside spaces.
28. Black-and-white drawings are often stronger. They focus the viewer’s attention on the content.
29. Shadows help. Overuse ruins clarity. Use them to enhance, not distract.
30. You don’t need to fill every inch of a page. White space is part of your composition.

How to Think Like a Designer

31. Don’t chase originality. Start with honesty. The best ideas begin from real questions or needs.
32. Every project needs a reason. Start with “why.” This anchors your concept and guides decisions.
33. Think through drawing. Even messy sketches help organize complex ideas.
34. Simplicity is harder than complexity. Making things clear and simple is a design skill.
35. Don’t design in isolation. Context is key. Know the site, users, and surroundings before proposing anything.
36. “Just because it looks cool” isn’t enough. Form should follow an idea, not trend.
37. The user matters. Always. Design for the people who will live with it—not just for the pin-up.
38. Question everything—even your own first idea. Iteration often leads to better solutions.
39. You’ll make better spaces when you stop thinking only about forms. Think about light, time, experience, and use.
40. A strong idea can be explained in one sentence. If you can’t say it clearly, you haven’t figured it out yet.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

41. Read architecture books—slowly. Absorbing one great idea is better than skimming ten books.
42. Visit real buildings. Sketch what you feel. Spaces feel different in person than on screen.
43. Talk to people who live in architecture, not just draw it. Understand how buildings actually get used.
44. Read short theory texts. They help more than you expect. They train your thinking, not just your hands.
45. Learning from older architects is a gift. They’ve made mistakes you can avoid.
46. Architecture is about people, not just objects. Design spaces that serve real human needs.
47. Listen to design podcasts. They keep your thinking fresh. It’s learning on the go.
48. Revisit the same building often. You’ll see more each time. Architecture reveals itself slowly.
49. Films, poetry, photography—all can fuel architecture. Creativity grows from many places.
50. Learn from streets, not just studios. The best teachers are often outside.

Presenting and Critiques

51. Crits are about clarity, not performance. Don’t try to impress—try to communicate.
52. Be ready to defend your design with calm words. Confidence comes from preparation, not ego.
53. Take notes when people speak. You'll forget half of it later otherwise.
54. Don’t fight every piece of feedback. Listen first. Then decide what’s useful to you.
55. Some critiques aren’t useful. Learn to move on. Focus on what moves your work forward.
56. Don’t let a bad review stop your process. Critique is one moment. Your project is bigger than that.
57. Try to enjoy presenting—it’s part of being an architect. Your ideas need a voice.
58. Speak slowly. Let your ideas land. Rushed words blur good thinking.
59. Diagrams help your words. Visual clarity supports verbal clarity.
60. Practice your presentation out loud before the crit. Even once makes a big difference.

Technical + Practical

61. Learn AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit—or whichever tool is used in your school. You need the basics, even if you hate it.
62. Learn shortcuts early. It saves days of time. Efficiency is part of survival.
63. 3D models don’t need to be photoreal. They need to be communicative.
64. Think in layers. From structure to skin to light. That’s how real buildings work.
65. Know how thick a wall is in real life. Dimensions aren’t just numbers—they’re physical.
66. Don’t fake your sections—draw what’s really there. Accuracy builds your thinking.
67. Print your work early. Plotters fail. Every. Single. Time.
68. Save everything. Then back it up. Twice. Your future self will thank you.
69. Learn the basics of construction. Even just from YouTube. Helps make better design decisions.
70. Don’t rely on the software to make decisions. Design comes from you—not your tool.

Navigating Projects

71. Start with what you know. Build from there. Every design starts somewhere.
72. Draw your idea in the simplest way first. Simplicity clarifies your thinking.
73. You’ll have to edit, cut, and delete. That’s part of design. Let go of weak parts to let the strong ones shine.
74. Trust your gut when something feels wrong. It usually is.
75. If you can’t explain your concept, it’s not clear yet. Go back and refine it.
76. Don’t design only for what looks good in a portfolio. Design for what solves a problem.
77. Design with care, not fear. Don’t hold back your ideas just to be safe.
78. You can’t fix a weak idea with good drawings. Always focus on the core concept first.
79. A good layout is invisible. If it feels easy to read, it’s working.
80. Don’t wait for inspiration. Work anyway. Momentum creates ideas.

Dealing With People

81. Group work is like real-life office work. Practice communication. This is rehearsal for the professional world.
82. Speak honestly with teammates. Clear expectations prevent most problems.
83. Don’t try to do everything yourself. It hurts both you and your team.
84. Being a good listener is underrated. It’s a sign of leadership, not weakness.
85. Say “I don’t know” when needed. It builds trust—and gets you help.
86. Credit your teammates. Always. Architecture is collaborative by nature.
87. Ask questions. Lots of them. Curiosity drives learning.
88. Be patient with people who think differently. Diversity leads to better ideas.
89. Some peers become lifelong friends. Studio bonds are special.
90. Others don’t. That’s okay. Focus on respect and professionalism.

Mental Health + Self

91. You’re not lazy—you’re exhausted. Rest. There’s a difference.
92. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign.
93. Celebrate small wins. They keep you going.
94. Get fresh air daily. Your mind works better when your body moves.
95. Eat real food during deadlines. Your brain needs fuel, not just caffeine.
96. Cry if you need to. It helps. Really.
97. Talk to someone when it’s too much. You’re not alone in this.
98. Architecture is hard. You’re not weak. The challenge is part of the deal.
99. Everyone doubts themselves. It’s normal. Keep going.
100. Stay kind to yourself. You’re doing more than you realize.

Reflecting on the Bigger Picture

101. School is a phase, not your whole career. It teaches you how to learn—not just how to draw.
102. You’re allowed to change your mind. It means you’re thinking.
103. Not everyone who studies architecture becomes an architect. That’s valid. Your degree opens many doors.
104. Your education is not a competition. Growth isn’t linear or loud.
105. You’ll look back and be proud of how far you came. Even if it doesn’t feel like progress right now.
106. Don’t take every project so seriously. Some are just for learning.
107. Your identity is not your portfolio. You are more than your work.
108. Value the process—not just the pin-up. The day-to-day is where the learning happens.
109. Be flexible. The best designs come from change. Let your ideas evolve.
110. Repetition teaches more than perfection. Practice builds confidence.

Habits That Make You Better

111. Keep a notebook. Fill it with ideas, quotes, and sketches. Your thoughts need a home.
112. Visit places with a purpose. Observe. Architecture starts with awareness.
113. Be curious, even when tired. That’s when new ideas break through.
114. Ask your tutors what inspires them. They’re people too, not just critics.
115. Take care of your hands, eyes, and back. You’ll need them for decades.
116. Try architecture books outside your syllabus. Find your own voice, not just your school’s.
117. Talk about space with non-architects. That’s how you know if your idea makes sense.
118. Explore different cultures and how they live. Architecture is shaped by people.
119. Join student competitions for practice, not praise. Use them to test ideas in new formats.
120. Write your thoughts down after every crit. It helps you see how far you’ve come.

Final Lessons

121. Architecture is not about ego. It’s about empathy. Design for others, not for yourself.
122. What you build affects people’s lives. This is serious work with real impact.
123. Be serious about your work, not about yourself. Let humility and curiosity guide you.
124. Take pride in learning—not just creating. Stay open to growth.
125. It’s okay to not know everything yet. Just stay open. That’s how all great architects start.

These lessons are based on real experiences from architecture students and young architects around the world. If you’re just starting, keep this list close. If you’re halfway through, reflect on how far you’ve come. And if you’ve already graduated—pass it on.

Architecture school is more than deadlines and drawings. It’s a way of seeing, thinking, and growing. And you’re doing better than you think.