Redlines. As an architect, you know the pure red of a felt tip pen as it wreaks havoc across your work. Inevitably each stroke nullifies some previous effort, striking a new path forward to a (hopefully) better outcome. Our professors, our managers, and our mentors have no qualms leaving mark after glaringly red mark across our sets, our ideas, our portfolios. All knowing full well that it comes at a cost. More time. More energy. But we’ll be better because of it, right?
The profession of architecture stands at a critical juncture, grappling with deep-seated issues that demand our collective attention and action. We struggle to make progress toward a more equitable profession. Our fees and salaries pale in comparison to the value we bring to the table, and talented individuals are leaving the industry at an alarming rate. As career coaches who work with architects looking to make a change, at Out of Architecture, we are on the front lines of some of these challenges, as so many of our clients and community members come to us with their struggles, feeling despondent, hopeless, and alone.
Why can’t we fix this broken system? Why can’t we take that same red pen to the page and fill the professional handbooks with the edits and updates it so desperately demands?
We’ve heard hundreds of stories of workplace abuse and seen dozens of clients struggle through burnout and mental health issues. Over the years it has become increasingly difficult to simply listen to their stories, especially when so many have struggled with similar issues, but felt alone in that strife. Out of Architecture is committed to addressing these challenges head-on, providing a platform for those who feel despondent, hopeless, and alone.
We decided that it was our time to mark things up.
Our new podcast, Redlines, is a testament to this commitment, offering a space where untold stories of workplace abuse, burnout, and mental health struggles can be shared. On Redlines, we dive into the core issues that plague the design profession, and evaluate how they result in everyday conflict, discomfort, and workplace turmoil. Redlines seeks to bring a voice to these stories—those privately endured in a school or workplace but clouded by shame, self-doubt, and questioning of one’s professional choices. With each episode, we will ask a member of our community to share their story anonymously, offer advice and guidance, and discuss ways to move forward. By sharing untold stories and experiences, Redlines fosters learning and growth within the community.
Let us be clear: We shouldn’t have to have a podcast talking about illegal employment practices in the profession. We shouldn’t have to have a podcast talking about being sexually assaulted by the firm’s leadership. And we damn well shouldn’t have more stories than can fit into a standard season. Yet, here are just a few of the tales that we feel compelled to share with the industry.
Exploitative Visa Practices and Effects on Immigrant Architect
We shouldn’t have to publish an episode on the “Exploitative Visa Practices and Effects on Immigrant Architects,” where we focus on how one firm withheld critical information to prevent a young worker from landing a visa. In this episode, Cat (a pseudonym) becomes the victim of an uneven power dynamic when her firm deceives her—deciding to hide the results of her visa lottery application during the height of the pandemic. As a result, she discusses with us the lack of transparency, exploitation, and the challenges faced by immigrant architects seeking to build a life in the United States.
From Bootcamp to Burnout: A Veteran’s Struggle in Architecture
We shouldn’t have to publish an episode on the abusively low pay for military veterans who choose to study architecture upon the completion of their service. But “From Bootcamp to Burnout: A Veteran’s Struggle in Architecture” dissects K’s experiences as someone who grew up in a low-income household and joined the Marines to pay for college. He decided to pursue architecture school but experienced an absurd undervaluation of his past experience and skills. In spite of all this and more, K still hopes to validate and empower others who have faced similar challenges.
Breaking the Cycle: To Make Great Architecture You Have to Suffer
Finally, we shouldn’t have to publish an episode on horrendously unsafe workplaces and the accounts of famous firms taking advantage of students. But in “Breaking the Cycle: To Make Great Architecture You Have to Suffer,” Cecilia and Elif tell the story of their summer in Spain. They arrived from abroad to a one-room garage where numerous people were expected to live while performing unpaid, back-breaking work for architects who were using their power to drive fear into these ambitious young professionals. Because of this, they call on the next generation to break the cycle and prevent this unacceptable treatment in the industry.
We invite you to listen to Redlines and hear the stories of those who have been brave enough to speak out. By bringing these stories to light, we aim to foster a culture of transparency, empathy, and growth within the architecture community.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your stories, your voices, and your willingness to engage in these difficult conversations. Together, we can work toward a profession that values diversity, offers fair compensation, and upholds the dignity and well-being of all its members. Join us on this journey of transformation. Listen to Redlines, share your experiences, and be part of the change that the architecture profession so desperately needs. If you have a story to share with them, please send an email to redlines@outofarchitecture.com.
Jake Rudin and Erin Pellegrino operate Out of Architecture, a career resource network and coaching service that helps architects design their own careers.
