Attending workshops, conferences, seminars, and other courses are all great ways for professionals to keep developing their existing skills and acquire new ones, too. This is also the case of architects, who must remain updated and informed regarding how the industry changes and then adapt to those changes. However, all these up training can take a toll on their personal lives, as architects are known for not having the best work-life balance. Luckily for them, there are many leisure activities that can help them boost their skills as an architect, which will give them plenty of personal and professional growth opportunities.
One of the best ways to be exposed to different structures and perspectives is by playing video games, which is a leisure activity that many of us might enjoy. Since video game developers are basically free to make their ideas come true when designing different cityscapes and other spaces, this limitless perspective can help us think differently about the way we see the way spaces and buildings interact. This can be particularly true when virtual reality comes into play, either as part of the games we enjoy or the tools we employ when working on our own projects.
For many architects, there is an interest in artistic expression that, in some way or another, might have been the driving force that led them to choose such a career. Architects should continue to expand their artistic expression, and painting and photography are two activities that will help them enhance their skills as architects. When working on a painting or a photo, there are three important elements to consider: light, color, and composition. These three elements are crucial for architecture, too, and having an activity that helps us develop our understanding of how they flow together will make us become better architects.
Nowadays, traveling has become one of the most popular pastimes, especially for the younger generations. As a result, the tourism industry has changed, too, and traveling to a different country might not necessarily give us a true cultural experience. The best way to make sure we get to learn as much as possible as a different culture is by traveling on a budget. This will allow us to get a deeper insight into the lifestyle of those who live in a different town or different city than us. Also, we can get to discover places that can spark our imagination, places that we wouldn’t get to know when booking a travel agency, for example.
Last but not least, we need to remember that, in order to become a truly successful architect, we need to develop a wide range of skills that go beyond the realm of design. That’s why every architect, and every professional, really, should take the time to watch TED talks during a break, while commuting to work, or at home. Besides the entertaining and educational value of TED talks, watching this kind of content can help us become better speakers, as we might have to present, justify, and defend our projects and ideas.
