Architects Are Bad Communicators? | What You Don’t Learn At Architecture School

[@airangel94]

Thanks Kevin and Andrew! Appreciate you guys bringing up this topic. Not that I don't enjoy critical discussions on design and architecture, but there's a time and place for that. When it comes to presenting to clients and communicating the design to other trades/professionals, the simpler the better.

[@taracull-archienglish5174]

Thank you for making this video. I’ve been complaining for years about Archispeak being ridiculously hard for some people to understand. Even the people that use it don’t understand what it really means sometimes. It’s so true! Architects communicate everything and if they can’t do it well then we all lose out.

[@Archimarathon]

We felt it’s another topic that many are not asking for that needs talking about

[@DavidKidstonHACKarchitecture]

Yes, yes and yes. I too struggle with communication, but I have had a number of people over resent years thank me for explaining things in simple English. As architects we are prone to be very inward looking, living in our head. Good communication requires understanding of others and we’re they are at to explain clearly what you are trying to do in their terms. The difficulty is we have to but aside our own insecurities to do this, they will get in the way.

[@Archimarathon]

Took years to learn/unlearn

[@decxhay66]

Hi guys, do you have a podcast version of your conversations? Awesome discussions you’re having, highly relevant as a fresh graduate.

[@Archimarathon]

Sorry. No podcasts. We do have the extra recorded content from each episode on Patreon though.

[@decxhay66]

Archimarathon awesome, thank you!

[@Archimarathon]

We rely a lot on visual communication as part of the package (especially when we start to show buildings again) so an audio podcast won’t work

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Nailed it. Love the candid discussion here.

[@Archimarathon]

Thank you

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@Archimarathon loving the other channel content too, always liked the work of Austin Maynard! Keep up the great content, and really enjoy the project tour videos also - the one with the rockclimbing wall was great. I appreciated the door pull/joinery closer detail on that one!

[@the_remote]

Thank you Jim Cunningham and Andrew and Kevin! you guys are bloody lifesavers and make architecture so easy to understand.

[@Archimarathon]

Fear and Love

[@RB-zm4fk]

Being able to communicate well... first you have to know your audience, how they think and process information. It would be nice to see suburbs with more unique houses :) Love the variety of very hydrating drinks you guys are showcasing!

[@lindyjohnson5421]

Love it! Totally spot on.

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks Lindy.

[@ShowItBetter]

Howwww the fuckkk do you guys remember so many references from movies? Hahaha It’s the best video I’ve seen from you guys, so true. Now the question is: who is going to teach architects to communicate if universities can’t do it? (Or aren’t interested)

[@Archimarathon]

Communication is objective based and it is a whole package. One must evaluate all the variables and tools available which includes body language, tonality as well as physical words and various physical mediums like drawings and models. The problem is that archispeak is taught at schools and people start to speak that way rather than learning to speak to normal human beings.

[@arnasagen8077]

Thanks for sharing the Guardian article. So interesting to watch the clips. (I'm not sure Hadid's colleague did her a favor by doing the presentation)

[@Archimarathon]

Yes it’s a good one to watch. Glad someone checked out the resources.

[@danielwong9608]

This is an enormously important skill and I reckon you've captured a ton of really critical themes. In my j.o.b. I present a few times each week, but communication isn't limited to end of semester design projects; it's an everyday thing. Well done for raising this guys! BTW - was Kev double hydrating with beer and whisky?

[@Archimarathon]

Yes it’s not just a design presentation skill as mentioned at the very start. It’s everything we do. But even for anyone, better communication and social skills (which is a form of communication) goes a long way. And yes, it’s a boilermaker, otherwise I drink too fast.

[@danielwong9608]

@@Archimarathon haha #hydrateatthespeedofthirst

[@juanmanuelfabresbriones5378]

"Hold the room" .. I'll keep that! Thanks!!!

[@MelvinLim]

The biggest battle during design presentation is to lead the room away from value engineering your design.

[@Mislandlife]

Hi guys. You may not even see this as your vid is 2 years old and I've not long subscribed but I've been in the build/construct/design for about 30yrs working for a variety of companies. I wanted to be an architect from age 10 but uni wasn't an option so I became a draughtsperson instead. You are bang on with this post. I've worked with architects who loved to baffle with bullpoop language and yes, there was often an air arrogance. Our industry needs people like you and if I were 15 years younger I would do whatever I could to work for you, even as the cleaner....you'd find anon sketches on the fridge ;-)

[@AntonytNasralla]

"If you can't explain your ideas to your grandmother in terms that she understands, you don't know your subject well enough."

[@Archimarathon]

101 Things I Learnt In Architecture School. That cartoon is too long for video as it requires people reading it. I have a few other funny ones too

[@efeoz8131]

I reckon being detached from your ideas to some extend would be the first step on how to stay cool. So someone makes a critical comment and you don't take it super personal and defend it with everything you ve got.

[@garavifield]

So this is Kevin Hui? I saved a project of yours long time ago in my "examples" folder. I even remember the name, and that happens almost never, I just throw them in there. I'm glad I can connect the face with the work, it seems less scary now haha. It's a construction document of a Yarraville house, I liked how detailed and well organized it was. Btw, this was a very interesting topic, I hope you'll expand on the subject in the future. I just hope Andrew can get a better microphone :)

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks. That was for using LayOut as documentation tool competition. I thought Andrew’s audio is much better in this video than other ones already

[@Stormer1633]

At the centre of good communication is empathy. You guys have covered well alot of ground it also opens many points about and including how architecture is for architects. Because those who have not gone through a 5 year program or taken the opportunity seriously afforded them to study architecture, are outside of the discussion. Zooming out to look at the big picture, while defining the small details which is a core competency, perhaps got hijacked by arch theory instead of focusing on people need in the built environment. At the same time, there is something mind-blowing to learn if fully embraced in the academic environment. It can never be taken from you when a graduate and descend / ascend into the real world of the business of building that architecture is a part of. There are no black and white answers. Architecture in 2021 is subjective, contextual, ambivalent, bastardised and is subject to so many incident forces. I'm glad you suggested ambivalence towards Big's work... I wonder what Louis Kahn would think of it. But hey the guy's got some neat tricks to communicate his work

[@Archimarathon]

I think someone said, every profession needs communicators. That is something architecture desperately needs, instead of shitty renovation shows on TV.

[@gabybordino6024]

Great video! I couldn´t agree more with you, guys. Architects are often bad communicators. I think that the reason could be a mix of two facts. On one side, the (perhaps unconscious) intention to blind outsiders, using very specific kinda slang words to talk about projects, and in the other hand, a lack of non-specific vocabulary. They don´t have the possibility to express in a more understandable way. And University usually don´t help with that, because encourages students to express themselves with “archi-words” without taking time to really understand what do those words mean. I love the concept that architects are not at the top of the pyramid. We definitely need to be team players

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks. But it’s more than just words though, the non-verbal communication also needs to be developed as it is a huge part of communication

[@gabybordino6024]

Indeed! Body language is an important part, voice tone. Communication implies a wide range of things

[@aoustenaloysious8324]

"how to win friends and influence people: dale carnegie" this is what helped me to understand the importance of communication, and I follow this principals religiously and it does works.

[@Archimarathon]

Yes my dad gave me that book when I was a teenager. There has been a lot more research since then and a lot more available content on KZbin for example that fine tunes a lot of what that book also doesn’t talk about.

[@tarunifalconer]

Have sometimes felt that architects shoot themselves in the foot with complex language that leaves us - non architects - languishing, left out. Too sad. Their loss. Our loss. A loss for our built forms.

[@shanevaughan7809]

On the theme of "poor communication" perhaps you could do a video around cost control, the biggest complaint I hear about architects is "we spent thousands developing a design and when it was costed it was double/triple what our brief was regarding budget". There is always 2 sides to this story so perhaps it could make a good video.

[@johnkellett7797]

There is another element of communication that is forgotten. Most clients have no idea what an architect actually is, but they think they know because they have been told a load of nonsense by non-architects. The issue starts way before venturing into Archispeak. Most people ‘know’ than we draw the plans of what they want. Which is exactly what fake architects do. The first communication to most clients has to be that we design what our clients need, and there is a huge difference between the two. That difference is often outside their knowledge and therefore can be very frustrating to overcome. Whilst qualifying the difference is usually known to all that the future architect might meet but… out in the real World :-) Only when the client knows the difference is archispeak even an issue :-)

[@lukecelona4874]

Great video! Do you think the rise of project managers in Australia was brought about by poor communication by architects? Project management used to be in the scope of works of the architect and would give them more control on the final product of the building and also more money for the architect.

[@Archimarathon]

Yes I think that’s a huge part of it. But also architects are also not always the best at managing stuff (see all-nighters for example).

[@paromitatrask858]

Thank you! May I share this with my students?

[@Archimarathon]

Of course! That’s why we made these

[@aldrichjohn10]

I always experience these blurry communications when I was attending architecture festivals and exhibits. Realizing they sound so clever but it's floating.

[@dcotai2902]

.... and responsibility matrix.. constructability... value engineering...programming.. Permits....draw the line in the sand..don't let them miss deliverables... deadlines.

[@latteARCH]

The comparison to the scientific community on communication is apt. Ever since I stepped into university I felt the lack of care archispeak has for people outside the field. We need to learn to communicate out of that bubble, and even for new students coming into the program. I was dropped into a history class that prevented me from learning as effectively as I could because of dense inclusive vocabulary and theory that was never broken down. There are places for those things: it's fine for philosophy, academia, and architectural theory, which does need to be studied. However, architecture also deals with the real world - affecting real people who don't know architecture.

[@gabrielmclean298]

can these be longer, i need a few informal CPD points

[@Archimarathon]

Some people are complaining it’s too long already. There are always extras on Patreon.

[@Sy2023hk]

that's exactly how my tutors talk in lectures in my 3rd yr undergrad Arch - but worse, after the lecture no student admits they don't understand for fear of looking stupid, then we make submissions and the tutors can't understand why we didn't get it🤣. Arch talk is vague and abstract and would assume they do that intentionally to deceive or impress. Language should just be pragmatic and easily relatable. I can understand Norman Foster though, he's more down to earth.

[@محمدعذابمحسن]

Guy's u r amazing really

[@Archimarathon]

Thank you.

[@Fate2024]

Some of my professors put lots of emphasis on communication skills while they critique my projects in an absurd way and just roast it with no constrictive input, like ofc some architects will project the degradation they receive in school unto others

[@Archimarathon]

Check out our How To Survive Critique episodes.

[@1xm_mx1]

By communicate, you mean "normal speak", not "archi-speak" jargon. We need to be able to explain our ideas in "normal speak" and paint pictures with words as well as graphics.

[@WelcomeToSteph]

Haha love this and totally hate the archi wank waffle that happens and is fed by the archibeast. My verbal presentation skills are my secret weapon (well, not so secret anymore....)

[@Archimarathon]

Lol @ Archibeast.

[@shanevaughan7809]

For those prone to archi-ramble, keep the ego in check and the body language and tone of voice will take care of itself. Looking down on the builder, consider this, they've already built 99% of the construction details you can imagine plus many more that you haven't. They actually know how to build! The biggest concern is quality control and you won't get the attention to detail if you are the "wanker architect"

[@herdesign9234]

Then tests are wrong because I took the test so I didn’t have to do a lot of communication and architecture was an option, now that’s most needed? 😂🤣 those placement tests are not well. I wanted to get into a career where my work would speak for itself.

[@dcotai2902]

.... Btw. Nice TSHIRT....Sure

[@dcotai2902]

.... Talkitecture... LOL.. AND BLACK TSHIRT..

[@Zestrayswede]

I came here by googling "elitism in architecture", whatabout you?

[@dcotai2902]

.... Because new grads 7 years...cad cam... BLIND..

[@dcotai2902]

...if all you have is a hammer.... Everything looks like a nail...

[@k03d8Now8Bleed]

Doesn't help when its acceptable for students throughout the Uni to read straight from a piece of paper and not look up. If you cant talk about your project because you know nothing about it, why are you wasting everyone's time

[@Archimarathon]

Yes I never let students read from a piece of paper as talking and reading what’s written is completely different. Reminder points yes but never reading out. I have trouble getting the information when it’s just reading out text. That’s why we try to practice and presentation as (from drawings to verbal to non-verbal) is a complete exercise

[@MrPelikan500]

have to disagree with andrew ... some of the best bits are at the end very .... but i agree on the principle that if the results did not out to be favourable ... one should examine the process that lead to them ... be it the loss of "power" or "status" of the architect/profession etc can we see the architecture as a parallel to the military maybe? ... are all intakes only a success if we turn them *ALL* into Generals? can we recognise its healthy & necessary that not all are equally fit & talented to be Generals? ... some reach their maximum limits as foot soldiers/sergeants/lieutenants/colonels etc ... are they any less valuable as a person? or team member? or any less committed to the cause?... if they don't end up as generals i believe there is a reason why the military hierarchy works ... simply because its the system that won in the evolutionary process i see many damaged egos/self-esteem architects because of our system ... just because we *graduate as "generals", doesn't mean we all are* ... (or must be ... or any less as a person if its not to be for us ...) (slot in ... Jack Nicholson's meme "you can't handle the truth" ... haha) ... cheers

[@Archimarathon]

Communication / social skills are definitely things that can be learnt. Regardless of what you do, it’s an important skill to have in all aspects of life.

[@MrPelikan500]

@@Archimarathon yes. totally agree ... its our profession to express our ideas visually, verbally & literally ... and need to be skilled at it i was just adding (to the conversation, its not "a question" lol ) that not all of us have to have the skill level as great as BIG ... and that there was room to be for example to be an introvert & seemingly less confident in presentations but still a highly regarded as a team member, maybe i addressing the Title of Architect as being problematic, limiting, needs to be broaden ... since there is a range of "generals" in the profession/industry

[@Archimarathon]

Introverts can still be introverts but have good communication and social skills. This is about self improvement

[@dcotai2902]

... It so easy a Caveman can.... Ten rhino renderings and 108 PowerPoint slides... LOL.. Cheap labour.. New grads..

[@dcotai2902]

.... Try telling God.. Something they have not heard before... That will help them make Money..... Don't waste my time.... Please

[@diontsonidis3033]

Should architecture school teach communication? Im skeptical to think so. It should be much more of an auto-didactic effort.

[@HaziqBinAzman]

why are you like this

[@Archimarathon]

Like what?