Share your story
How has architectural work affected you?
“I had been indoctrinated in the way that we practice as designers in terms of long hours, unpaid competitions, unpaid overtime. I felt powerless.”
Discussion Guide
Theme: passion vs. exploitation, and why sharing your personal experience with peers matters.
- When did you first notice a disconnect between your passion for architecture and the conditions you were asked to accept?
- What are some “normal” practices in school or the workplace (like long hours or unpaid work) that you think should be questioned?
- How have these conditions affected you personally in terms of your health, finances, creativity, or relationships?
- If you shared your story with a peer, what would you want them to understand?
- Do you see a value in sharing your vulnerabilities with peers? Do you expect others to express solidarity with you?
- Listening to others, what common threads do you notice? What surprised you?
- What’s one thing you’d like to see change—big or small—in how architecture work is valued?
(Tip for discussion facilitators: start with lighter, reflective prompts and move toward the more personal and more vulnerable ones so trust builds gradually.)
