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.)
“It comes back to the old legend that architects are working for passion… That needs to stop.”
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