Our guest today is Chi Bhatia, VP of Strategy & Growth at One Plan, a SaaS start-up that builds 2D & 3D technology for events & venues. Chi is also part of the amazing career consultant team at Out of Architecture. Hear Chi share his journey from international student to completing LA’s first NFL stadium to now working at a tech startup providing support to the 2024 Paris Olympics. On this episode of Tangents, Chi Bhatia of OnePlan, and Out of Architecture Career Consultant,...

Sam Anderson is an architectural visualization specialist who has carved out a unique career path beyond traditional practice. Sam shares her journey from pursuing architecture at the University of Texas to realizing her true passion lies in visualization. She discusses her experiences working in various roles, including at architecture firms, Epic Games, and ultimately starting her own visualization studio. Sam emphasizes the importance of storytelling and using real-time rendering...

Jeffrey Yoo Warren, is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and crafter whose work explores themes of cultural heritage, identity, and community. Jeffrey shares his unique journey from studying architecture to finding his calling in artistic practices deeply rooted in historical research and traditional craftsmanship. Through his residency at the Library of Congress, Jeffrey talks about the reconstruction of early Asian American communities and neighbourhoods, creating immersive virtual and...

Our guest today, Lauren Kimball, Experience Design Director @ Edelman, shares her journey from architecture to advertising. She emphasizes the importance of being honest and open in client meetings and offers advice for architecture students looking to explore alternative career paths. Lauren also discusses her platform, Find by Design, which showcases black designers across various disciplines. Through her experiences, she highlights the power of collaboration and the value of pursuing work...

William Dodge shares his unique career journey, from applying to architecture school multiple times, working as a janitor, and eventually becoming a managing principal at a major architecture firm.He discusses his approach to architecture - creating community-focused spaces rather than just facilitating buildings. William talks about starting his own practice, Public, to do great work with wonderful people while getting paid his value. He also runs a public art firm called A Gang of Three....

Our guest today, Jill Shah, Production Designer at Future Colossal, shares how she capitalizes on her abilities as a generalist, asserts herself to create opportunities, and harnesses the power of storytelling in design. Highlights: Leverage spatial design skills from architecture in experience design by focusing on technology integration and storytelling instead of just function.As a generalist, talk confidently about your broad skillset and give examples of how you've tackled challenging,...

In this episode, I spoke with Ozzie Gonzalez, Principal and Owner of P3 Consulting, (people, planet, profit) about his fascinating journey from architecture into environmental consulting. Ozzie has applied his architecture skills to help companies develop sustainability policies and embed social responsibility into their work.   We discuss how Ozzie got started in green building, and expanded into broader corporate strategy during the recession. He shared great insights on working with...

Our guest today, Benjamin Llewellyn joins me to share his winding journey from graduating with an architecture degree to becoming a freelance illustrator and background artist for animated television shows. Though architecture and illustration seem different, Benjamin finds his architectural background gives him an edge in creating realistic environments and backgrounds. He enjoys the constant variety and creativity of freelance work. See Ben's work here:...

Our guest, Charlie Edmonds, Co-Founder of Future Architects Front, calls for collective action to address exploitative practices and envisions a world where architecture prioritizes social needs over capital interests. Charlie is the co-founder of Future Architects Front (FAF), a grassroots organization working to address issues like unpaid overtime, low fees, and poor construction quality in the architecture industry. Charlie discusses how he and co-founder Priti became frustrated with the...

We're taking a break from Tangents this week for the holidays so we wanted to share with you the latest episode from Redlines, Out of Architecture's podcast where we dive deeper into the core issues that plague the design profession, and evaluate how they result in everyday conflict, discomfort, and workplace turmoil. You'll hear from Chris (not his real name) and how he faced a series of traumatic and unfair experiences over the course of his architecture career. Despite his lifelong passion...

Ever feel traditional architecture moves too slowly to tackle crises like housing shortages? Our latest guest Kristin set out to transform delivery for faster, quality sustainable housing. Her winding path from design into development, prefab and product led her to a mass timber housing startup reimagining solutions. We cover: Kristin's career from architecture to a hands-on developer role empowering new mass timber constructionTransitioning into modular construction and product development...

Our guest today, Rafael Robles, Founder at Duo Development, shares his experiences answering the question for himself of who gets to make the decisions? His journey from real estate, to development, to business strategy consulting led Rafael to found his own innovation studio, Duo, where he practices multi-contextual design, amplifying the impact a built project can have.  Thank you for listening and I hope you feel empowered to take your own steps forward into your windy career...

What can you do with an architecture degree besides traditional practice? Is it possible to blend your design skills with other passions?  Elliot Felix, Founder and CEO of brightspot Strategy, is an architect turned higher education strategist, shares his journey from architecture school to running his own consulting firm.  Elliot talks about how an influential middle school teacher inspired him to study architecture, and how that led him to get his undergraduate architecture degree from...

In this engrossing discussion, Abraham Burickson elaborates on how his journey in the world of architecture led him to develop the concept of experience design.  Having worked in various architecture firms and conducted research, Abraham discovered a gap between the promise of architecture and its practice. From tangible architectural projects to uniquely curated experiences called Odyssey Works, Abraham redefines the conventional understanding of architecture.  Discussing his one-person...

Bonus Episode! Tangents, meet Redlines - our new podcast by Out of Architecture.  This episode shines a light on the withholding of critical information by architecture firms to create an uneven power dynamic as firms hold visa sponsorship over young, foreign workers. Our storyteller this week is Cat - a pseudonym - who shares their personal experience with the H1B visa process in the United States and the challenges they faced while working at a reputable architecture firm.  Cat discusses...

Our guest today, Nate Steinrueck, Product Strategist at Outer Labs, shares his journey from studying anthropology to working in architecture and eventually transitioning into the tech industry. He emphasizes the importance of being a good listener, learner, and helper in his work, and how these qualities have shaped his career. Nate also discusses the similarities between architecture and product strategy, highlighting the value of problem-solving and effective communication in both fields....

In this Tangents episode, Eric Riggsbee, a project manager at Joyful, shares his unique career path from architecture to the tech industry and back again. He discusses the transferable skills he gained from architecture, such as problem-solving and attention to detail, and how they have helped him succeed in his current role. Eric emphasizes the importance of following happiness rather than sticking to a specific career path, and how architects can bring their creativity and strategic...

Jody Broccoli Hickey is a 3D computational designer at Adidas. Jody shares how he leveled up his skills and understanding when making a career switch, and the joy of the creative process strengthened from pursuing opportunities that aligned strongly with his interests.  Highlights:  The importance of spending time to level up your skills Learning the tribal language needed to communicate in different industries Let your unique interests be your superpowers and set you apart The creative...

Our guest today is Ben Feicht, Architect and Exhibit Designer at Upswell. Ben shares how and why he transitioned from architecture to exhibit design, the impact of journaling as a tool for exploration, and the exciting future of technology in design. How journaling can help explore ideas, identify interests and find the right career path Networking and using LinkedIn can lead to job opportunities in different industries Offering ideas and showcasing skills during the application process can...

In this Tangents episode we speak with AKSHAY MEHRA, Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. Akshay's journey from architecture to geosciences highlights the value of curiosity, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. His experience demonstrates the potential for architects to contribute to scientific research and engage with complex issues in a rigorous and impactful manner.  Highlights: How a background in architecture led...

In this Tangents episode we speak with STEPHEN DREW, Founder of the Architecture Social. Through his candid and authentic perspective, we explore the importance of embracing change, selling oneself, and the untapped potential architects possess in various industries. Highlights:  The importance of selling oneself and leveraging architectural expertise in different industries Acknowledge the self-doubt and fear that often accompany career transitions. but take control of your professional...

In this Tangents episode, we speak with ELLEN ABRAHAM, Chief Pin Officer at Architect Pins, one of our amazing OOA Advisors and Senior Project Manger and Co-Founder of Equity Design Lab @ SOM. We cover:  Highlights:  SOM’s Equity Design Lab, which focuses on creating equitable and community-focused designs How architects have the power to be change-makers and make a positive impact on communities “Always Be Pitching” and how an entrepreneurial spirit embraces risk and failing...

On this episode of Tangents, Caitlin Taylor, Architect, Farmer, Food Systems Designer and Managing Director at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, shares her experiences developing a passion and career exploring food systems through an architectural lens.  Hear Caitlin’s insights into exploring her interests deeply, finding equally passionate and driven people to work with, and the power that architects have to redesign and rebuild food systems. She describes how she looks at...

On this episode of Tangents, Anamika Goyal, Director of Operations for Architecture & Construction at Riley Projects and OOA advisor, shares her experiences from working in more traditional architecture firms to innovative startups in the AEC industry (WeWork, Cottage, Riley Projects). Hear Anamika’s insights into leadership, management, and finding a career that fulfills a passion for building without leaving architecture. Check out our show notes below where you’ll find recommended...