In a similar thread to my last post on the Degrees of Freedom for an Unlicensed Graduate of Architecture, I have thought about the talent and energy of designers that goes untapped, and how they can be mobilized more effectively. Reading articles like this, as well as the resulting comments, gives a bleak feeling of the profession. It provides direction for being noticed against many other talented applicants, but it doesn’t give much direction for many that are still left jobless, or may feel dissatisfied with the work they can get. Many are left wandering, and wondering how to proceed. “Get more credentials”, or “massage your portfolio and resume” are typical phrases that I hear, but it is my belief that there is so much talent already there, waiting to be put to work. There are barriers, either real or imagined, that are paralyzing this talent and must be overcome.

In my studies I have noticed a need for design in underserved communities around the world. There are wonderful entities operating right now, such as Habitat for Humanity, that provide volunteer and career opportunities. Architecture has become highly dictated by big developers, which is understandable in its own right, but quite unfortunate. I believe that larger organizations, such as HFH, operate with a humanitarian vision, but in much the same way as developers. Although I applaud HFH, I still see gaps in outreach methods, and their capabilities to mobilize more of the design community. However, it should not be expected that an organization like HFH solves housing for the entire world, or provide jobs or opportunities to all jobless designers. I believe in HFH, but it is not the solution for everyone, on either side of the effort.

There are also many non-profit organizations, or NGOs, doing great work domestically, and around the world. Of course, not all architecture graduates or designers desire this type of work, but it has a lot of potential to help those in need, and with the financial backing of big donors. There are competitions hosted by organizations or individuals, that can range from broad ideas competitions, to site specific competitions. I have been involved in a competition for sustainable housing in Cambodia and one for a school in Mongolia, both through the non-profit organization Building Trust International (BTI). Their competitions cost a donation of varying amounts to join, usually less that $100 USD, and are great opportunities to explore design in unfamiliar contexts. Although it is far from local involvement, their projects help bring awareness to locations where programming and finding building solutions could revolutionize the quality of life in that region. The competition for Cambodia called for sustainable solutions for housing in Cambodia that would be sensitive to the climate, hot and humid with monsoons flooding the majority of the county each year. The potential good that can come out of such involvement, despite the fact that my design was not selected, was satisfying and inspiring.

A part of me wonders if the flood of architecture and design graduates was part of some grand plan to create a new branch within architecture. It must have been expected that flooding the market would allow firms to be more selective, and therefore acquire candidates that more closely resemble what they want, while also creating a growing group of designers, desperately searching for purpose. Taking a more humanitarian route can be a way to exercise design and construction skills, while also helping the underserved.

In addition to many volunteer and philanthropic opportunities and competitions for independent designers, there are also some websites that are using the power of the internet to connect clients with designers. Although I have not participated in a competition in this way, websites like Arcbazar.com give any client the chance to post a competition for their projects, and any designer has the chance to compete with their design. The format can be different for each competition, such as the reward going to the selected design, or a tiered system of compensation for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. It is a great opportunity for many design projects to get started, so that the client can have a better understanding of what direction they want the design to go when they meet with a more expensive design professional. Many of the projects are simple bathroom or kitchen remodels, or patio designs, but occasionally there are larger projects that have higher payouts. Still the compensation is quite small compared to services rendered in more traditional ways.

Recently, a competition for the Obama Presidential Library in the south side of Chicago was posted on Arcbazar with a $10,000 prize to the winner. This is a very fascinating opportunity that allows any designer, no matter how small, to contribute their proposals for what will be a very important piece of history. This type of project is usually given to the Starchitects, so it could also be an chance for someone to get noticed for their talents. In fact, with a few months left to the competition, I might even throw a design into the mix!

Edit: Norman Foster with some advice