Place Makers Job Kit

with STEM™ CAREERS JOB KIT

Place makers

Kirsteen James QUT Interior Design graduate and Design Institute of Australia Design Graduate of the Year

I not only want to make a difference in the world, but I especially want to change the impact that design of the built environment has on the most vulnerable. I hope to always design for a greater social change. QUT taught me that risk is worth taking if you have done your research and analysis correctly.

Make a positive impact

Study architecture and built environment

Design buildings, interiors and landscapes that make a positive impact on the environment, community health and wellbeing.

Build your dream career

Do you love design and have a passion for creating beautiful, functional spaces? If so, a career in architecture might be the perfect fit for you. As an architect, you’ll have the opportunity to bring your creative visions to life and make a positive impact on the world to help build a sustainable future.

You could work on a range of projects, from small renovations to large-scale developments, and use your technical knowledge, teamwork skills and communication abilities to turn your designs into reality.

At QUT’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, we believe that design can make the world a better place. That’s why we focus on solving real-world problems through innovative, creative design solutions. To become an architect, you’ll need to have a love for design and creativity, develop your technical skills, and have the ability to work effectively in a team.

I’ve been involved in the field of architecture for more than 20 years, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with leading design practices in Australia and overseas. I’ve also taught architecture for a number of years, and I’ve seen firsthand the amazing things that are possible when you have a passion for design and a desire to shape the world around you.

In this magazine, you’ll find everything you need to know about working as an architect, interior designer or landscape architect. You’ll meet real professionals in these fields, discover what it takes to build a successful career, and learn about the exciting opportunities that await you.

Dr Tim Schork Professor, QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment

Bring

your creativity to life and shape the world around you with a career in architecture, landscape architecture or interior design

I’ve seen firsthand the amazing things that are possible when you have a passion for design and a desire to shape the world around you”

PHD, RMIT MESNEDirector, Design Studio Guest Professor for Digital Design Techniques, Universität Kassel Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design, Monash University Associate Professor & Associate Head of School of Architecture, UTS Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment, QUT

Dr Tim Schork Professor, QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment

Design your future

The world is changing. Perhaps more than ever, our focus is shifting to real sustainability, climate resilience and inclusive design for all. A career in architecture means you can be a part of that change, using your creativity and innovation to design the cities and spaces of tomorrow. To literally help create a better world. Inspired? Keep reading...

Create amazing spaces

$7 billion The size of the architectural services market in Australia* www.ibisworld.com/au/industry architectural-services/550/

As a landscape architect you will be driving change happening around the world.

You’ll work Working on different projects, with different clients, in different places, or cities, tackling different challenges. Every project with a new and exciting challenge. For example the 2032 Olympic project will have different projects for landscape architects and interior designers.

Architecture gives you a chance to offer solutions to world grand challenges.see it being part of the solution global and local issues, but also imaging the possible futures for humanity.

You will work with highly imaginative people cutting across multiple disciplines which means you will always be learning and contributing.”

Dr Dan Nyandega, Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, QUT

From the pros

Claire Edwards studied interior design and is putting that to use in her full-time gig at Christopher Jordan Architecture in Sydney. Her workmate, Christopher Kerr is a graduate architect with a Master of Architecture, so they know a thing or two about a career in this field…

Claire on...

Most unique project: “A run-down 19th Century heritage conservation site. It was an exciting spatial challenge.”

Fave part of the job: “The people. I love being surrounded by other creatives.”

Exciting tech: “Our rendering program Enscape, with our VR headsets, allows clients to walk through their space at 1:1 scale to fully experience it before the build even starts.”

Chris on...

Most unique project: “Designing a hotel. It was topography and scale I hadn’t worked with before.”

Fave part of the job: “Visiting a finished project. Being able to see something completed is always very exciting.”

Working with others: “Working with council can be a rewarding challenge.”

@christopherjordanarchitecture

Claire Edwards interior DESIGNER

Chris Kerr architect

dan nyandega landscape architect

choose your career

Becoming an architect, landscape architect or interior designer can help build a future that’s sustainable, healthy and tech-driven

Architect

Architects design structures for people to use, live in, work in, exercise in, eat in… Almost any space you encounter (the good ones anyway!), an architect would’ve designed. Their job is to draw plans that can be interpreted by builders to enable construction. Architects look at how a space, room or building will flow. They consider council or government requirements, urban surroundings and environmental impact. Everything from a house to an office building or a complete urban centre starts with an architect’s drawings.

Study this at QUT: Bachelor of Architectural Design

Dream team

Architects, landscape architects and interior designers are just some of the pieces in the design and construction puzzle when it comes to a project. Other contributors (i.e. the peeps you’ll work with side-byside during your career) include:

• Land developers

• Real estate agents

• Construction managers

• Builders

• Engineers

• Environmental & sustainability officers

• Urban and regional planning supervisors

• Tradespeople

• Clients

Landscape Architect

Applying design fundamentals to create beautiful, liveable spaces is just as important outdoors as indoors. Considering impacts on biodiversity, weather and green space is essential for a landscape architect when doing their job. Landscape architects design attractive and functional spaces within both natural and built landscapes. Projects can include planning and designing public parks, gardens, residential areas, campuses and public spaces.

Study this at QUT: Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Landscape Architecture)

Interior designer

Interior designers bring an eye for detail, technical know-how and excellent communication skills to design and document beautiful spaces that improve people’s lives. An empathetic and caring approach is needed to combine knowledge of sustainable materials, building codes, social impact, wellbeing, creativity and design thinking to small scale projects like retail and restaurants to large scale projects like hotels, hospitals or airports. Their highly detailed drawings form the basis for the construction of interior environments that are healthy, inclusive and sustainable.

Study this at QUT: Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Interior Design)

Little Island, Big Impact

Using existing materials after Hurricane Sandy hit New York, Signe Nielsen was the lead landscape architect for Little Island on the Hudson River, a floating, immersive experience in nature. A landscape architectural masterpiece with recycling at its core!

littleisland.org

Exciting opportunities ahead! Find out what your architecture pathway looks like at QUT. bit.ly/CwSArchQUT

Combine architecture with engineering

Got a flair for design and a mind for processes and project management? Triple your opportunities with a double degree and you can open yourself up to careers in architecture, project management, property development, construction, civil engineering and urban design.

design dna

When his architectural assessment scored top marks in high school, Connor Pukallus knew he was on the right career path

As Connor embarks on his fourth year of study and prepares to tackle a Master of Architecture at QUT, he’s hopeful he’s on the road to kicking some serious life goals.

“I hope that architecture can lead me to a stable career where I can live comfortably while enjoying everything I do. It may take time, but the pay-off will be worth it,” he says.

“At school I studied maths and engineering tech, but it was graphics that introduced me to architecture.”

It was a no-brainer when he decided to pursue a degree and enrol to study architecture at QUT.

Connor believes studying at QUT has not only given him course knowledge, but it’s also helped ensure he’s on the right pathway in life.

The IRL effect

As part of his studies at QUT, Connor had the chance to work in with a client in a real-life architectural firm, Populous, where he “got the opportunity to present my proposal to the entire Brisbane studio”. Through a uni partnership, he also witnessed the IRL construction of an IKEA store from start to finish.

“We got to see everything from the concrete foundations to the electrical fittings,” Connor says.

“The role of architecture is to always push the limits of what can and cannot be done. You need to have persistence and the drive to learn new things, and that isn’t just theoretical knowledge. It is the ability to find new tools and technologies to better the work you produce.”

Big rewards

The opportunities at QUT have helped Connor elevate his own learning – a highlight being a press release from the uni featuring Connor and his achievements working with Populous which “gave me the knowledge that I’m in the right course and on the right pathway”, he says.

“Architecture is a big commitment,” Connor adds, “but I believe it’s a bigger pay-off in the end, too.” – Pippa Duffy

connor pukallus student

The role of architecture is to push the limits of what can and cannot be done”

A day in the life of an… INTERIOR DESIGNER

Interior design brings the flair, the feels and of course the overall look to a room, building or space. After working as a civil engineer, Nadia was looking for a career that combined her creative and technical sides – interior design was a perfect match. Now Nadia continues to work in construction but contributes in a way that optimises interior spaces to improve people’s lives. – Pippa

Duffy

Here’s how Nadia might spend an average work day:

8am

Arrive at work and set myself up with a coffee, read my emails and prepare for the day.

9am

Have a planning meeting with the team. We go through current and upcoming projects. For example, we recently designed the fit-out for a stunning 100-seat eatery in the heart of Brisbane!

10am

Site visit to one of our projects currently under construction to talk through any issues with the builder or client.

12pm

We work from a beautiful old Queenslander in Paddington, Brisbane and I love to have lunch on the balcony and chat with my colleagues.

1:30pm

Another site visit to a workshop to review a furniture prototype. We are making some custom chairs for one of our projects with a local Brisbane furniture maker.

2:30pm

A quick coffee and head back to my desk for an afternoon working on projects, updates and admin.

5:30pm

I like to reset my task list before I leave and go through my diary in preparation for the next day.

6pm

Attend an industry event hosted by local suppliers. It is a good way to keep up to date with new technology and products, and see old friends in the industry.

if it’s the right job for you, it doesn’t feel like you’re working”

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours), QUT

Project Engineer, BMD Group

Interior Design Student, Arkhefield

Interior Designer, Studiospillane Bachelor of Design (Interior Design), (Honours) QUT

An itch for something more creative led Nadia Dubreuil to explore interior design as a new career direction

Get

Amazing Interiors

The interior designs in this American reality TV show will blow your mind and inspire your creative side. Think indoor aquariums, apocalypse bunkers and, our absolute fave Steampunk Wonderland.

Grand Designs

Tune in for the stunning home designs, stay for the budgetblowout dramas and host Kevin McLoud’s brutally honest (and informed) critiques! Already binged the entire UK series? Check out the NZ and Australian versions too!

Flexible Buildings: The Future of Architecture

How do we best design for the overpopulated future? Free Documentary’s YouTube doco offers us some inspiring solutions for future city design and construction: bit.ly/3JVWqAO

From local or regional government areas to big biz, small boutique firms and environmental agencies, a degree in architecture or landscape architecture can take you down the road or around the world. It’s your call. Keep across who’s hiring over at australianarchitecturejobboard.com and at jobs.aila.org.au

Construction project $68K–$165Kmanager