10 Reasons to Study Architecture and Build a Creative Career

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Welcome to the world of architecture, a profession that combines artistry, technical expertise, and a passion for shaping the built environment. Whether you’re already drawn to the idea of becoming an architect or you are curious about what this field has to offer, join me as I share 10 reasons why pursuing a career in architecture could be your ultimate calling.

If you’re looking for a broader overview of what architecture school really demands, start with my guide on how to study architecture effectively.

10 Reasons To Become An Architect

As an architect (and interior designer) with 15+ years of experience, I’ve found immense fulfilment in this creative and dynamic field. Here’s why you too might find yourself captivated by the world of architecture:

10/ Ten: a great skillset

7 years of training gives you a load of different skills. Plus you get to immerse yourself in an intellectually stimulating environment and bond with your studio group.

9/ Nine: the Education

You train not only within Architecture but also in interiors, urban planning, art history, construction, psychology, storytelling, illustration, sculpture, presenting, and debater - you become a thinker, creator, and excuse maker.

8/ Eight: career options

These skills will prepare you for your career - whatever direction you take. You are not tied to Architecture.

7/ Seven: designing and creating

You get to draw out solutions and build models which are developed into real-scale things.

6/ Six: life long learning

You never stop learning and gaining skills. Architects learn something new every day. You will continue to learn way after university, i.e. you will understand and appreciate how things go together, come apart, function, etc.

5/ Five: making a difference

Architecture affects people’s lives, whether they realize it or not. Your work can, and should, improve their environment and make it safer. 

4/ Four: you designed that building

Passing a building and knowing that you are part of the reason it’s there or at least the reason it looks like that.

3/ Three: stay up to date

Architecture is evolving and you have to evolve with it. Technology changes, new materials are created, your ideas develop, new arguments are presented, perspectives change…and you are part of this evolution.

2/ Two: working with others & communication

You become a people person. You will work on your own but also in a team, collaboration is a big part of it. You become part of the ‘Design Team’. You need to be able to communicate through spoken presentations as well as your drawings and models. You need to stay motivated and motivate others.

You have the power to inspire.

1/ One:

Buildings stand the test of time, and so they will hopefully be here for longer than you are. How cool is that? - To think something up, draw it out, manage its build, and then walk through its front door.

It’s flipping cool.

Architecture Services & Mentoring
Portfolio Confidence Review™
Portfolio Confidence Review™
from $195.00

Professional Architecture Portfolio Feedback Before You Submit

Your portfolio is often the first impression you make.

But a strong architecture portfolio isn't just about having good projects. It's about selecting, editing and presenting your work so the person reviewing it can quickly understand your ideas, skills and potential.

Whether you're applying to architecture school, an internship, postgraduate study or your first architecture job, I'll give you honest, professional feedback to help you strengthen your portfolio before you submit.

I've spent over 15 years teaching architecture and design students and have reviewed hundreds of student portfolios as a University Lecturer, programme leader, Chartered Architect and mentor.

I'll review your portfolio with the same critical eye I used when guiding students through applications, design reviews and presentations - looking at both the quality of the individual projects and how effectively the portfolio communicates your work as a whole.

My goal isn't to change your work or turn it into someone else's portfolio.

It's to help you recognise your strongest work, communicate it clearly and present it with confidence.

Is This Right for You?

A Portfolio Confidence Review™ could be right for you if you're:

  • Applying to architecture school or university

  • Preparing a portfolio for postgraduate or Master’s study

  • Applying for an architecture internship or work experience

  • Preparing to apply for your first architecture or design job

  • Unsure which projects or pieces of work to include

  • Struggling with the order, layout or flow of your portfolio

  • Worried that your portfolio isn't communicating your ideas clearly

  • Looking for an experienced second opinion before you submit

  • Feeling too close to your own work to know what needs improving

You don't need a perfect portfolio before you send it to me. That's what the review is for.

What I'll Look At

I'll review your portfolio as a whole, considering things such as:

  • Project selection

  • Portfolio structure and flow

  • Page layout and composition

  • Visual hierarchy

  • Architectural drawings

  • Sketches and development work

  • Plans, sections and elevations

  • Presentation and graphic communication

  • How clearly your design thinking is communicated

  • The balance between process and outcomes

  • Written information and supporting text

  • Areas that feel repetitive, confusing or unnecessary

  • Opportunities to strengthen the overall portfolio

Every portfolio is different, so my feedback will focus on the areas that will make the biggest difference to yours.

What's Included

You'll receive:

  • A personalised recorded video review of your portfolio

  • Honest, constructive feedback on what's already working well

  • Clear, prioritised recommendations for improvement

  • Practical advice you can apply immediately

  • Clear next steps before submission

  • Delivery within 5 working days

Your review is recorded specifically for you, so you can pause it, take notes and come back to my feedback while you're making changes.

Portfolios should be submitted as a single PDF so I can review them in the same format typically used for university and employment applications.

What You'll Leave With

After your review, you'll have a much clearer understanding of:

  • What's working well in your portfolio

  • What could be strengthened

  • What you should prioritise before submission

  • How effectively you're communicating your projects

  • Where you may be overcomplicating things

  • What to work on next

The aim isn't to send you away with an overwhelming list of changes.

It's to help you focus your time and energy on the improvements that matter most.

So instead of wondering, “Is my portfolio good enough?” you'll know exactly what to work on next.

Choose Your Review

Portfolio Confidence Review™

Perfect if you want expert feedback on your portfolio before submitting it.

You'll receive:

  • Personalised recorded video review

  • Professional feedback on your portfolio

  • Practical recommendations for improvement

  • Clear, prioritised next steps

  • Delivery within 5 working days

Portfolio Confidence Review™ + Follow-Up

Choose this option if you'd also like to talk through my feedback with me personally.

You'll receive everything included in the Portfolio Confidence Review™, plus:

  • A private 30-minute Zoom follow-up

  • The opportunity to ask questions about your review

  • Personalised advice on the changes you're considering

  • Help prioritising what to work on before submission

  • The opportunity to discuss relevant application or portfolio next steps

I recommend watching your recorded review and beginning to work through the feedback before our call so we can use our time together to focus on your questions and decisions.

A Little About Me

I'm Sonia Nicolson, a Chartered Architect, former University Lecturer and architecture mentor.

I've spent more than 15 years teaching architecture and design students, leading university programmes, reviewing portfolios and helping students communicate their ideas more clearly.

I've seen hundreds of portfolios over the years - from students applying to architecture school for the first time to graduates preparing to enter practice.

And one thing I've learned is that students are often far more capable than they think.

Sometimes they simply need an experienced pair of eyes to help them see what's working, what's getting in the way and what to focus on next.

That's exactly what this review is designed to do.

Ready for an Experienced Second Opinion?

If you've been staring at your portfolio for so long that you can no longer tell what's working, send it to me. I'll help you cut through the noise, identify the changes that matter and present your work as clearly and confidently as possible.

Read more →
1:1 Architecture Mentoring
1:1 Architecture Mentoring
$175.00

Personal guidance from a Chartered Architect and former University Lecturer to help you navigate architecture school, your career and what comes next.

Sometimes you don't need another tutorial.

You need someone who understands architecture education and the profession to listen, help you make sense of what's going on, and talk through your options with you.

Maybe you're struggling with architecture school. You've lost confidence after a difficult crit. You're wondering whether you've chosen the right course. You're trying to find an internship, thinking about what to do after graduation, or simply feeling overwhelmed and unsure of your next step.

You don't have to figure it all out on your own.

My 1:1 Architecture Mentoring sessions give you a private space to talk things through with someone who understands the journey you're on.

I've spent over 15 years teaching and mentoring architecture and design students, including leading university programmes and supporting students through the highs, lows and difficult decisions that come with creative education.

I've also been an architecture student myself, worked in practice and become a Chartered Architect - so I understand architecture from both sides of the desk.

Bring me what's on your mind. We'll work out what to do next.

Is This Right for You?

A mentoring session could be right for you if you're:

  • Feeling overwhelmed or stuck at architecture school

  • Struggling with confidence or wondering if you're good enough

  • Finding it difficult to recover from a disappointing crit, grade or piece of feedback

  • Unsure whether you're on the right course or taking the right path

  • Trying to decide what to do next in your studies

  • Thinking about changing course or university

  • Looking for an architecture internship or work experience

  • Preparing to move from university into practice

  • Wondering whether to continue to postgraduate or Master’s study

  • Trying to make decisions about your architecture career

  • Feeling behind compared with other students

  • Looking for perspective from someone who understands architecture education and the profession

You don't need to arrive with a perfectly formed question.

Sometimes you just know that something isn't working and you need to talk it through.

We can start there.

What Can We Talk About?

Every mentoring session is different because every student's situation is different.

We might talk about:

  • Navigating architecture school

  • Confidence and self-doubt

  • Difficult tutor feedback or crits

  • Managing your workload and priorities

  • Feeling behind or overwhelmed

  • University or course decisions

  • Internships and work experience

  • Preparing for practice

  • Career direction

  • Postgraduate study

  • Applications and interviews

  • Making the most of your time at university

  • Finding your strengths as a designer

  • Your next steps

My job isn't to decide for you. I'll listen, ask questions, share my experience where it's useful and help you cut through the noise so you can see your options more clearly.

Why Work With Me?

I've spent over 15 years teaching, mentoring and supporting architecture and design students.

As a former University Lecturer and programme leader, I've seen students navigate almost every stage of architecture education - from those first overwhelming weeks of first year through to graduation, postgraduate study and the transition into practice.

I've helped students who were thriving.

I've helped students who were struggling.

I've helped students who had lost confidence, were questioning their direction or simply needed someone experienced to tell them:

Let's work out what's actually going on here.

I know how intense architecture school can be, and I also know how much difference the right conversation at the right time can make.

What You'll Leave With

The aim isn't to give you another enormous list of things to worry about.

It's the opposite.

After our session, you'll have:

  • Greater clarity about what's actually bothering you

  • A clearer understanding of your options

  • Practical next steps

  • An outside perspective from someone experienced in architecture education

  • Relevant advice and resources where appropriate

  • More confidence in the decisions you're making

Most importantly, I want you to leave feeling:

“Okay. I know what I'm going to do next.”

How It Works

1. Book your mentoring session

Choose a time that works for you and tell me a little about what's going on.

2. Tell me what you'd like to talk about

Before we meet, you'll have an opportunity to share your questions, concerns or situation so I have some context before our call.

You don't need to prepare anything formal.

3. Meet online

We'll spend 60 minutes together talking through what's happening, exploring your options and working out practical next steps.

This is your time. There is no set agenda and no one-size-fits-all mentoring framework.

We'll focus on what you need.

4. Move forward with clarity

Where useful, I'll follow up with relevant links, resources, articles or recommendations from our conversation so you know where to go next.

1:1 Architecture Mentoring Session

60-minute private online session

For architecture and design students who need an experienced person in their corner while they work out what comes next.

You don't need to have the answer.

That's what we'll work out together.

Read more →
1:1 Architecture Tutorial
1:1 Architecture Tutorial
$250.00

Expert feedback on your architecture project from a Chartered Architect and former University Lecturer.

Sometimes you don’t need another YouTube tutorial, another Pinterest board or another night staring at your drawings.

You need someone experienced to look at your work with you and help you figure out what to do next.

My 1:1 Architecture Tutorials are private online sessions designed to give you focused, practical feedback on the work you’re doing right now.

Bring your drawings, plans, sketches, models, presentation boards or even a half-developed idea, and we’ll work through it together - just like we would in a university tutorial.

With over 15 years of experience teaching architecture and design students, I’ve helped thousands of students develop their ideas, improve their drawings and communicate their projects more clearly.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before we meet.

That’s the point of the tutorial.

Is This Right for You?

A 1:1 tutorial is ideal if you’re:

  • Studying Architecture, Interior Design or a related creative course

  • Stuck on a current design project

  • Unsure how to develop your idea

  • Struggling to translate your ideas into drawings

  • Trying to understand or respond to tutor feedback

  • Preparing for a crit, review or submission

  • Unsure what drawings you actually need

  • Struggling with plans, sections, elevations or perspective

  • Worried that your presentation isn’t communicating your project clearly

  • Looking for a second opinion before you submit your work

You don’t need a finished project.

Bring what you have, tell me where you’re stuck, and we’ll start there.

What We Can Work On

Every tutorial is completely tailored to your project and what you need help with.

We might look at:

  • Design development

  • Plans, sections and elevations

  • Perspective drawing

  • Architectural sketching

  • Drawing composition and line weight

  • Presentation drawings

  • Layout and visual communication

  • Developing a design concept

  • Communicating your ideas more clearly

  • Responding to tutor or crit feedback

  • Preparing for an upcoming review or submission

  • Deciding what to work on next

This isn’t about me redesigning your project for you.

It’s about helping you see your project more clearly, ask better questions and make stronger design decisions yourself.

What You’ll Leave With

After your tutorial, you should have:

  • Clear, practical feedback on your work

  • A better understanding of what is and isn’t working

  • Specific ideas for how to develop your project

  • Priorities for what to work on next

  • Greater confidence in the decisions you’re making

Most importantly, I want you to finish the session knowing: “Right. I know what I need to do now.”

How It Works

1. Book your tutorial
Choose a time that works for you.

2. Send me your work
Before we meet, you’ll be able to send your drawings, sketches, plans, presentation boards or anything else you’d like me to look at.

It doesn’t need to be polished or finished.

3. Meet online
We’ll spend 60 minutes together reviewing your project, talking through where you’re stuck and working out your next steps.

4. Get back to your project
You’ll leave with clear priorities and practical actions you can start working on straight away.

Book Your 1:1 Architecture Tutorial

60-minute private online tutorial

Perfect if you need focused, expert feedback on a current architecture or design project.

Bring the messy drawings. Bring the half-formed idea. Bring the tutor feedback you don’t understand.

We’ll work through it together.

Read more →
Measured Survey (Iceland)
Measured Survey (Iceland)
$1,129.00

Measured Survey – Professional Architectural Surveys in Reykjavík & Surrounding Areas

A measured survey provides a detailed inspection and analysis of a building, capturing its layout, materials, and structural details with precise measurements. These architectural survey drawings are essential for renovations, property purchases, historical documentation, and compliance with local building codes.

What We Do

During the survey, we conduct an on-site measurement of your property, assessing its layout and structural elements. The result is a set of professional, to-scale architectural drawings that provide you with accurate documentation of your space.

What This Includes

✔ Site visit
✔ Measured survey
✔ Existing drawings

Available in Reykjavík and surrounding areas only

Read more →
The Virtual Design Package
The Virtual Design Package
from $2,590.00

The Virtual Designer - Concept Design for Your Home

Professional architectural concept design delivered online, for homeowners who want clarity before committing to costly mistakes or construction.

If you are rethinking a single room or planning a full home rethink, this package gives you expert guidance, hand-drawn concept sketches, and a clear design direction you can move forward with confidently.

I’m a Chartered Architect with 15+ years’ experience, and I help homeowners make smart design decisions before investing in contractors, furniture, or renovations.

What’s Included

  • Understanding your design brief

  • Exploration of ideas, concept sketches and spatial layout

  • Design development

  • Mood board with colours, materials, and product suggestions

  • Design report (inc alternative options where applicable) with summary and recommendations

Choose Your Package

1. Design Document

Receive a complete design pack delivered to your inbox. Ideal if you want clear, professional direction and the confidence to proceed at your own pace.

2. Design + Zoom Consult

Includes everything above, plus a 60-minute Zoom session to:

  • Walk through the design together

  • Ask questions live

  • Explore adjustments in real time

  • Get expert guidance on next steps

Before You Build

This service provides concept design, not construction drawings. You will still need to verify local Planning Permission and Building Regulations to ensure feasibility before implementation.

Read more →
Learn with sonia →

Next Steps & Free Resources

If you’re preparing your portfolio or gearing up for your interview, start with these free resources:

So you want to be an architect? Read my full blog post here

Stay inspired - join my newsletter for creative prompts, sketching tips, and architecture school advice straight to your inbox.

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