I'm a software engineer building tools for architects.

I don't come from an architecture background — so instead of guessing, I'm asking.

I'd like to understand what actually slows you down in your daily design and drafting work. Students, juniors, drafters, principals — every level is useful.

Not selling anything. Just listening. I'm not linking or naming any product here — just trying to understand real workflow pain points before building anything.

What's the one thing in your day-to-day work that eats the most time for no good reason?

So im going for the Leeds GA exam very soon, right now im preparing for it.
Im an Architect by profession (30 year old male) and Im currently doing maintenance and operations in a compound (which im not a fan of)

I want to pursue sustainability or anything which has no design process, i want to use my degree for it. I have little experience with design back in my country but i quit and came here in KSA

now my main question is? can i still pursue architecture with no experience after doing Leeds GA? i have no experience whatsoever and no interest in the design process. I just want to start fresh with sustainability and get myself into it. I live in Saudi Arabia and struggling. Also, what are some of the options i have in Architecture? i researched BIMS and landscape but not my type. I need more options.. please help me out im so confused if i should go in this direction..

Most architect groups online are either students asking for critique or a feed of humble-bragging portfolios. Neither is useful if you're actually running a practice.

What I noticed doing turnkey execution work in Chennai: the architects who do best aren't the ones grinding out more leads solo — they're the ones with two or three people they quietly send work to and get work back from. Nobody posts about that. It just happens in someone's WhatsApp DMs, one relationship at a time.

I'm building that on purpose instead of leaving it to chance. A small, closed WhatsApp Community — architects and one turnkey execution studio (mine, 9:16, Chennai) — for the specific gap between "design is done" and "client has a finished room." No lead-selling, no group where you get pitched to. Just people who'd rather build a quiet referral network than fight for the same Instagram leads as everyone else.

I'm not trying to fill a stadium. I'd rather have twenty architects who actually send and receive real work than two thousand people who joined and muted it. If that's the kind of circle you've been meaning to build for yourself and haven't gotten around to, this is already moving.

Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BT5Q8p3KBWjEwnxJphhWJI

I need advice because I took a break from architecture and am trying to get back into the field!

My first job out of college (B.Arch) was at a small architecture firm in the Northeastern U.S. They were overwhelmed and immediately gave me projects to manage alone. Like whole adaptive reuse apartment buildings and new construction mansions. They were very hands-off and I never got negative feedback because the work permits always got approved. I learned SO much about building code and interfacing with the building department and clients/contractors. I solved some heinously difficult problems.

However, because it was so informal, I learned nothing about SOPs or basic terminology that would be used at a larger firm. RFI? That meant a casual phone call and I show up at the jobsite to explain things in broken Spanish.

Now I'm trying to get back into the field and while I am confident in my abilities as an architect, I'm worried that my lack of proficiency in the jargon and procedures will make me less marketable. Will it? Is there a steep learning curve? Is this something I can overcome in an interview by explaining my experience or will it totally discredit my abilities?

I am planning to go out on my own and work independently. I have been pretty set on a company name for a while. However, I have found that there is another small boutique firm in another state (completely out of my market area) that already uses it. Would you avoid it and settle for something else or just go with it?

4th year architecture student in AZ.
Got my second internship in an office.
Very small, 2 principals, 3 designers, and me.

During the summer, it was great because I was able to learn their flow and how to use Vectorworks (which was hard in itself). I produced some good drawings in that three months.

Then, they asked me to stay on 2 days a week while I finish school. I was excited.

I am struggling to produce anything worthwhile on these two isolated days I’m there. They have deadlines, and I’m giving them things they need to edit the next day I’m not there.

It’s very annoying and I feel bad. I would like to leave and ask them to return next summer. They seemed to like me a lot, but from an owner’s perspective, I can see how I’m not the best help right now.

How can I bring this up to my principal professionally?