sketching on iPad

What They Do Not Teach You in Architecture Schools| Interview with Eric Reinholdt

Welcome to another episode of my podcast!

Meaningful conversations with architects, artists, and designers.


Meet my today’s guest — Eric Reinholdt from the most popular architecture-focused YouTube channel with over 1 mln subscribers: 30X40 Design Workshop

Things always change and evolve in architecture…

Join us in this interview, where we delve into crucial topics for architects, such as why incorporating sketching into your design practice is vital, the role of an Architect in 2023, insights into the business for creative minds, and archipreneurship.

Eric also shares his 6-step process for working on a project and recommends books for aspiring architects.

 
 
Sketching is a part of my process, I use it from the very early stages: from site visits, all the way through construction. Standing on a job site with contractors trying to work out a detail in the field, if you can’t sketch out what you are thinking — you are less respected on the site… I’ll just put it that way.
— Eric Reinholdt
 

ABOUT ERIC:

Eric is an award-winning architect, entrepreneur and founder of 30X40 Design Workshop, a design studio located on Mount Desert Island, Maine. He is also author of the ”Architect + Entrepreneur” book series and creator of the most popular architecture-focused YouTube channel online. He has been designing simple, modern residential architecture for more than 27 years and a practitioner of all the novel, entrepreneurial business strategies he teaches in his courses.

 

QUESTIONS WE DISCUSSED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

(1) If we were to distill the essence of those 10 years in a blender, what key elements do you believe defined your success?

(2) What is your definition of being an architect in 2023?

(3) There is a saying “Hands are the wings of the heart”. How important do you believe sketching is in the life of a contemporary architect: from initial concepts to the completion of projects? Do you think digital production methods will ever replace hand-drawn sketches? Please more on alchemy that transforms initial ideas into finished projects.

(4) Eric, as far as I got from your videos, it appears your work routine on an architecture project is a systematic 6-step process, involving:

  • hand sketching, 

  • *detailed sketching on an iPad, 

  • layouts in AutoCAD, 

  • a 3D model in SketchUp, 

  • fine-tuning in Photoshop, 

  • and a paper model. 

Is this an accurate representation of your creative workflow, or do you incorporate any other tools/software, or steps?

(5) Eric, for aspiring architects, if you could recommend three books that have significantly influenced your perspective and growth in the field, what would they be?

(6) Your book 'Architect + Entrepreneur' encourages readers to 'think big, start small, and learn fast,' emphasizing personal brand creation over traditional business plans. 

In parallel, your online course, ‘A + E,’ seems like a comprehensive resource. Can you elaborate on whether this course encapsulates your professional life experience, providing a structured shortcut for others to achieve what you've accomplished?

(7) Looking ahead, what's on the horizon for you? Are there plans to expand your team significantly, and do you envision taking your teaching to in-person workshops or perhaps teaching at the university level, sharing the insights from your books and online courses? Can you please lift the veil for us?

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

Books Eric talked about:

  • “Thinking Architecture” by Peter Zumtor: link

  • “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferris: link

  • “As Little Design as Possible” by Dieter Rams: link

Amazon Block
Search for an Amazon product to display. Learn more
 

Watch also Eric’s short film about being an architect

“A Choice to Make”:

 

LEARN MORE FROM ERIC:

  • Book “Architect+Entrepreneur: A Field Guide to Building, Branding, and Marketing Your Startup Design Business”: link

  • Course “Architect+Entrepreneur”: link

  • Tools and templates: link

 


CONNECT:

Eric’s blog on all things architecture: link

Podcast on financial independence “2 Sides of FI”: link

Instagram: @30by40

 

Interview by Olga Sorokina

Instagram @schoolofsketching

P. S. Please share this interview with someone who might need to watch it.


CHECK MY OTHER PODCAST EPISODES:


MORE FROM MY BLOG:

What is the future of interior sketching? | Interview with Jessika visualisieren.koennen.alle

Welcome to Olga's podcast!

Meaningful conversations with architects, artists, and designers.

Meet my today’s guest — Jessika from Instagram @visualisieren.koennen.alle

 

We had such a sparkling and inspiring conversation with Jess about interior sketching, the best apps for sketch artists, AI in interior design, and we even came up with amazing insights on the future of interior sketching.

Floorplan by Jessika

 

About Jessika:

Miss Interior Architect (Frau Innenarchitektin) Jessika is an Interior architect from Germany, she has been drawing in the field of interior design since 2007. Jessika also teaches sketching techniques on iPad for interior design at technical school and with her online courses.

Here are a couple of questions we’ve discussed:

1 Jessika, I won’t ask you digital or analog. I will ask you digital BUT analog. How have visualizations changed? Which possibilities for sketch artists already exist or may be possible in the near future?

2 Jessika, you have started teaching interior sketching at school, right? What are your insights?

3 I know you love using mood boards for your sketches. Could you please tell us more about why it’s important?

4 Your advice for beginners: Morpholio? Procreate? Concepts? What would you recommend?

5 Jessika, what are your thoughts on AI in interior design?

6 What is the future of interior sketching? How does it look in your opinion?

7 Jessika, you have a couple of online courses on interior drawing, please tell us more about it.

 

P. S. Please share this interview with your friends.


CHECK MY OTHER PODCAST EPISODES:


CHECK LATEST ARTICLES ON MY BLOG: