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I've never tried this forum, but here goes. I have 16 years as a digital artist for feature films, using high-end 3D programs like Maya. Even helped win an Academy Award. Because of outsourcing and quality of living issues, I'm moving into another field I have interest in - architecture. Specifically, I want to work as a draftsman using Revit in either a large construction or architecture firm.
I have a BA in Telecommunications, film and video. 16 years working with high-end 3D software, and recently completed training in Revit Fundementals at a training center with a great reputation.
I want to get into a firm, entry level, while I continue to learn. I have a family to support and can't afford to become a full time student again. Does anyone here have any suggestions on the fastest way to make this career change and get a job?
I hate to be Debbie Downer but architecture graduates are struggling as it is, I don't know how someone from another field can successfully join the industry.
There is a HUGE gulf between being an ARCHITECT and a draftsmen / architectural rendering specialist. Generally to be an architect one needs to complete a very demanding course of study that minimally takes five years of college, given the bleak employment prospects for architects it would be flat out insane to try to invest that much time & money in a career with so little chance of payback...
There is some demand for folks with deep skills in using "BIM" software which is what REVIT is, but there is LOTS of fragmentation in the industry and different sized firms often end up with a mix of very costly and somewhat incompatible packages like REVIT, TEKLA, CATIA, ARCHICAD, BENTLEY, MICROSTATION, VECTORWORKS etc
It is frankly not very valuable just to be able "use" these packages as the bigger firms have no shortage of folks that have some experience with these tools. What is more valuable is to have deep experience as an "expert" in getting firms set-up with the right kind of workflow / processes / hardware so that individual engineers and architects can utilize the right tools to to do the various kinds of structural analysis / construction documentation / iteration control that keeps the whole firm productive. This is really a VERY narrowly specialized field with just a handful of specialized vendors providing consultants to work through the whole chain from software selection to conversion of existing projects to improvements and upgrades...
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I don't know if the OP really wants to move away from being a "artist" to some kind of software specialist or a full blown engineer but I don't know if even that radical a shift makes sense given the stage of one's career...
I wonder if perhaps it might be possible to just expand one's circle of contacts in the field the OP already has experience -- while I am sure there are all kinds of pressures to reduce costs / improve productivity even in the "movie business" it does seem like the ever expanding role of special effects and animation should make for lots of opportunity for those with depth of knowledge / proven track record...
Yes, I wondered the same thing--is it possible to expand upon your experience and perhaps move into something that makes use of your background instead of trying to make a 180 degree about-face? People seem to think that making a drastic career change is really easy, but I think most of us know it really isn't. Competing with much younger people for architectural rendering and drafting positions (some of them will have degrees in it) will probably be tough, and you'll likely be considered overqualified for entry-level positions in that field. Then most likely they'll assume that, coming from an exciting background in entertainment into a relatively mundane position, you'll get bored. In addition, it's possible you'll be competing with people who have architecture degrees. It seems like it would make more sense for you to move in a direction where your experience is valued rather than in a direction where people might react with "what are you doing here?"
Have you considered game development? Other thoughts: I saw an opening posted a while ago for a motion capture company that wanted someone to learn their system inside and out so that they could support customers. Or have you thought about UX/UI design?
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I don't know if the OP really wants to move away from being a "artist" to some kind of software specialist or a full blown engineer but I don't know if even that radical a shift makes sense given the stage of one's career...
I wonder if perhaps it might be possible to just expand one's circle of contacts in the field the OP already has experience -- while I am sure there are all kinds of pressures to reduce costs / improve productivity even in the "movie business" it does seem like the ever expanding role of special effects and animation should make for lots of opportunity for those with depth of knowledge / proven track record...
Thanks Chet - I've been aware of some of what you mention - though I have heard that the field in Denver has recovered since the recession. I'm wondering if there might be opportunity, with further education, in any of the fields that use Revit - beyond Architecture firms, possibly construction firms, interior design firms, plant management, etc?
I'm not opposed to staying in the artistic fields, though game companies don't really exist here in Colorado, those that have I've spoken to, and the biggest folded a few years back. Teaching doesn't pay enough, and although I've been drawn (no pun) to graphic design, it's another field that gets outsourced. IT and programming have no interest to me.
As to your suggestion about the movie business, I can tell you absolutely and with a great deal of experience that our industry has been absolutely GUTTED by outsourcing to places that offer huge subsides, Canada and the UK among them. It's no longer a viable career for anyone, and I know a great many people, have worked at all the major studios, even helped win an Academy award for 'Life of Pi'.
But since I'm committed to making a career change, the general consensus I get here is, there's no chance in architecture and even with a degree it's a bad field to be in. Would that sum it up? I'm still interested, but I'll throw it out there - what other computer/art related fields in Colorado would readers suggest?
Yes, I wondered the same thing--is it possible to expand upon your experience and perhaps move into something that makes use of your background instead of trying to make a 180 degree about-face? People seem to think that making a drastic career change is really easy, but I think most of us know it really isn't.
Have you considered game development? Other thoughts: I saw an opening posted a while ago for a motion capture company that wanted someone to learn their system inside and out so that they could support customers. Or have you thought about UX/UI design?
Those are good suggestions, and I'm aware of everything you mentioned. And no, I don't expect any career change to be easy. Nothing worth doing is easy. Game development doesn't exist in any real capacity in Colorado, I've researched a lot of these suggestions over the last five years. I used to speak with NetDevil before they died. I've met with execs at Idol Minds, they're barely surviving with a bleak outlook. Thank you though.
I think you should totally go for it if you are a skilled artist / renderer. Make a portfolio (online and paper) with some architectural projects (any buildings, cityscapes, streets) and make some extra ones if you do not have enough. Offer your services as an independent contractor to some architects. Go to functions with architects. For employment, you may want to focus on large companies that have visual departments. Learn revit, but the thing with revit is that you have to know exactely how a building goes together to really be of any use (it is more about the architectural skills of the person using it than the program).Good luck!
Well, here's a thought for you: there is an industry that will probably value your degree in Telecommunications and is starting to use BIM and Revit a lot. In addition, since it changes so rapidly, it seems like one of the very few healthy sectors in the US. It's Audio Visual. Have you ever looked into this? The way it works is that architecture firms are generating their work in Revit and then sending it to AV companies so that they can locate their equipment (monitors, projectors, speakers, teleconferencing, automation, digital signage, etc.) to have the vendors place their work in 3D space. Other segments, like HVAC and Electrical are going in this direction too, but AV is a bit more relevant to your background, since I'm sure you understand resolutions, codecs, video standards, etc. In this kind of scenario, you would not be competing with Drafting specialists with associates degrees, or people with bachelor's degrees in Architecture. The actual projects might range from infrastructure type stuff (large corporate auditoriums for instance,) home theater and home automation, or live events. You can get a certification called CTS for about $400, I think. The first level, CTS, is very easy.
The other suggestion I had, which has nothing to do with Revit/BIM is UX/UI design, aka "experience design" aka "interaction design." Some people go to a school called General Assembly to learn this:
I have sometimes considered trying to do this myself, but in practical terms, as in where the jobs and security actually are in numbers, UX/UI translates to "making advertising websites." I find myself too un-enthused about the nature of the work to attempt to head in this direction myself, but thousands of people really do find it to be fascinating and lucrative work.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm aware of Revit MEP for HVAC, etc. I will certainly investigate.
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