What No One Tells You About Becoming an Architect - Thomas Rowntree

Thomas Rowntree is an architectural designer and content creator. Alongside practice, he's built a large online following by sharing honest, practical insights into architectural education, early career experience and the realities of the profession.

His content focus on visual communication, productivity, and creative workflows for students and young professionals. He is part of a growing group of designers using content to make architecture more accessible.

Thomas spoke to Chris Simmons about navigating architecture school without a blueprint, the realities of early career practice, and how building a personal brand opened doors the profession didn’t.

0:00–Introduction1:03–Why architecture?2:03–Visual communication as a creative outlet4:59–Lego to art: early sparks6:25–Starting architecture “blind”7:52–First architecture vlog goes viral8:10–Shift from fitness to architecture content12:47–Providing value to the viewer15:04–Planning systems and discipline16:23–Boosting efficiency, avoiding burnout18:54–Part 1 role fully remote in lockdown20:54–Delayed office start, home-working challenges23:04–Finding an 80/20 office/home split24:44–Value of in-studio serendipity26:06–Why he’s still chasing his architect title28:01–Building a personal brand in arch32:00–Social media as competitive edge35:52–Breaking gatekeeping with transparency39:35–Communication: core architect skill43:01–Using “hooks” and storytelling in talks45:56–Elevator-pitch clarity under pressure47:06–Advice: stay open-minded and keep learning49:44–Fav architects now: Hadid, Libeskind, Miralles