It is hard to get a job in architecture. We exist to help you get there. Hosted by Stephen Drew, Architecture Social is the unfiltered guide to the UK Built Environment. We decode the realities of the industry, provide actionable cheat codes for your career, and bridge the communication gap between the drafting board and the boardroom. Whether you are a Part I assistant trying to survive your first role, a Part III architect managing complex procurement, or a Practice Director fighting tight…
After being made redundant three times, Dominic McAndrew went on to co-found Ruumi Studio and build a new architecture practice from scratch. In this episode, we talk about the reality of starting an architecture studio, what redundancy actually teaches you, why running a young practice is not as glamorous as it looks, and what small studios really look for when hiring. Dominic also shares how…
What does it actually take to start your own architecture practice in 2026? Alex Sutton founded Studio Sutton in August 2019 at the age of 29, just six months before the world locked down. In this conversation with Stephen Drew, he opens up about building an award winning international practice through a global pandemic, a war, an interest rate spike, an AI shake-up, and the hardest personal…
Why do architects have so little power in the UK built environment, even when their work shapes housing, public space, procurement and the way cities function? Stephen Drew speaks with Jay Morton, Director at Bell Phillips Architects, housing campaigner and RIBA presidential candidate, about what is holding the architecture profession back and what needs to change. The conversation covers: Why…
What does it really take to build a long-term architecture career inside a global practice? Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about career growth, working at scale, and what young architecture professionals can learn from staying, developing and leading inside one major studio. The conversation covers: How to get hired by large architecture practices What helps Part 2s,…
Running an architecture practice is not just about design. It is fees, hiring, risk, clients, culture, profit and learning how to keep the studio moving without losing the work you care about. Stephen Drew speaks with Tim, co-founder of nimtim architects, a design-led practice in South London, about starting a studio, building a team and dealing with the commercial reality behind architecture. The…
How do you future proof an architecture career when BIM, computational design and AI are changing what practices value? Stephen Drew speaks with Ami Nigam, Head of Design Technology at Benoy, about design technology, international career moves and how to build skills that still matter as the profession changes. The conversation covers: How Ami moved from architecture into design technology Why…
If you are trying to get hired in architecture or interior design, sending the same CV and portfolio to every studio is not enough. In this Kingston University session, Stephen Drew shares practical advice for students, graduates and early-career designers trying to land roles in London and the wider UK architecture market. The session covers: How to stop relying only on job boards and reach…
Trying to land your first architecture or interiors role is hard enough without guessing what hiring managers, directors and recruiters actually look for. In this practical lecture, Stephen Drew breaks down how students and graduates can approach the job search with a clearer CV, tighter sample portfolio and a direct application process that creates more chances. The conversation covers: How to…
Is Revit still the centre of architecture technology, or are AI, BIM 2.0 and new design tools starting to change what practices really need? Stephen Drew speaks with Allister Lewis about the architecture tech landscape, from BIM and generative design to AI software, digital leadership and career routes for architects who want to move into technology. The conversation covers: How BIM and Revit…
Modular housing is often discussed as a technical solution, but the harder questions are commercial, political and practical: who pays, who builds, and how do you make the model work? Stephen Drew speaks with Lalit Chauhary, Design Director at ZedPods, about modular housing, zero carbon delivery, starting a business, pricing work properly and closing the gap between design ambition and…