Architecture and Labor - Illustration

The illustration is showing an architect working in her office. She is working on a building project and creating diagrams, drawings, and 3D models for a real-life building. It takes a lot of time and dedication to produce this amount of work, which is shown by using illustration of clocks. Architects work full-time or even overtime to meet the deadline. This illustration also shows that the architect is considering the building structure, systems, and its context while designing and producing drawings for the building. It depicts the idea that architects are creative workers, and they deserve to get recognized for the efforts they put into a project.

In the Architecture and Labor TED talk at TEDxCalArts, Peggy Deamer mentions how practicing architecture is hard work, yet architects do not see themselves as workers. She talks about the issues and the possible solutions. The first problem is that we think “architects don’t do work.” We only design buildings and do creative work, but do not produce a product or provide services like people from other professions do. We have failed to consider our work as “work.” We get paid less compared to other workers. Secondly, we think “design is not work.” The division between design and production makes us think that we are designing for others to build them, hence they do the work. We have less control and risk, and so we get less reward. Architects also try to please their owners instead of educating them. Because of all the contracts and ownership, we let slip many opportunities. Here we have something to learn from the artists. Artists believe that “art is work.” We should learn from them and understand that the production of drawing is also work. Any kind of creation should be considered as labor. Architects need to cooperate and integrate their work with other parties and share the risk and reward collectively without having to worry about getting sued. There are so many processes required to get the final product and we do it. Therefore, it is work and it is the right work.