Tips From the Top: Architects Share Their Advice for Success

Tips from the Top is a collection of advice from more than sixty architects who have earned the respect of their peers and are willing to share their knowledge on building a successful and meaningful career in architecture.

This book compiles more than sixty tips from a broad range of successful architects and design professionals from around the world. Organized by theme in seven broad categories—Beginnings, Inspiration, Values, Engagement, Process, Personal Development, and Determination—this book of advice offers thoughtful and thought-provoking guidance on such topics as:

• Designing what you believe in
• Learning from other disciplines
• Serving humanity
• Learning how to say “no”
• Viewing artificial intelligence as an asset, not an enemy
• And much more

For those just exploring the idea of architecture as a career, students in architecture school, and graduates entering the profession, this book should be treated as a snack box—a source of nourishing advice that can be raided whenever one is hungry and in need of some help. 

DIVERSE CONTRIBUTORS: Architects of all ages and backgrounds and from around the globe are included, with such notable contributors as Elizabeth Diller, Thom Mayne, Gregg Pasquarelli, Winka H. Dubbeldam, Yung Ho Chang, and Jeanne Gang.

ARCHITECTURE GIFT BOOK: This handsomely designed hardcover volume is crafted for designers and architects. The bold cover, clean typography, black-and-white photographs, sketches, and line drawings throughout create an appealing aesthetic around its instructive and inspiring content.

WORDS OF WISDOM: Perfect for architecture students, recent graduates, and advancing professionals, this book of tips makes an excellent gift or self-purchase for anyone looking for inspiration, good ideas, and help from architects and design professionals at the top of their game.

Raghda Alhayali is a millennial architect who started her professional journey in Dubai and is currently based in Canada.

Clifford Pearson is a writer and editor who covers architecture, urbanism, and culture. He is a contributing editor at Architectural Record, where he served as deputy editor-in-chief and senior editor for twenty-six years.

Ken Yeang is an architect and ecologist with a long history in sustainable design. During the past forty years, he has developed guiding principles and systems in architecture that advance ecological design. Awards for his innovations and architecture include the Aga Khan Award, Prinz Claus Award, UIA Auguste Perret Award, Architectural Society of China Liang Si Cheng Award, Malaysia Government Merdeka Award, and Malaysia Institute of Architects Gold Medal. In recognition of his dedicated work on nature-based architecture, The Guardian named him one of the fifty people who could save the planet.