If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly on the hunt for resources to expand the knowledge base. Some are just vastly informative places to look, others influence thoughts, ambitions and aspirations.
As architects and competitive creators – we’re also trained to hide our sources away to maintain a competitive edge.
I understand that it’s a little tenuous to share all these great resources at the same time that I’m wading into the same waters of producing content to share with the industry and profession.
I understand that this list is a lot. Even in my current situation I don’t have enough hours in the day to track all of these or keep up with them all. I binge in batches on errands, while trying to kick up content for this endeavor, at odd times during the day. I’d love nothing more than being able to immerse my mindspace into these discussions and engage – but sometimes that isn’t possible.
This is just a sampling of the places that I’ve landed when on the search for sources of inspiration and information that can be digested while doing other things. Each of them is deserving of dedicated viewing or listening.
Gabl media is host to a lot of my favorites. ArchiSpeak, Trxl, EntreArchitect, 30×40, and a couple new ones that I just started listening to Spaces, and Practice Interrupted.
I found Bob Borson’s blog a few years ago and as an architect, was immediately sucked in by the title. Life of an Architect. What’s better than reading up on life with a kindred spirit in a shared profession? Bob’s podcast with Co-Host Andrew Hawkins is informative, entertaining and a natural evolution of Bob’s online presence and storytelling. I’m a fan. I’m a kindred spirit. I’ve got a few alternate ideas about graphics and practice, but Bob and others have inspired me to start writing all this down and sharing process.
I’ve been listening to Evan Troxel, Cormac Phalen, and in earlier iterations, Neal Pann for years. Entertaining, informative, and it’s just nice to listen to conversations and musings about the profession, war stories and where it may evolve from here.
Evan Troxel’s tech-based pod casts have been a staple of my week lately. Evan has the conversations that I wish that I could have, with the people that I wish I could have them with. Listening to his interviews are both relaxing and intellectually invigorating at the same time. Listen with something in your hand to take notes. You’re going to need it.
The EntreArchitect podcast with Mark R. Lepage is a great resource for information on building a small firm from marketing to potential business avenues. How to leverage your skillset to find a foothold with your entrepreneurial endeavors. I’ve always had that tinkerers’ mindset of invention and creating and this is a great way to expand the knowledge base and explore ideas.
The Business of Architecture podcast is a great collaborative resource for everything from case studies and individual project types to growing your firm in the larger AEC pond.
Eric Reinholdt at 30×40 Design Workshop helps set the bar for sharing process, tips, resources & sharing the story about what it’s like to start, develop a firm and the practice architecture.
He literally wrote the book on this process, and it’s pretty cool to see where he’s going with it. Eric touches on everything from apps to client relationships and the process or architecture. His is on the reading and re-reading list multiple times a week.
Jeff is a kindred spirit and a great source for Revit tips, tricks and tutorials – to a frustrating degree sometimes. What I mean by that is whenever I’m in process on developing something or have an idea on material – Jeff’s been hitting the publish button on something that blows up whatever I’m in the middle of producing. It happens so often that it’s a little spooky. Revit workarounds, Tool production, Graphics, you name it.
If you’re staring at the screen, trying to figure out how the hell you’re going to accomplish <???>, The answer likely can be found at BIM. After Dark.
Click the follow, ring the bell – and check out his interviews.
Gavin’s YouTube Channel is an amazing source of material. I have no idea how this guy manages to produce as much as he has produced and still get a solid night’s sleep.
Whenever I’m building something out, and that nagging voice in my head questions a method – Between these two resources, I usually confirm that I’m not out of my tree for my methods and continue on.
Additionally – I haven’t started into the video collection for Dynamo that Gavin has on his channel, and the desire to start is the thing that keeps me from a reasonable sleep schedule. I highly suggest following his channel and reap the knowledge.
Taken from various AU gatherings of the years, this is a great resource for discussions about new means & methods from AutoDesk with downloadable handouts and some media to follow along with the course. It can be industry-specific, so depending on your position in the AEC universe – there’s something for everyone. For some of these courses, I wish that they went more in-depth, but they’ve got limitations on time for these events so a lot of the time they’re just scratching the surface with demos and brief how-tos.
Formerly Lynda.com, I’ve been referencing bits and pieces of this site, taking their classes and tutorials. It’s a pretty great resource for independent learning, virtually whatever you’d like information on. Sometimes I just watch these just to binge something I’m familiar with and I still end up picking up useful tips that I’ve forgotten about. For example Paul F. Aubin’s video list is a great resource for Revit tips and tricks. You get a month free signing up, and the monthly subscription after that is worth it for digging in to new programs and educational materials.
I know there are resources everywhere for coding tutorials. This site was suggested to me by a contact that I had made on Twitter from BIM Box, CEO Buck Davis. Great guy.
I started with the 100 days of Python and got somewhere into the high 30s before life got in the way. I’ve purchased a few courses from this site (tip – wait for the sales days – prices get cut and there’s bargains galore).
So, if you want to learn, and have zero experience and a can-do attitude, this could be just what the doctor ordered.
I’ve signed up for a few classes on iTunes U. If you want a fun family educational experience – Pick one and take a class with the kids, or your significant other. Education doesn’t always need a piece of paper and a funny hat at the end.
I’m a big fan of Adam’s. A fan of Mythbuster’s, and its entire cast.
Adam and his team at Tested.com gives you a personal work experience, tips and stories from his history and world as a maker. His natural enthusiasm for making is infectious.
I’ve gotten most of my most recent model-making tips and tricks from watching his videos. The cosplay stuff isn’t my bag, but witnessing a guy hanging out in his shop, challenging himself to learn new things takes me back to my life long experiences of just being in the garage with my father or grandfather and helping to make or repair whatever it is that needed it.
My entire guitar enterprise was born from a desire to make create something that wasn’t digital.
I’ve been a model-maker (both physical and digital) since I was a little kid. Every time that I watch this channel, pile of materials and available tools – it flashes me back to the dreams I had when I started into the design world. To work at ILM and do cool stuff.
There’s always more to be added, more to explore and resources missing from this list. For instance – I skipped the entire catalogue of blogs & resources and places that I’m using to learn and understand Dynamo, Grasshopper and refine AEC workflows as I try and land on a way to make architecture & design accessible to everyone. I’ll be certainly adding to this as we go.
If you’ve got any suggestions – hit me up. I’m always searching for more. Cheers.
JM
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