This article outlines five essential design tips for aspiring architects, focusing on the importance of concept, alignment, scale, proportions, and details in architectural design. Each tip is illustrated with real-life examples, emphasizing how these elements contribute to successful design outcomes. By following these guidelines, budding architects can enhance their design capabilities and create functional yet aesthetically pleasing structures.

1. 5 Design Tips to Design like an Architect
As an aspiring architect, there are a lot of design tips you may have heard.
Deciding which ones are the most important can be overwhelming. In this
article, we’ll go over the 5 best ones to get you designing like an architect! We’ll
break down the elements of concept, alignment, scale, proportions, and finally,
details. We’ll show you an example of each one so you can see real-life
scenarios of good and bad examples. Let’s get started!

5 Tips to Design like an Architect5 Tips to Design like an Architect

2. Design Tips
1. Develop a Concept
A concept is likely one of the first things you will learn about in architecture or
design school. It serves as the basis for all of your design decisions. It can be
literal or abstract. For example, if you use a literal apple as your concept, your
building may look like an apple. If you abstract the apple, your design may
focus on how an apple is formed or grown. As you can see with the design of
the Seattle Public Library, the form is intriguing but also functional. The design
was based around arranging core components of the library in the most logical
way, and the form was then generated from the interior layout. The most ideal
library would be completely linear to easily locate books, but that isn’t very
practical. The architects (OMA) of this library decided to make a ramp that
travels up all of the floors instead. This is a great example of how a concept
informed the entire design of a structure.

3. 2. Focus on Alignment
The second, and possibly the most important of design tips, is alignment. The
first image represents an example of poor alignment. You can see by just being
off by a small amount, the alignment of the ceiling and walls creates a bit of an
eyesore. If each point were to come together at the same point, it would create
a symmetrical and intentional alignment.

4. The next image shows an example of good alignment. The portals line up with
the center of each arch, which also lines up with circles in the tile floor. Above
the portal, you can also see a pointed arch that lines up with the center. The
repetition of elements and precision creates a beautiful and intentional design.
3. Be conscious of scale
Scale can sometimes be easily overlooked, which makes it just as important as
other design tips. You have to keep in mind the function of the space when you
are designing to use an appropriate scale. For example, this house featured on
Architectural Digest includes an over-sized front door, large stairs, and super
high ceilings. These features may be neat for a gallery or large event, but
they’re not practical for everyday use for one person.

5. 4. Maintain proportions
Possibly the second most important design tips are proportions. It really comes
down to the unification of alignment and scale. Similarly to how the scale is
relative to the user, the proportion is relative to the other pieces of the building.
When looking at a proportional building, one side may be twice as long or the
same size as the first side. The Parthenon is a perfect example of proportion.
The capital of the column is the same length as the space between each
column. The details in the frieze are proportional to each other as well.

6. 5. Don’t forget the details
Details are essentially the culmination of all of the previous design tips. If you
keep each one of them in consideration when designing, you can create
beautiful details. The façade of this building was clearly well-thought. The
geometric pattern is recessed and aligns perfectly with the reveals. Because of
the attention to detail, the overall appearance and concept can shine through.
In this ecclesiastical design by Tadao Ando, you can see the alignment of every
joint and the opening of the cross. The architect is using contrast between light
and darkness and materials to showcase the cross detail.

7. Revit Essentials: For Project Managers and Owners → 
Being a great architect takes knowledge, training, and practice, but if you keep
these five design tips in mind, you will be well on your way to designing like an
architect! Were there any tips that you disagreed with? What do you think is the
most important design tip? Let us know in the comments!
Be sure to check out the rest of our tutorials and tips to further improve your
design skills!
Happy Hacking!
architecture design designer tip interior architecture

8. 27 COMMENTS
Allstarcarpetandtiles
June 24, 2019 at 10:31 am #
Great tips. I’m bookmarking this page. Its a great resource to keep. Thanks for
sharing.
Hamzakhan17826
May 19, 2019 at 7:16 am #
Ok sure, I will follow your steps before going to do exams. I hope your article will
help me more.
Karlmistos
May 14, 2019 at 10:41 pm #
Thanks for sharing this. I’ll definitely share this with my classmates at de la salle
zobel.
Classboat01
October 17, 2018 at 7:37 am #
Hello there and thanks for your information, I have certainly picked up allot new
info from right your post. You are also provided information about best tips for
exam,Which is very helpful to me and other people also.

9. Mikemoreno
September 5, 2018 at 3:48 am #
thank you very much, verry helpfull…
Jogesh12345
August 14, 2018 at 1:55 am #
Very effective and informative article.Thanks for sharing such an important tutorial.
FLMIMA
August 11, 2018 at 9:20 pm #
Really helpful website
Rumi
July 15, 2018 at 7:16 am #
I feel very grateful that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really
learned a lot from it.
RJennings
April 28, 2018 at 6:12 pm #
Thank you for this website. The practice questions are helpful.

10. Scott
March 22, 2018 at 1:50 pm #
Taking this test on Saturday. Last 4.0 exam to complete for the trio, then on to 5.0.
This site is my go-to place when organizing what materials I’ll be studying
Shozab
January 30, 2018 at 2:22 pm #
Hi , very good article.
thanks for sharing, keep up the good work
Dyba
January 27, 2018 at 1:08 am #
Good advice. Best of luck to all!
KendraShirley
January 16, 2018 at 4:04 pm #
This is my favorite site for practicing for my tests! Great advise and super helpful.
Reximagetrim
January 16, 2018 at 10:37 am #
Nice post to read. A complete guide that can help all of us.

11. Tylerstockholm
December 17, 2017 at 9:37 pm #
Nice one… very helpful! Thanks!!!
Aartiwalvekar
November 21, 2017 at 8:56 am #
Nice post
Aartiwalvekar
October 9, 2017 at 9:45 pm #
Great post!
Tony
August 30, 2017 at 7:07 am #
In the NCARB ARE 5.0 handbook they reference Fundamentals of Building
Construction: Materials and Methods in both of their example questions for cost
estimating. Unfortunately there isn’t a specific chapter on cost estimating, it’s
woven throughout the content.
Spencer
August 30, 2017 at 1:15 am #
What is the best reference for cost estimating for PDD.

12. Amy
July 26, 2017 at 3:24 pm #
Thanks! Great advice
Tony
June 29, 2017 at 7:23 am #
Deciduous trees should only be used for shade (especially in temperate climates).
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall and will have little protection against
wind in the winter when it is most needed. Likewise, the leafless trees allow solar
heat gain in the winter when it is desired, and shade in the summer.
Coniferous trees are only to be used to block wind and views. Since they don’t lose
their needles, they work great for these two items year-round.
Shahid Logan
June 28, 2017 at 4:50 pm #
Hello. My name is Shahid. This comment is for anyone who would like to reply. On
the Siteplanning test. To block the wind, can you use a Deciduous tree or must you
use a Coniferous tree?
Mike
January 4, 2017 at 11:04 am #
Hi Tony,

13. I need to take 5.0 PPD & PDD. Do you plan on posting notes such as “Caroline’s
Notes” that you had posted for the various 4.0 exams for either of those sections? I
found those notes to be some of the best resources in studying for the 4.0
sections. If so any idea when? Thanks
Stephen
October 17, 2016 at 9:30 pm #
Hi Tony,
Any updates on the SS exam ? If there’s an expected release date ? Thanks
DesignerHacks
October 4, 2016 at 12:11 pm #
Paige,
We are releasing practice exams for the SS exam later this fall.
Best,
Tony
Paige
October 4, 2016 at 11:34 am #
Will you have SS questions on here at some point?
Daniel
September 9, 2016 at 8:47 am #

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Great post, very helpful with the lists of suggested materials, I just passed CDs in
July and am taking PPP in November so I definitely needed the list.