internship --- and haircut

momrath
Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:36:29 +0000

@bgbg4us, Glad to hear that the outcome turned out more stylish than shocking. Generally speaking, architecture firms do care a lot about design, and nothing goes unnoticed. They don’t have a problem with an employee making a personal statement in their hair or clothing, as long as it’s a nuanced, tasteful statement, rather than a big look-at-me! arrow.

My observation from the places where my son has worked is that the kind of firms that might have budgets to offer PAID internships tend to be more understated fashion-wise. I wouldn’t call them conservative or stodgy; but probably not art school edgy. She’d most likely find hipper, trendier culture at hipper, trendier firms, but often those internships are unpaid.

One of the most valuable aspects of an architecture internship is the opportunity to observe how the firm interacts with clients, governmental agencies, support partnerships like engineers, landscapers, specialists – each of which may have its own cultural criteria. Anything extreme – hair, clothes, piercings, tattoos – may limit her inclusion. As an intern or entry level designer, it’s better to stay neutral.