Freelance work refers to work that you do on a contract basis. This self-employed form of work allows you to work for money on a per-job basis in the form of an independent contractor. Freelance Architectural Designers are responsible for marketing themselves to clients and handling business responsibilities that come with working on architectural design jobs. If you choose to work as a freelance Architectural Designer, you can expect to help individuals and businesses with remodeling projects or create general plans for buildings and landscapes. Keep reading this article to find out more about the differences between working as a freelance Architectural Designer and working in-house. 

Freelance vs. In-house Architectural Designer

There are significant differences between working as a freelance Architectural Designer and an in-house Architectural Designer. Working as a freelancer provides you with a more flexible schedule than working in-house. You can set your hours instead of following the hours of the firm you work at if you have an in-house job. However, working as a freelancer means that you lack some of the benefits that come with working for a company, like paid time off. In-house Architectural Designers benefit from stable employment, but their creative freedom may be more constrained than freelance Architectural Designers. 

Benefits & Potential Challenges of Architectural Designer Freelancing

Before deciding to pursue a career as a freelance Architectural Designer, consider the benefits and potential challenges of freelancing. 

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Benefits

  • Potential for higher earnings. Working as a freelance Architectural Designer means that you set the prices for your services. Rather than earning a salary from the firm you work for, you’ll directly charge clients for your services. Most freelance workers pay attention to market rates to ensure that their prices appeal to clients looking to hire an Architectural Designer. 
  • Control over your schedule. Freelance workers set their own hours. Most Architectural Designers who work for a firm will work around 40 to 50 hours a week, Monday through Friday. When you provide freelance services, you can choose to work as many or as few hours as you’d like. Just make sure you communicate timelines and progress to your clients regularly. 
  • Location flexibility. Freelance work allows you a degree of flexibility when it comes to your location. You can opt to work remotely or travel for jobs instead of being tied to the location of the firm you work for. If you enjoy traveling and don’t want to establish an office, you’ll have even more flexibility to move yourself and your business around. 

Challenges 

  • Inconsistent income. Working as a freelancer comes with the potential challenge of inconsistent income. Freelance Architectural Designers need to continue to market themselves to potential clients and may also have to rely on former clients recommending them to others. Some clients may prefer to do business with a firm over a freelancer which contributes to the potential for a fluctuating workflow. 
  • Business management responsibilities. Freelance Architectural Designers are responsible for managing their business operations. They need to handle contracts with clients, market their services, and manage other business aspects of working in architectural design. Some freelance Architectural Designers hire consultants to help them establish their business. 
  • Staying disciplined. Another challenge some freelance workers face is staying disciplined. The lack of a structured work environment and the potential for distractions when working from home can cause difficulties when you need to stay on top of your work. The best way to avoid distractions and stay motivated is to create a dedicated workspace, establish a daily routine, and set realistic goals and deadlines. 

What is an Architectural Designer?

Architectural Designers transform design concepts into reality. When studying architectural design, students learn how to create functional, sustainable, responsive, and aesthetically pleasing structures. This role requires one to develop technical design skills and soft skills. Architectural Designers must also keep up with industry trends. In recent years, sustainable design has become more popular among home and business owners. Many clients expect new builds to incorporate sustainable designs and energy-efficient systems. An Architectural Designer looking forward knows how to keep up with these trends and advancements in architecture and construction. 

Architectural Designers often work with other professionals involved in architecture and construction. Architects usually lead an architectural design team. They plan and oversee the construction process while also managing contracts. Architectural Designers may also work alongside Interior Designers, who make indoor spaces functional, and BIM Specialists. This role may also require collaborating with engineers, contractors, and clients. The level of teamwork associated with Architectural Designer roles means that individuals working in this field need excellent communication skills. 

What is Architectural Designer Freelancing Like?

Freelance Architectural Designers can look for work on freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. In the world of architectural design, you will also benefit from having industry contacts. Connections to professionals in your field can help you hear about jobs more quickly than if you search on your own, and some of your contacts may even recommend you to clients if they know you do good work. 

One of your responsibilities as a freelance Architectural Designer is negotiating contracts with clients. Doing so means you need to understand how contracts work in architectural design. Another responsibility is to communicate with clients, although you can expect to have to communicate with clients if you work for an architectural firm too. Freelance Architectural Designers are responsible for all communication with clients, including contract negotiations and design feedback. You can enroll in architectural design training classes to learn more about the responsibilities of freelance Architectural Designers, including how to create a contract. 

Is Architectural Designer Freelancing Right for Me?

You should carefully consider the benefits and challenges of freelancing before committing to starting a career as a freelance Architectural Designer. Aside from the financial benefits and challenges associated with freelancing, you also need to consider whether you have the temperament to be successful as a freelance Architectural Designer. 

Successful freelance workers are self-reliant and independent. They can successfully manage their workflows and projects and also have the initiative necessary to push forward with projects. A good freelancer can also adapt to the changing needs of clients and market trends. This may require scrapping plans or adjusting their schedule as needed. To become a better freelance Architectural Designer, you can enroll in courses that will help you improve your communication, project management, and interpersonal skills. Working on projects will also help you gain more experience and learn what makes a successful freelance Architectural Designer first-hand. 

Steps to Become a Freelance Architectural Designer

The steps to becoming an Architectural Designer are pretty straightforward. You may find that you have to start from the beginning or that you already have completed some of the steps. 

  • Receive Architectural Designer training. When training to become an Architectural Designer, you have a few options. The traditional route is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field. Another option is to enroll in training classes like the ones offered by Noble Desktop. In your classes, you’ll learn foundational design principles and how to use architectural design tools. Training classes also provide a great way to improve your communication skills, which will become essential when you’re an Architectural Designer. 
  • Gain practical experience. Before you can pursue a career in architectural design, you need experience. Apply for an internship at an architectural firm. During an internship, you’ll gain experience in project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and developing drawings. Internships provide experience that you can include on your resume and in your portfolio. 
  • Build your portfolio. You can include the work you’ve done at your internship along with class projects in your portfolio. The portfolio of a beginner Architectural Designer should showcase your skills, best work, and technical drawings. You can join architectural associations and attend workshops to help bolster your portfolio and resume. 
  • Look for freelance architectural design jobs. After you’ve completed your training, gained practical experience, and built a polished portfolio, you can look for people and businesses looking to hire an Architectural Designer. At this stage, you need to understand what the architectural design market looks like in your area. You will likely benefit from having industry connections, so you may want to spend some time working for a firm before breaking into the freelance market. 

Learn Business Skills

In addition to all the skills of a regular Architectural Designer, future freelance Architectural Designers will need to learn skills for running their own business (such as finance and contract law) and marketing their business (such as web design and social media marketing). Even freelance Architectural Designers who plan to contract consultants to help run their small business should have a basic understanding of these areas to understand what kind of outsourcing they need to support their freelance work.

Learn the Skills to Become an Architectural Designer at Noble Desktop

Interested in developing the skills needed to become an Architectural Designer? Check out these accredited classes offered by VDCI. 

In VDCI’s online Revit Architecture Professional Program, you’ll learn Revit Architecture. Lessons included in this part-time program will teach you beginner to advanced-level skills. The program includes five Revit courses: Introduction to Revit, Intermediate Revit, and BIM Construction Documents I, II, and III. Over 26 weeks, you’ll spend 140 clock hours learning the skills needed to create models of real-world structures and buildings. Students who complete the class with a grade of 70% or higher will receive a verified credential from Accredible. 

If you want to learn Revit quickly, you can instead enroll in VDCI’s Revit Fundamentals Fast-Track Program. This program includes two online Revit courses that will help you develop the in-demand technical skills needed to create 3D models used in the field. VDCI’s fast-track program gives you the chance to learn Revit quickly and affordably compared to traditional degree programs. Tuition is roughly $1,200 plus fees, with payment plans available. You can expect to finish the course in 12 weeks or 60 clock hours. 

Enroll in VDCI’s BIM Certificate Program to learn the skills and knowledge applied in Revit Architecture. The class teaches you how to create construction documents directly from the BIM model and lets you specialize in AutoCAD Fundamentals, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, or another training path. This accelerated, accredited program includes 290 clock hours that you’ll spend taking lessons and working on a capstone project. After completing the course, you’ll receive a verified digital credential from Accredible. 

Need to learn the essentials of AutoCAD? Register for VDCI’s Introduction to AutoCAD class and learn how to use the software application to create and manage your drawings. This 100% online class includes lessons on drafting symbols, kitchen and bath fixtures, and a floor plan. You’ll also learn how to create and insert blocks and externally reference files. You can expect hands-on lessons as you draw a floor plan for a Habitat for Humanity residential project. To ensure that you develop the skills and knowledge expected, you’ll take quizzes related to your project, engage with classmates in a discussion forum, and submit regular progress updates. VDCI encourages you to engage with others in your discussion forums and during 1:1 time with your instructor.