Last updated on Jul 8, 2024

Here's how you can showcase your problem-solving skills in a Building Design interview.

When you're preparing for an interview in the field of Building Design, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems. This skill is a cornerstone of the profession, as it involves creating functional and aesthetically pleasing structures within various constraints such as budget, regulations, and client needs. In an interview setting, you'll want to articulate how you approach problem-solving in a way that highlights your expertise and creativity. Here's a guide on how to effectively showcase your problem-solving skills during a Building Design interview.

1 Exhibit Work

Bring a portfolio of your work that illustrates your problem-solving abilities. Select projects that had unique challenges and explain how you addressed them. For instance, if you designed a building with significant space limitations, discuss the innovative layout solutions you implemented. Your portfolio is a visual testimony of your skills, so ensure it's well-organized and showcases a variety of projects. This shows your versatility and ability to handle different types of design problems.

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Hunter Bristow

Retired University Architect
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In an interview, it’s always important to have graphic representation of your work. It is just important to talk about your abilities and experience because it tells how you will interact with clients and with coworkers architecture is an interactive process. You can’t do it alone although some people think they can. Teamwork is a key to a successful project.

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Carmen Torres

Associate | Sustainability Lead at Perkins Eastman
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An example that I have seen that has made candidates stand out during interviews is how their problem-solving contributions positively impacted the bottom-line. Positive impact can be monetary savings, timeline improvements, stakeholder buy-in or even avoiding a forecasted problem all together. Connecting your skills to a metrics that people understand is always powerful and a strong visual to your value.

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2 Discuss Process

Talk about your design process in a way that emphasizes problem-solving. Start by explaining how you gather information and requirements, then move on to how you brainstorm and evaluate different design options. Highlight how you use critical thinking to weigh the pros and cons of each solution. By walking the interviewer through your process, you make it clear that problem-solving is an integral part of your methodology.

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Carmen Torres

Associate | Sustainability Lead at Perkins Eastman
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From my experience, the most successful design process is one that identifies key parameters with the key decision makers early that take into account both goals and aspirations holistically. No project can ever be the same, but working through how to balance all key components to make the best outcome for the client is the most important skill. It requires planning, open communication, ongoing analysis, data-driven evaluations and a life centered design approach.

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Uchenna Anoliefo

Architect/ Project Manager/ Consultant/ Interior Designer
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Discussing the process is a great way of highlighting the potentialities and risks in the lifecycle of a design or project. Taking the time to discuss this is important...

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3 Share Stories

Share specific anecdotes from your experience where you successfully solved a difficult design issue. Perhaps you found an innovative way to integrate sustainable materials into a project or overcame a zoning restriction creatively. Stories make your experience more relatable and memorable, which can help you stand out in the interviewer's mind. They also serve as proof of your ability to apply problem-solving skills in real-world situations.

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Carmen Torres

Associate | Sustainability Lead at Perkins Eastman
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One of the most challenging design hurdles is how to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of the project as cost-effectively as possible? I had the opportunity to make a positive impact on a public project with no additional budget, incentives, certification or policies that could provide support this effort. Therefore conducted a targeted approach by taking a deep dive to understanding where did most of the embodied carbon was being spend? Of that list, which could be lowered the most? Results noted that the top contributor was the concrete that going into the building. This resulted in focusing our team’s efforts to reducing our impact for concrete by introducing fly ash/slag in a way that all stakeholders and project goals were met.

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4 Reflect Adaptability

Emphasize your adaptability by discussing how you handle unexpected problems that arise during a project. Building Design is full of surprises, and your ability to pivot and find new solutions is key. Talk about a time when a project didn't go as planned and how you adapted your design to meet the new circumstances. This will show that you're not just a problem solver but also flexible and resilient under pressure.

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5 Demonstrate Collaboration

Highlight your collaborative problem-solving skills by mentioning projects where you worked with others to find solutions. Building Design is often a team effort, and being able to work with other professionals such as engineers, contractors, and clients is vital. Discuss how you communicate and integrate ideas from different team members to create a cohesive design solution.

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6 Apply Theory

Lastly, connect your practical experience with theoretical knowledge. Discuss design principles or theories you apply when solving design problems, like the use of natural light to enhance space or the implementation of energy-efficient systems. This shows that your problem-solving approach is grounded in a solid understanding of Building Design fundamentals, which can be very impressive to potential employers.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can showcase your problem-solving skills in a Building Design interview.

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Exhibit Work

2 Discuss Process

3 Share Stories

4 Reflect Adaptability

5 Demonstrate Collaboration

6 Apply Theory

7 Here’s what else to consider

Building Design

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Here's how you can showcase your problem-solving skills in a Building Design interview.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Exhibit Work

2 Discuss Process

3 Share Stories

4 Reflect Adaptability

5 Demonstrate Collaboration

6 Apply Theory

7 Here’s what else to consider

Building Design

Rate this article

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