Generalists

Week 3.

Lordy.

The basement is forming, the concrete is close to being poured and it’s slowly starting to look like… something!

I’ve watched Lanre confidently tackle issues of varying severity and complexity while I’ve tried my best to wrap my head around the technicalities of water proofing and fire proofing and the inevitable impact the requirements from building control will have on our design and budget.

While this has been stressful (new grey hairs are springing out by the minute), and I have often felt like an awkward observer versus an owner of the house being discussed, what has been a source of joy is watching Lanre work. Watching this dude flex all the tools in his architectural toolbox as he moves seamlessly between minute technical details and big picture design is a thing of beauty. It’s so cool.

I have always found what architects do mind boggling. They have to have the empathy and thoughtfulness to deeply listen to clients and translate their needs into something beautiful and functional, conjuring a perfect combination of form, space, light and interior furnishings. They need to be creative and innovative to ensure that the materials and building methods will work within budget and time constraints. They need to have a deep level of understanding of engineering, construction, and health and safety regulations so that the pretty building won’t blow over or burn down.

In other words, every day architects are basically asked to speak the language of structural engineers, party wall specialists, builders, building control, health and safety specialists, interior designers, lighting specialists, and landscape architects without having specialised in any of those fields. How?? No wonder it takes over seven years to become one! They are like the GP of the design world… the ultimate generalists.

Personally, I have had a long battle with being a ‘generalist’ in my professional career, as my skills, interests and roles are varied, and have become increasingly less specialised. Working within an organisation with lots of specialists surfaces my insecurities as there is no function where I technically belonged, which naturally made me question if I should focus and find my ‘thing’.‘Jack of all trades master of none’? Errm, no thank you, who wants that label?

However, watching Lanre work, is inspiring me to be more confident to stand in the glory of my ‘generalism’ (I don’t think this is a word, but I’m sticking with it!).

I like this quote from Jess McMullin:

There’s a seduction to being an expert, an assumption in society that credibility relies on deep (and narrow) expertise. However, for people operating at the edges, intersections, and overlaps where innovation thrives, being a generalist is far more powerful.

What a rare concoction, and when the mix is right, the results can be magic.

Hats off to the generalists working at the edges.