Have you ever felt like you were missing some real experience to leverage during your job interviews?
University classes are often limited to theory, and students gain only a superficial idea of what working in an architectural practice really looks like.
This condition generates a significant gap between education and the profession, also considering that, in the job market, the demand for experience and tangible results is increasingly higher.
As a postgraduate institute with the ambition to connect talented young designers with the greatest players on the international scene, Yacademy works as the bridge between classes and the professional world, offering its students what is lacking among college desks: real experience, a rich network, practical skills, and personal competencies.
Applications are open for the educational offer 2026/2027: what will you be able to say in your next interview if you join one of Yacademy’s courses? Read on to find out and watch the testimonies by the school’s alumni to know what may happen after only 10 weeks at Yacademy.
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“I developed a real project with an internationally renowned architecture firm”
An essential part of Yacademy’s programs is the design workshop, an opportunity to work on a real design case under the tutorship of some of the most important firms worldwide. Through periodical sessions with the workshop tutor, students will be able to develop a project from start to finish, guided by experienced professionals through all the steps of the design process.
The now-open educational offer includes the following design workshops:
- Anticipate the future of urban suburbs through AI with Carlo Ratti Associati – course in AI for Urban Regeneration (a project by Urban Up | Unipol)
- Design a paediatric hospice near the current hospital in Assisi with Benedetta Tagliabue – EMBT Architects – course in Earth Architecture (a project by wienerberger)
- Transform a UNESCO-listed industrial heritage site into the new complex for the Guggenheim Museum with Herzog & de Meuron – course in Architecture for Exhibition
- Define a student housing system in an industrial archaeological area in Rome with ZHA Architects – course in Off-site Technology for Architecture (a project by Manni)
Being guided by professionals of this calibre in developing a real design project means gaining a privileged insight into the vision and approach of the most renowned architectural offices in the world. It is a quality that most design firms will take into the highest consideration, as it proves that you can contribute valuably to their work.
Yacademy in visit to Stadtcasino, Basel (project by Herzog & de Meuron)
2. “I learned to defend my ideas in front of experienced professionals”
Besides learning from the greatest masters of architecture, you will also gain experience in presenting your projects – including your design choices, concept, and solutions – to experienced professionals in the field. One of the main challenges architects face in their everyday practice is dealing with the client, finding compromises between demands and feasibility, ambition and effectiveness.
Along with the design workshop reviews, students are given the opportunity to show their project to other renowned architects who, after their Special Lectures, make themselves available to give their feedback on the design workshop projects.
Some of the lecturers who are part of the Yacademy’s teaching panel are Frans Van Vuure and Raul Forsoni (UNS), Kim Fröhlich and Jeremy Addison (Herzog & de Meuron), Sameep Padora, Alexander Kindlen (Snøhetta), Damien Faraut (Ateliers Jean Nouvel), Arne Emerson (Morphosis), Andrea D’Antrassi (MAD Architects).
Sometimes, communication skills can make a difference when dealing with a client: by providing you with several occasions to discuss your design project with experienced professionals, Yacademy allows you to develop this quality and stand out among other candidates.
Yacademy in Fondazione Prada, Milan (project by OMA)
3. “I worked beyond the classroom, exploring real sites, materials and production processes”
Construction is a long and broad journey, and finding a design concept is just the beginning.
Despite being consequential, all the steps of the architectural process are influenced by one another. For this reason, having experience with construction sites, knowing how the building phase is structured, and being knowledgeable of the materials’ characteristics are all elements that contribute substantially to the success of the architectural project.
With this in mind, Yacademy’s programs include site visits to locations that are meaningful to the design workshop topic and to companies and construction sites that offer students a first-hand understanding of materials, techniques, and technologies adopted in the construction activities.
4. “I designed with people from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds.”
Diversity is a great plus in every area of life, and design is no exception.
On the contrary: being able to dialogue with people from different countries and cultures is a valuable quality, especially in the field of architecture, where you often find yourself working with various people and for different clients.
One of the great advantages of Yacademy is that it connects you with peer young designers from all over the world, whereas university is often limited to the specific area where it is located. Thus, Yacademy challenges you to keep your mind open and allows you to learn more about cultures and backgrounds you would never imagine otherwise. This results in a diversified and multi-layered educational experience, where architecture goes along with connections, relationships, and culture, ensuring an enriching and all-rounded experience that goes way beyond design.
The post 10 weeks to become a stronger candidate for the studio of your dreams: what you will be able to say in your next interview after attending a Yacademy course appeared first on Competitions.archi.