Experienced architecture tutor with a 1st class degree from the Bartlett, MArch. Make your architecture application and portfolio for interviews/crits stand out with tutoring to boost your portfolio

Find out more about Olivia

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  Like many architecture students, I came into the field without much background or interest in it. One of the tale-as-old-as-time scenarios of "I like art and am good at maths" where your parents encourage you into studying it. Once at university, I didn't immediately click with the subject either, which I find is common amongst students. However, in second year, I found myself with a tutor and cohort that supported me, and I finally had that "a-ha!" moment. Everything just clicked and I fell in love with the subject and never looked back.
  
  Part of said tutor's methodology was to bring in older and ex-students from his class to help tutor the younger students and get them excited about the field. This process really stuck with me and encouraged me to teach his current students. By gaining this experience in teaching, I found what I really loved about the study of architecture: the dissemination of knowledge and enriching discussions.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Architecture is an inherently interdisciplinary field and as such I love discussing with students many theoretical and practical subjects including architectural history and theory, fine art, graphic design, digital skills and philosophy. I am an award-winning artist as well as architect with my work exhibited in many galleries including the Soane Museum so I particularly enjoy helping my students with their visual communication skills. This builds up their abilities to not only design interesting spaces, but also sketch ideas to communicate with bosses and clients, as well as how to present and layout their work to land jobs and academic offers.
  
  I love learning about the rich research methods and ideas behind students' work and helping them to get the most of their work, even if that is just learning how to talk about it effectively, resulting in many of my students developing and practicing their interview skills with me.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My undergraduate tutor, Mani Lall, changed my life both academically and personally. The influence of a great tutor is infinite. Not only did he teach me how to correctly hold a pencil, spatial design skills and how to present my work to an audience, but he also taught me how to be resilient, hard-working and intrinsically motivated. These are skills that I now aim to pass on to my students, after years of perfecting them myself. I know these abilities don't form overnight and my goal is to meet students where they are and work at their pace to develop the relevant abilities they need to boost their career and stand out from the crowd.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  A good tutor should be understanding and compassionate, but also truthful. If something in your portfolio isn't working, they need to be able to tell you with a game plan of what to do next. I have encountered tutors who have told me that my work is "fine" or just "keep going with it" when what I really needed was to hear why it wasn't going to help me reach my academic goals. A good tutor should listen to what your goals are and help you reach them, not brush them off! However, this should be done in a patient and empathetic manner.
  
  Experience is also integral to being a good tutor. Tutors should be open to learn how they can be better teachers throughout their career and in this way gain not just a certain number of years of experience but also a quality of experience.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  My 4th academic year was extremely difficult. Not only did I struggle with the coursework, but a few weeks before the 2 final deadlines of the year my hard drive broke and I lost ALL of my work. I had to redo almost everything. Despite it all, I passed and then went on to have the most successful academic year I have ever had during the final year of my masters. This experience taught me not only about resilience and time management, but also, learning from how tutors dealt with what happened to my work taught me how to handle similar difficult situations amongst my own students with tenderness and understanding.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  One of the biggest challenges students face right now is when they enter the workforce, they are often not equipped with the skills needed to work in an architectural practice. This not only includes their architectural knowledge but also extends to office skills such as time management and presentability. Students are used to working on their own and in their own time and often struggle to adjust. I am open to discussing with students their worries about life in practice to help them acclimate easier.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  My passion for teaching only grows as I gain more experience through Superprof. Outside of teaching I am growing as an artist within the architectural field. For this reason, I enjoy encouraging students to develop their own practices within architecture, whether that be 3D modelling, hand drawing or model making. By discussing their work, we often find what really matters to the student and I love to encourage their passions to shine.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I enjoy getting to know students as individuals and building relationships with them. I have watched students grow from tutorial to tutorial and seen them present work at crits/reviews that is worlds apart from where they started. Seeing this improvement and how proud students can be of themselves after we have worked together brings me so much joy.
  
  Additionally, all of the students I have met through Superprof have been lovely and very enthusiastic, which makes me excited to see where they go next and how they will grow as architects and people.