Tips On How To “Sell” Your Concept (Ideas) During Reviews

theallnighter:

1) Be Confident, Believe in Ideas - This one is obvious but a lot of times professors like to challenge your confidence rather than your ideas.  Stick to what you worked so hard on and don’t try and change it midway with the attempt to appease the critic.  Your job is to make the “buyer” believe that the best way is the way you came up with…don’t let people tell you otherwise. 

2) Take Constructive Criticism - Despite the first tip, you have to remember you are dealing with people’s egos.  When a critic suggests something and you deny them, you are directly insulting them and sometimes they may not take it lightly.  Now, I’m not saying you have to take all their advice, just be nice about it.  Say something like “that’s an interesting way to look at it” or “I haven’t thought about it that way, I should look into that.”  That way you get them feeling good about themselves and that’s when you take advantage and impose yours in a stronger way.

3) It’s Your Project and Yours Alone - Do not look to anyone (especially your professor) for help during a presentation.  This makes you look weak and unsure about what your doing…even if you already are lol.  If your professor decides to help you out, don’t deny help but never should you depend on it.

4) Know When To BS - In this business, Bull Shitting your way through school is very necessary but not all the time.  During reviews it is OK to say “I don’t know” once in awhile.  Reviews are meant to develop your project and many times not knowing things brings about great discussions.

5)  Be Professional - Act like you care about your work and people will start to care about it back

(via life-of-an-architecture-student)