Communication matters in architecture because good work still needs to be understood. Whether you are interviewing, presenting, leading a team or sharing ideas online, the way you explain your thinking affects how people respond.
This Women in Architecture communication masterclass brought together Stephen Drew, Ashley Faugeul, Katia Polidoro and Karen Fugle to look at confidence, clarity, public speaking, authenticity and leadership.
View the masterclass material
The embedded material gives extra context from the session. Use it alongside the practical notes below, especially if you are preparing for an interview, presentation or public speaking opportunity.
Stephen Drew: stop treating interviews like an interrogation
Stephen’s point is useful for candidates: an interview is not only a test of whether you are good enough. It is a conversation about fit, evidence and whether both sides can work well together.
That shift matters. When candidates enter the room trying only to please, they can become vague, overly polite or scared to ask sensible questions. Better communication starts with understanding your value and explaining it plainly.
Ashley Faugeul: make complex ideas easier to understand
Architecture can be dense. Visual communication, plain language and authenticity help people understand the idea without fighting through jargon. That applies to portfolios, practice marketing, presentations and LinkedIn posts.
Katia Polidoro: public speaking can be learned
Confidence is not always a personality trait. It can be built through preparation, repetition and finding a communication style that works for how you think. That is especially important for people who do not naturally enjoy the spotlight.
Karen Fugle: leadership depends on clear team communication
Leadership communication is not about sounding impressive. It is about making expectations, responsibilities and feedback easier to understand. In architecture teams, that can reduce confusion and help people do better work.
Communication prompts to use this week
Pick one situation where clearer communication would help, then practise before it matters.
- For an interview: write three examples that prove your value.
- For a presentation: explain the idea before showing every detail.
- For leadership: make the next action, owner and deadline unmissable.
Architecture Social view
Stephen’s recruiter view is that communication often changes the outcome before technical skill has a chance to be judged properly. The strongest candidates, leaders and practices make their thinking easy to follow.
Next step
Before your next interview, review, talk or LinkedIn post, write the one thing you want the audience to remember. If that is unclear, the rest of the communication will feel unclear too.
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