From Archinect Jobs:

Workshop/APD, an award winning design firm based in New York City, seeks an unpaid architectural intern.

In addition to digital modeling, drafting and rendering, applicants should show an ability to organize, have strong oral and written communication skills, and display a willingness to assist in the administrative functions of a fast-paced office.

Specific requirements include strong knowledge of the following programs:

• AutoCAD
• Adobe programs (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
• 3-D Studio Max, Maya, and/or Form Z

Projects range from traditional to modern and applicants should demonstrate an understanding and interest in both areas. For a broader understanding of our work, please go to www.workshopapd.com

This is an unpaid internship. The number of hours depend on applicant availability.

The principals of workshop/apd are Andrew Kotchen and Michael Berman. You might recognize these two from the Rockport Shoe advertisements. It is no news that many firms have been hit hard by the economic downturn. One sector of the economy that hasn't taken much of a hit is the custom home market for the uber wealthy. workshop/apd is lucky enough to be in this market with many 8000+ sf homes in their portfolio. Currently they are working on the new Visitor's Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Our guess is that Berman and Kotchen are some of the lucky few that can actually afford to pay their workers. It is truly unfortunate that they feel the need to exploit young workers. Any job requiring "strong knowledge" of design programs, as the one posted above, shouldn't be an unpaid internship. They should at least be offering free Rockport Shoes as payment!

If you'd like to contact Mr. Berman or Mr. Kotchen you can email them here.

From Craigslist SF:

Internship- Solar Industry (San Jose, CA)




Clean Solar, Inc. is looking for a motivated unpaid intern to learn about the solar industry. The position would be part-time (20+ hours/week). Clean Solar will teach you about the solar industry. You will learn how to design solar systems, organize the office, prepare all paperwork to complete solar systems. Come join our team.

We are looking for Individuals who/with:
-Work great in small teams
-Self-Motivation
-Have reliable transportation
-Are time-efficient
-Have design experience (CAD or the like)
-Like new company excitement
-Very Organized
-Want to grow & take on more responsibility
-Detail-Oriented

Clean Solar will provide
-A future in the fast-growing solar industry
-In-depth inside knowledge regarding all that is solar
-A progressive work-environment
-An exciting learning environment
-Access and education in one of the fastest growing industries in the world

This is a great opportunity for a hard-working focused individual to get into an exciting field, be involved in a wide range of activities, and really learn a lot about the industry.
We will take care of our entire staff.

Clean Solar Inc., founded by owner Randy Zechman, is a Top 10 Solar Contractor in Northern California who has partnered with a local vocational school to work on a sustainable energy curriculum.

This offer provoked some consideration amongst our editorial staff. Unlike many of the previous exposés we have run circumstances surrounding this situation are not clear. On one hand this is a part time position in a fledgling industry that requires considerable training. On the other hand the ad clearly targets those with some degree of design experience (CAD requirement etc) who should adapt easily to new tasks. Furthermore, the position description undermines the training claim by emphasizing clerical tasks over specialized labor.

We acknowledge that some might see the potential to gain specialized training in such a position as a balance for lack of pay, but we urge Clean Solar Inc. to look beyond sustainable energy and adopt a sustainable business structure that fairly compensates all employees.

What is your opinion?

You can contact Clean Solar Inc. directly here.

From Craigslist LA:

Architecture gallery seeking interns in the Pacific Design Center



SUPERFRONT LA, an offshoot of the experimental architecture gallery and project space in Brooklyn, seeks 2 interns in the Los Angeles area to fulfill curatorial and gallery functions at the Pacific Design Center from 1PM to 5PM, Monday through Friday. Interns will work directly with artists and architects exhibiting work in the gallery, assist with exhibit design and installation, and act as liaisons with the design community of the Pacific Design Center. Each intern will work at the gallery 2-3 days a week, Monday through Friday. Unpaid, pending grant funding.

Mitch McEwen is the director and founder of Superfront. Superfront seems to be a cause that we here at AWETY would champion. From the Superfront website:

SUPERFRONT’s mission is to support, promote, and produce radically contemporary architecture, while fostering creative interdisciplinary exchange.

We fully support Superfront's mission and empathize with the difficulty of their endeavor. Given the tight economy it is difficult to fund experimental and research initiatives.

We urge Ms. McEwen to take the time to devise a more sustainable business plan that does not rely on labor from unpaid interns or to make the connections necessary to offer course credit for architecture students in exchange for service. As it stands the good cause of this organization is endangered by their exploitative business model. To send email to Superfront you can contact them here.

From Craigslist NYC:

INTERIOR DESIGN / MODELMAKING INTERNSHIP

MKDreamDesign is an interior design and architecture firm based in Manhattan.
Our projects include nightclubs, spas, retail stores, restaurants, and residences in New York,
New Jersey, Las Vegas, California, and Dominican Republic (www.mkdreamdesign.com)

We are getting many new building and interior projects and seek a passionate and motivated
intern to start full time. Must be especially strong in modelmaking (physical and 3D computer).
It is an unpaid internship but we provide lunch and you will also learn a lot and engage in all
aspects of a design business from this hands-on internship.

Requirements
- Strong Model-Building skills
- Strong 3D computer modeling skills
- Proficiency in Vectorworks and/or Autocad
- Organizational & Communication skills
- General office skills
- Familiarity with Macs a+
- Graphic design skills a +

Duties:
- Physical model-building
- 3D Computer modeling
- Drafting
- Visiting and measuring sites
- Material and finish selection
- Acquiring and delivering samples
- General office work, answering phones

Please title subject as DESIGN & MODELMAKING INTERNSHIP

Send your cover letter, resume, and samples to:
Mkdreamdesign.jobs@gmail.com

Any resume without samples will not be reviewed.
List all programs you know: vectorworks, rhino, sketchup etc.

Matthew Kelly is the founder of MKDreamDesign. Mr. Kelly needs to be reminded that in the real world people are paid for the job they do. To email Mr. Kelly and remind him that exploiting his workers is wrong, you can contact him here.

From Craigslist NYC:

MR Architecture + Decor, a widely published interior architecture and decor firm, currently has an opening for an unpaid intern in our decor department. The ideal candidate will be an interior design student or recent graduate who can handle multiple tasks with minimal supervision. Duties will include working with the interior designers, running errands, sourcing materials, making follow up phone calls to vendors, organizing the materials library and anything else required to keep the operations running smoothly. Must know MS office and Photoshop, and Auto CAD is a plus. This is an excellent opportunity for students and recent grads looking to enter the interior design field.

For consideration, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to day@mrarch.com. and be sure to include INTERN POSITION in the subject field of the email.

To learn more about David Mann the Principal of MR Architecture + Decor you can read about his "Stylish" lifestyle on Page Six. He also talks about the pains of running a "sweatshop" here.

From Archinect's Job Board:

We are seeking an individual with experience in AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and 3D Studio Max (or comparable). Excellent language and graphic skills are required. Additional information on the studio’s work can be found at: www.campionplatt.com No phone calls please.

This is an unpaid position. An allowance for lunch and travel will be provided. Hours of operation are 9am – 6pm. We are seeking someone available from Memorial to Labor Day.

Luxury might be "about materials and context" as his website asserts, but refusing to pay a summer intern seems less than luxurious. With projects in the Hamptons and Turks and Caicos, it seems Mr. Platt should be able to afford just compensation for a summer employee.

If you feel like being exploited you can contact Mr. Platt here.

Architects design only a small percentage of the built environment. This can be attributed to a failure on the part of the architectural profession to demonstrate that architectural design is of more value than other modes of production. If architecture is to reverse the longstanding trend of diminishing prominence and control, all architects must work to demonstrate the value of their labor.

If the process of hiring an architect for a design is to be justified then the value of that decision must be reflected in the compensation for the entire team that labors toward the realization of that design. When reputations are built on experience it stands to reason that it is bad for the profession if the previous experience of some hires results not from their individual aptitude, but from a willingness to accept unpaid work. It's not a level playing field when some firms are taking advantage of young employees by offering unpaid internships or volunteer positions. Offering inexperienced and desperate young architects jobs working for free or less than minimum wage is plain immoral, unfair, and typically illegal. This blog will aim to end this practice by exposing the firms that unfairly treat their employees.