careernav.

Description

This is an ideal career for creative thinkers. A draftsperson is a skilled technician who draws plans of buildings, machines and products using accurate pictures to capture a design idea. You work under the direction of a building designer or architect and must be highly skilled in building technology. 

Your drawings are like modern blueprints, used as guides for builders and manufacturers. To complete a precise plan, you must combine math skills, such as geometry, trigonometry, and algebra, with your ability to draw. These mathematical concepts are vital to producing an accurate diagram, whether it be scaled up or down from actual size.

As a draftsperson, you can specialise within your field as a architectural draftsperson, government drawer or drafter. You will spend time in an office working on your plans, and depending on your specific field, you may also spend time on site, overseeing the building or manufacturing process.  

What you do every day

Your working day depends on your area of expertise. Architectural draftsperson draw plans for buildings, incorporating your own ideas and those of your client or superior. Government drawers or drafters are required to draw plans for military vehicles, and consequently your work confidential and secure. In general, work as a draftsperson may include analysis of client specifications; making initial sketches to work through ideas; creating detailed designs either manually or using computers; determining the materials required for the production of a design; visiting building sites to ensure that your plans are being followed adequately; ensure that your designs follow the codes and safety regulations of that particular construction; and meet with clients, manufacturers, superiors and local governments to discuss the design and its production.    

Personality that best fits this career

Drafting requires strong artistic, mathematical skillsand logical thinking. You will need the ability to turn abstract ideas and concepts into concrete 2D or 3D designs, therefore must have accurate and detailed technical drawing skills. Your work will require close contact with computers, so an aptitude for learning new programs would be beneficial.

Communication skills are important, since you will have to incorporate your client’s or superior’s ideas into your planning. You will go through multiple design stages, redrafting and making alterations, and so patience and problem solving skills are necessary. During the design process, you will draw off an ability to concentrate and stay organised, as well as manage your time effectively.

Your area of work will run to deadlines, and so working well under pressure is important, alongside a willingness to work long hours, including overtime.

Best thing about this career

The best aspect of being a draftsperson is the freedom to be creative and imaginative. You watch your ideas take form. Despite the pressure of meeting a deadline, nothing beats the pride and satisfaction of seeing your work built or constructed just as you imagined it. Your carefully constructed drawings will often benefit society in large ways, such as bridges, buildings and its fittings, piping and sewer systems, and electrical wiring. This occupation is vital to the construction community.  

Worst thing about this career

Is the mental blocks to your imagination. All artists have their creative blockages, and under the pressure of deadlines, you may find it difficult to think of original designs. Equally it is a pain when your design brief provides little scope for creative freedom. Repetitive drawing of similar designs can get boring.