Architecture Alum Working at The New York Times Says Learn to Love Data

As a major in architecture or any other field, you absolutely must learn computer programming and other high technology to be a compelling job applicant in the 2020s, implored Sarah Almukhtar, a Hiller College of Architecture and Design alumna ('10, B.Arch.) who spoke here last night about her data visualization work for The New York Times.

Almukhtar worked at New York-based Heritage Architecture for two years after graduating from NJIT, discovered her preference for big-picture designs rather than individual buildings and so pursued an M.S. in urban planning from Columbia University where she took a mapping course taught by a Times editor who changed her career path.

"Basically I'm a visual storyteller. I report, just as any journalist does," she explained to the audience of students and faculty. "I do all of that with the goal of telling some kind of visual story that is about the news."

Becoming a journalist never crossed her mind as an undergraduate. But she wouldn't go back and do anything different — "Architecture at its core is a design education," and its rigor is useful in many fields, she noted. The lessons go both directions, she said, because it is equally helpful for an architect to think like a storyteller when designing a building.

Anyone who can work with data, I think, has a real advantage.

Almukhtar gave many examples of her work, including charts, interactive graphics and maps, all designed to distill complicated data into context that's easy on the eyes — reporting isn't like writing an academic paper. Much of her work is in response to urgent bad news such as natural disasters or terror attacks, but she and colleagues also work on political subjects, the Olympics and even culture and fashion news. She demonstrated images that show how wildfires spread, how communities are impacted by floods down a river, and how ISIS gained and then lost territory.

However, she emphasized that a technophobe will have a hard time finding work. Architects already know about computer-aided drafting. Not all jobs will require knowledge about using drones and satellite imaging, as hers does, but those are certainly valuable skills to set apart one architect from another, she observed. "3D modeling and all of the tools you're using here are super important. But also interactivity, if you can learn JavaScript," she said.

"Anyone who can work with data, I think, has a real advantage. Being able to apply interactivity to that is really, I think, the most important thing."

Almukhtar was the first speaker in the Hillier spring alumni series. Mohamed Elshahed of the Cairobserver blog will speak on March 2. The schedule rounds out with Robert Trempe from Aarhus School of Architecture, on March 9; a design showcase event featuring Bryan Lee of Colloqate Design and Chris Kroner of Mass Design Group, both on April 2; and Guide Hartray and Lissa So, from Marvel Architects, both April 6.