Learning opportunities marred by late nights and unclear deadlines - Architect Ochre Architects Employee Review

Hands-on experience in design process

The internship experience was highly challenging due to a lack of professionalism from management ( principal architects itself ). There were instances of consistent mental pressure from principal architects, including being criticized for work that was done exactly as instructed, which created a confusing and stressful environment. Feedback often felt less constructive and more fault-finding in nature. The stipend provided was lower ( 1k to 2k given as stipend )than what was initially stated in the appointment terms ( 3.5k to .5k ), which was disappointing given the workload. Working hours were extremely demanding, frequently extending until 3–4 AM, with expectations to report back by 9 AM, leaving little to no work-life balance. Interns were often treated as easily replaceable rather than as learners, and there were occasions where personal interests were unnecessarily commented on, which felt unprofessional. Favoritism observed in stipend distribution over actual work.

Interesting Design ideas and form conception.

Extremely low compensation (4500 INR for a month). Less collaborative, with little to no involvement in the design process. Insidious gaslighting tactics used by the Principal Architect to demoralise even the senior-most architects should definitely be seen as a red flag. A rigid, confrontational mindset coupled with a "Do as I say/sketch" attitude definitely hinders teamwork, demoralises confidence, with little to no room to make honest mistakes and learn from them. Such practices should not be encouraged in our profession.