Depending on the size of the firm they work for, architects do everything from planning to designing to estimating costs to overseeing construction. They design a wide variety of residences, commercial structures and renovations. Famed architect Michael Graves, is known for his design of items for the home, such as his renowned bluebird teapot. An architect designed the Nike Air shoes.
Architects spend a good deal of their time sitting at computers and drawing boards.
However, not all of their time is spent in the office. An architect is often the individual who supervises a building project. They go out into the field to talk to clients, meet with city officials and consult with other professionals. Once construction has begun, they make lots of trips to the building sites to insure that the contractors and sub-contractors are building the structure to their specifications. They often put on hard hats in order to do a more careful inspection of a building in progress.