Interview

I belong to the Planning Department. My main role is to support clients even before they purchase land, by answering questions such as ‘What kind of building can be constructed here?’ I conduct site research, create planning proposals, and study what scale of building can be developed on the property. Based on that, I prepare drawings and floor area charts to present to the client. This forms the core of my work.

I wanted to work in architectural design, and I was looking to be involved in larger-scale projects rather than single-family houses. What drew me to Gendai Sogo Design was that the firm handles many multi-family residential projects. When I looked through past projects on the website, I felt that the design style matched my own preferences, and that made me think, ‘This is where I want to work.’ That was the biggest deciding factor.

I was surprised to find that there are quite a lot of company events, which give me opportunities to talk with senior colleagues. The seniors get along really well with each other, and that positive atmosphere makes it easy for us to enjoy ourselves, too.

To be honest, I used to think that design work was more about quietly working alone. But after joining the company, I realized that most of the work is done in teams and there’s a lot of active communication within the office. I often have chances to interact not only with my own team but also with other teams and supervisors, which makes the atmosphere feel very open. I think it’s a really comfortable environment to work in.

The most memorable experience was when my team took over a very large-scale project that had already been in motion before I joined. Since I wasn’t involved from the beginning, it was quite challenging to understand and organize the vast amount of information that was nearly complete, and then further refine it. That experience left a particularly strong impression on me.

When I joined the company, I didn’t have much knowledge about design, but through my work in the Planning Department, I’ve been able to handle the full range of tasks within a year. As you continue working, your knowledge naturally grows, so I’d say you shouldn’t overthink it. If you find design enjoyable, this company is a place where you can seize opportunities.