As I recently earned my AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, I’ve been reflecting on the surprising parallels between my experience in kitchen installation and my new path in cloud engineering. While these fields might seem worlds apart, the underlying principles of design, structure, and problem-solving create a fascinating bridge between physical and digital architecture.
The Blueprint Connection
In kitchen installation, every project begins with detailed blueprints—precise measurements, spatial planning, and material specifications. Similarly, cloud architecture requires careful planning of resources, understanding spatial relationships between services, and selecting the right components for the job.
When I design a kitchen layout, I’m constantly thinking about workflow efficiency—how the sink, hob, and fridge relate to each other in the “work triangle.” In cloud computing, I’m learning to apply the same thinking to how different AWS services communicate and work together, minimizing latency and maximizing efficiency.
Resource Management
Budget constraints and resource optimization are universal challenges. In kitchen installation, I’ve become adept at maximizing value while working within client budgets—selecting appropriate materials, avoiding waste, and finding creative solutions to unexpected problems.
In my AWS training, I’ve discovered this mindset transfers perfectly to cloud cost optimization. Whether it’s right-sizing EC2 instances, implementing auto-scaling, or choosing the appropriate storage class for S3 buckets, the goal remains the same: deliver maximum value within resource constraints.
Project Management Parallels
Perhaps the most transferable skill is project management. Kitchen installations taught me to:
- Break large projects into manageable phases
- Coordinate dependencies between different specialists
- Manage client expectations through clear communication
- Troubleshoot unexpected issues without derailing the entire project
- Document processes for future reference
These skills map directly to cloud deployment projects, where orchestrating different services, managing stakeholder expectations, and documenting infrastructure are essential for success.
The Client Relationship
In both fields, understanding client needs is paramount. A kitchen isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how the client will use the space daily. Similarly, cloud architecture isn’t just about technical specifications—it’s about supporting business objectives and user experiences.
My experience translating client wishes into functional kitchen designs has prepared me well for translating business requirements into appropriate cloud solutions.
Embracing Continuous Learning
Perhaps the most important parallel is the necessity for continuous learning. Building standards and materials evolve in construction just as cloud services and best practices evolve in technology. My experience adapting to new kitchen design trends and installation techniques has fostered a growth mindset that serves me well in the rapidly changing cloud computing landscape.
Looking Forward
As I continue my journey from physical to digital architecture, I’m excited to leverage these transferable skills while building new technical expertise. The AWS Cloud Practitioner certification is just the beginning—I’m currently working on practical projects to deepen my understanding of services like EC2, S3, and Lambda, with an eye toward the Solutions Architect Associate certification.
Current Projects
As part of my hands-on learning, I’m currently building:
- This portfolio website using Hugo and hosting it on AWS S3
- Exploring CloudFront for content delivery optimization
- Learning Route 53 for domain management
Each project reinforces the theoretical knowledge from my certification studies with practical, real-world application.
Reflections on the Transition
The transition from physical to digital architecture has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. The analytical thinking required to troubleshoot a kitchen installation problem—identifying root causes, considering multiple solutions, and implementing the most effective fix—directly translates to debugging cloud infrastructure issues.
What continues to surprise me is how much my background in client service and project coordination enhances my understanding of cloud solutions. Technology isn’t just about the technical implementation; it’s about solving real business problems and delivering value to end users.
This blog post documents my ongoing journey from kitchen installation to cloud engineering. Follow along as I continue building projects and sharing lessons learned along the way!