From CORArchitecture.org: In October 2011, a request went out to architects and designers all across the country to submit no more than 60 words on the future of residential architecture in America. When you click on the link, you will see submissions by 65 people from dozens of states. The submitters include architects, writers, unlicensed designers, members of the AIA and those who are not. This book was "launched" at the Congress of Residential Architecture's 8th annual gathering … [Read more...]
Do You Over-Deliver?
Under-promise. Over-deliver. We've all heard this old adage, but how many of us follow its simple lesson? We recently recommended one of our consultants to a client. We've been very happy with this consultant's performance and were confident they would perform well. As expected, they jumped right on the project and completed the first task lickety-split. Our client was happy and we were looking good. To wrap things up, the consultant said they would prepare a report to document their … [Read more...]
Speak to Them in a Language That They Will Better Understand
Residential Architect magazine sent me an email today introducing a new video series, Value of Residential Architecture. Each video will feature an architect discussing his/her thoughts on why residential architecture is important and where residential architecture is headed in the future. If you subscribe to Residential Architect, you may have received the link in your inbox as well. The description included with the email is as follows: Residential Architect magazine introduces a new video … [Read more...]
How does one get it all done?
As an Entrepreneur Architect I wear many hats. I’m a designer, a draftsman, a project manager, a construction manager, a book keeper, a marketing director, a salesman, a customer service representative, an IT manager, a boss, a partner, a CEO, a COO, a CFO... the list goes on and on. It can be very stressful. At times, it’s overwhelming. I have the same number of hours each day as everyone else. How does one get it all done? David Allen, author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free … [Read more...]
BIM and Integrated Design: Strategies for Architectural Practice
For a long time in my office, BIM was something out there that wasn't acted upon. We sat on nineteen seats of Revit for nearly two years, stored away in a closet unused - shelfware. Waiting for the right opportunity. Becoming obsolete. Doing no one any good. Taking up valuable storage space. Not earning its keep. And with each month unused, the software weighed on us: waiting for the right time, the right project, the right client, the right phase, the right people to put on the project, the … [Read more...]
Edit and Amplify
This month's Fast Company magazine cover story... A very interesting article about Nike CEO (and former star designer) Mark Parker. Certainly worth reading. … [Read more...]
It Pays to be Nice
Tonight I met with a couple to discuss plans for their home's renovation. Following a warm welcome and a quick introduction, I was told that I was called to this meeting because of my mother. If you are a regular reader of my Living Well in Westchester blog, you know that my Mom and Dad live way up north in a house on the St. Lawrence River. So, how could it be that my Mom had any influence on my meeting with these people? Well, it all comes down to the power of nice. A couple of years ago, I … [Read more...]
BUILD LLC
I been following the BUILD blog for about a year. BUILD LLC is a small design/build firm located in Seattle, specializing in modern residential and small commercial projects. They maintain a very nice website and post to their blog on a regular basis. Their most recent post, Thank You Sir May I Have Another, is a nice reminder of the things we should all be focusing on as we wallow through this mess of an economy. The subtitle of the post reads, A ten-point plan for keeping a smile on your face … [Read more...]
What’s Your Brand?
When a potential client hears your firm's name, what do they feel? When they see your logo, what do they think? Your designs? Your studio? Your vehicle? Even the clothes you wear? What do they represent in the marketplace of architectural design? All these things, together, are your brand. In his book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell describes in detail how decisions are made within the first few seconds of an impression. How important is your brand? It can be … [Read more...]
Non-Traditional Architecture Firms
A member of our Linkedin group, Entrepreneur Architect, posted a response to my discussion, "Learning From Other Industries: Could an architecture firm be successfully structured to run like a high-end salon?". Amy Burke, NCARB is a member of a design group named Hyperform Design Co-op located just outside Denver, Colorado. Hyperform is an informal collaborative with approximately 50 members and shared studio space. Members of the co-op (architects, designers, landscape architects, … [Read more...]
Are You Loving the Low End?
Scott Anthony, author of the new book, The Silver Lining, contributed a recent HarvardBusiness blog post about "loving the low end". Few architects are seeking the "low end", but maybe there is something we can learn here. Is there a way we can restructure our basic architectural service and provide an alternative "stripped down" version of what we typically provide? Is there a market seeking that level of our services? Think Lexus, Toyota, Scion... What are your thoughts on "loving the … [Read more...]
How to Stand Out
In the tradition of Seth Godin's Purple Cow, Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick, has posted How to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace (video) to the AmEx OPEN Forum. Are you doing something new that no one has seen before? Are you doing one thing ferociously? According to Heath, we need to be doing one or the other. If not, we'll be lost in the vast sea of the marketplace. Being "better" is not good enough. What are you doing to stand out in the marketplace of architectural services? Share … [Read more...]