Comments on: The (un)Professionals http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/ A discussion of modern design from the Northwest Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:35:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: jacob http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1770 jacob Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:43:24 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1770 ... but sometimes I can't help myself. but seriously the archi culture with that of payment, has been a learned process. steal your programs, work for free as interns / designers,work 80 hr weeks, get paid very very little when you do get a salary, no 401 K or insurance in most small offices. the architect gets paid the least out of the whole construction process, but our pencils sell for $10. I'm off of any point... sorry … but sometimes I can’t help myself. but seriously the archi culture with that of payment, has been a learned process. steal your programs, work for free as interns / designers,work 80 hr weeks, get paid very very little when you do get a salary, no 401 K or insurance in most small offices. the architect gets paid the least out of the whole construction process, but our pencils sell for $10. I’m off of any point… sorry

]]> By: Apocalypse chic, and outrunning the (un)professionals « archizoo http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1750 Apocalypse chic, and outrunning the (un)professionals « archizoo Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:44:49 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1750 [...] to home, but in the same vein, was a posting on BuildBlog expressing concern about the consequences of fee pressures, including free work and “dealing [...] [...] to home, but in the same vein, was a posting on BuildBlog expressing concern about the consequences of fee pressures, including free work and “dealing [...]

]]> By: Mike D. http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Mike D. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:17:32 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1749 With regard to item #1, although I don't like manipulating people, I almost think clients should have a "sniff test" for this from the outset. When I was going through initial design planning with BUILD, we got to a point where the house I was asking for was simply over my budget. We went back and forth and it ended up coming down to Kevin basically saying "the only way to decrease the price of the house at this point is to take ___ sq feet off of it... period." A firm guilty of item #1 might have said something like "we'll just find other savings along the way" (overly optimistic) or "we can probably get a few of these components from other manufacturers and make up the difference" (flat out lie). The first thing (of many) BUILD did to gain my trust was this refusal to sugarcoat the budget. As a client, you may want to have some sort of way of testing this before committing to an architect. There is a reason why people tell you you are going to spend way more on your house than you think. In my case, we're on budget and on schedule so far, all because nothing was sugarcoated at the outset. With regard to item #1, although I don’t like manipulating people, I almost think clients should have a “sniff test” for this from the outset. When I was going through initial design planning with BUILD, we got to a point where the house I was asking for was simply over my budget. We went back and forth and it ended up coming down to Kevin basically saying “the only way to decrease the price of the house at this point is to take ___ sq feet off of it… period.” A firm guilty of item #1 might have said something like “we’ll just find other savings along the way” (overly optimistic) or “we can probably get a few of these components from other manufacturers and make up the difference” (flat out lie).

The first thing (of many) BUILD did to gain my trust was this refusal to sugarcoat the budget. As a client, you may want to have some sort of way of testing this before committing to an architect. There is a reason why people tell you you are going to spend way more on your house than you think. In my case, we’re on budget and on schedule so far, all because nothing was sugarcoated at the outset.

]]> By: Lou M. http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1748 Lou M. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:34:25 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1748 A good reference point for this can be found at: http://www.doyoumatter.com/ While not directly related to architecture this books speaks to the power of creativity, branding and most importantly, the value of design. Now more than ever the consumer public has at least a heightened awareness of "design" due to brands such as Apple, BMW, Target, etc. Now is the time time to educate on their terms and the terms of potential clients that we are not only creating objects but experiences and those experiences especially when custom come at a price. A good reference point for this can be found at:
http://www.doyoumatter.com/
While not directly related to architecture this books speaks to the power of creativity, branding and most importantly, the value of design. Now more than ever the consumer public has at least a heightened awareness of “design” due to brands such as Apple, BMW, Target, etc. Now is the time time to educate on their terms and the terms of potential clients that we are not only creating objects but experiences and those experiences especially when custom come at a price.

]]> By: Samuel http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1747 Samuel Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:10:01 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1747 I'm like Lou- I'm in a related creative field and strongly agree that my clients are paying for my history/ experience AND my time. Anything we can do to establish (prove) and maintain our creative value for potential clients is crucial. Most argue that creative professions are going to grow in prominence; hopefully our creative peers will recognize this and stop undermining the process. I’m like Lou- I’m in a related creative field and strongly agree that my clients are paying for my history/ experience AND my time. Anything we can do to establish (prove) and maintain our creative value for potential clients is crucial. Most argue that creative professions are going to grow in prominence; hopefully our creative peers will recognize this and stop undermining the process.

]]> By: Lou M. http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1746 Lou M. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:41:10 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1746 Kudos to this post. I work in an design and branding not architecture but what I always tell my clients and I think this holds true across all design professions is that the value of what you are paying for (the fee) is based on the scope of work of your project plus the experience from every project you've ever completed. I find that helps put things in perspective especially against someone who is considering other options. The experience and learnings of a career are what is most beneficial to the client and if they don't understand or respect that I feel your better off passing and really spending time finding someone who does. It makes the entire design process more pleasant and a mutual respect and understanding along the way yields a better result and experience. Kudos to this post. I work in an design and branding not architecture but what I always tell my clients and I think this holds true across all design professions is that the value of what you are paying for (the fee) is based on the scope of work of your project plus the experience from every project you’ve ever completed. I find that helps put things in perspective especially against someone who is considering other options. The experience and learnings of a career are what is most beneficial to the client and if they don’t understand or respect that I feel your better off passing and really spending time finding someone who does. It makes the entire design process more pleasant and a mutual respect and understanding along the way yields a better result and experience.

]]> By: NCC http://blog.buildllc.com/2009/11/the-unprofessionals/comment-page-1/#comment-1744 NCC Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:01:00 +0000 http://blog.buildllc.com/?p=5087#comment-1744 In the eye of typical client the process of design, plancheck and construction just take too long,too unpredictable and too costly. Architects , especailly the younger ones typically will absorb all the extra costs to gain experience or get exposure. As a business, even during good times it is hard to make profit in architecture, as "profit" typically is not what the typical architects are trained to make....everyone from top to interns are trying to improve or save the world. Good idea, bad bad business model. In the eye of typical client the process of design, plancheck and construction just take too long,too unpredictable and too costly. Architects , especailly the younger ones typically will absorb all the extra costs to gain experience or get exposure. As a business, even during good times it is hard to make profit in architecture, as “profit” typically is not what the typical architects are trained to make….everyone from top to interns are trying to improve or save the world. Good idea, bad bad business model.

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