Business Success and the Practice of Architecture
A blogging friend, Katie Hutchison, sent me a link to a recent talk by Michael Bierut, a partner at Pentagram. Part of the CreativeMornings lecture series organized by Tina Roth Eisenberg a.k.a @swissmiss, Michael discusses his take on clients; the good, the bad and the ugly.
Just under an hour long, it’s well worth a watch.
Thanks again Katie.
The Congress of Residential Architecture (CORA) has updated their recent position paper addressed to state governing bodies and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
I did not endorse the original document distributed last month, but the changes released today have improved the document enough to where I am comfortable supporting its basic premise.
I do not support the entire document.
As a small business owner, my top concerns are over-regulation and over-taxation. I will be a much more active supporter of the paper when its authors add an item or two referencing the issues that every American small business (residential architects included) is struggling with. I am not interested in supporting any document, or organization, that promotes more regulation, more professional requirements or advocates installing more barriers to the practice of architecture.
Credibility is earned, not granted by the state or a professional organization. Architects, individually, need to take their profession back from the contractors, construction managers, owners reps, kitchen designers, interior designers, etc. In fear of liability and/or resistance to change with the times, we have given it all away.
I personally refuse to accept the status quo.
At Fivecat Studio, we are working to give our clients not only what they want, but more importantly, what they expect. We are no longer trying to change the perception of our clients or educate them to the process of design. We have learned to understand their expectations, built systems to address their concerns and provide services that result in well design architecture and very happy clients. I am not looking to the state, the AIA or CORA to make us more successful. I welcome the changes CORA is advocating, but I am not waiting for changes to occur before we strive for excellence and make the changes required for Fivecat Studio to become a successful business.
Read the latest version of CORA’s document and let me know what you think. If you agree with its basic concept, send Duo Dickenson an email, requesting that your name be added to the document. I did.
Then, take a look at your own firm and start making some changes. Discover and meet your clients’ expectations. Take risks. Do it differently. Be an entrepreneur and succeed… all by yourself.
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, artists, etc.) come together as necessary and build teams to meet the requirements of each specific RFP. Between projects, they share resources, network and continue their education with planned events… and clearly they work together for PR and marketing.
Amy shared a link to an article in the current issue of Architect magazine that discusses several start-up firms with unique business structures, including her own group, Hyperform Design Co-op.
(Thanks Amy.)
What are your thoughts? Do you think a co-op like Hyperform can be a successful firm structure? Do you have other examples of non-traditional firm structures?
Let’s talk…
We’ve been making some changes over at Fivecat Studio. Read my post on Living Well in Westchester to learn more about what we’re doing and where we’re going.
I have received this from several sources. Is this the beginning of a movement in the architectural profession?
From CORAgroups.org:
As architects have become increasingly marginalized in influence and worth to our culture, neither academia nor journalism has supported the historic role of the profession as a consistent voice of value in construction. Rather than provide exposure of social relevance and innovative engagement, these beacons and mirrors of our profession remain focused on a cult of personalities and abstract formal expression. Promoting an exclusive orthodoxy, these previously objective platforms for diversity, contextual influences and craft position the profession of architecture as an elitist endeavor – a disastrous image in a time of economic distress.
Not surprisingly, all levels of government have responded to society’s increasing perception of our profession’s irrelevancy by creating an ever-tightening web of regulatory oversight. The perceived incapacity of architects to provide holistic, relevant building design has allowed government to sanction alternatives to the use of licensed architects.
Read the entire document here.
I would love to know what you think? Let’s talk.
Starbucks Coffee Co. has built a website dedicated to the interaction with their customers. It’s called My Starbucks Idea. Have an idea that will improve the Starbucks customer experience? Drop them a line at their website. The best ideas are actually implemented in Starbucks stores throughout the world.
Check out the website here: mystarbucksidea.force.com
How can we recruit OUR clients to help us serve them better?
What can we learn from other industries to make the traditional architectural and construction processes better?
Hospitals are filled with checklists and other systems to make sure that every step of a procedure is done correctly. NASCAR racing teams also use checklists and directives from multiple layers of team members, each with their own specialty. Toyota uses their Product Development System
At Fivecat Studio, we are developing a Project Manual, filled with checklists, that will make every design process more efficient and will assure that every project is well built.
What are you doing to be more efficient? What systems are you implementing to be sure your clients are happy? Are you learning from other industries?
Please share…
While I take a small break to enjoy time with my family (one of the many benefits of being an Entrepreneur Architect), I wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2010. Game on!!
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“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
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