Choosing the Right Professional

Architectural Design and Choosing the right professional

There are four main types of architectural designers to choose from and in broad terms there are Architects, Architectural Technologists, Technicians and General Designers. Although experience, education and training are essential this doesn’t mean that all architectural designers are created equally. Finding the right architectural designer for you depends on several factors, including personality, design style, type of work, services on offer and whether you need a generalist or a specialist to work with.

What is the difference?

I believe a good designer is able to listen, understand and solve problems with a good knowledge and understanding of what is possible and realistic. Someone who has completed previous projects of a similar nature and is experienced and has the knowledge of potential pitfalls. Someone who can interpret your ideas onto paper and co-ordinate the whole design from start to finish. The quality and accuracy of the design output is essential to convey your ideas to others who are involved in the design and construction process. The quality and accuracy and level of information varies from one designer to the next. Some designers provide just the basic level of information whilst others take more time and provide a more comprehensive well thought out and fully and co-ordinated level of information. 

Architects

Architects usually carry out work on all types of construction projects which are of a certain size, type and complexity. Some Architects become specialists in a certain area. The title Architect is protected and those who are fully qualified and chartered architects can use the title. Qualifications: Batchelor of Art Degree after 3 years obtain Part 1 qualification, 2 years to complete Part 2 and 1 year to complete Part 3 and become a fully qualified Architect and member of RIBA. Architects work on their own or in practices with others. Architects historically have always been the lead designer as the go to person for providing design solutions. Architects offer full design services from Work Stage 1 to Work Stage 8 for any type of construction project. For more information about Architects please visit www.riba.co.uk

Architectural Technologists

Architectural Technologists usually carry out similar work to that of architects, but often take on smaller projects. Only those who have Chartered status can offer the same full design services of an Architect. Qualification: Batchelor of Science Degree after 3 years, further 1-2 years in practice to become a Chartered member of CIAT. Technologists work on their own or in practices with other Architects or Technologists. A Technologists core skill set is more biased towards the science and construction of projects and often work closely working with Architects on projects. Level of design services will vary but qualified Technologist can provide design services from Work Stage 1 to Work Stage 8 for any type of project. For more information about Technologists please visit www.ciat.co.uk. If your interested in finding out more abuot Architectural Technologist here is a link to download a useful pdf explaining in further detail what Architectural Technologists do https://ciat.org.uk/resource/client-information-for-domestic-projects.html

Technicians

Technicians can be anyone on the path to becoming or who works with an Architect or Technologist. Technicians ability, experience, qualification and skills vary and often work on projects under the supervision of a qualified Architect or Technologist. Many Technicians work for others and for themselves offering design services from Work Stage 1 to Work Stage 5. There are some great technicians out there doing really good work but for what ever reason have not pursued further education. 

General Designers

General Designers are those who are often very capable of producing design solutions and services, have no formal qualification but have obtained their knowledge through life and work experience. Many work on their own business or within practices and take on a variety of different projects, mainly those working for themselves will tend to work on simple residential projects.

Conclusion

Hiring the right person is the single most important decision that you will be making before anything else on your project. All the different types of designers described above will have a different style, personality and way of working. They will probably have different fee structures that they work with from an hourly rate, fixed fee or percentage fee of the construction costs. Understanding the level of design output, level of service and fee structure is really important as you want to ensure that all design costs are included so that you have no nasty surprises later on. All designers are individuals with varied abilities, skills, experience and knowledge and these variables should be understood and taken into account so that you can choose the right professional for you and your project.

Choosing the right professional can mean the difference between an enjoyable experience and one plagued with problems and headaches. How will your project go?