What’s the trick to getting clients and selling them great architecture?
I know we have to educate the client, but Is there a way to attract the right client with the right budget for great architecture?

When it comes to small items like the iphone design sells, but when it comes to architecture its usually a different story unless the client is sophisticated / educated and has money.

Any thoughts?

Are you wanting to know how to sell a design to a client or how to market a firm?
One is selling a design. The other is advertising yourself for the possibility of design. I think selling a design to a client is more difficult. I would be interested in what everyone thinks about this as well.

I know that we sell our ideas every day. Whenever we discuss a design with a boss or coworker we have to sell it to them. We almost always present our designs in the best possible light. In school this ability is honed through highly critical critiques. Of course crits are foremost meant to increase your ability as a designer, but they are also meant to increase your salesmanship.

I am curious what methods other Architects employ when selling a project to the client. Can someone with lots of experience here explain how this works?

This (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/uae/index.html#videoplayer) is an example of what it takes to realize your design.
Related article in PPB;
PBS to air Documentary of Snøhetta's Gateway Project (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6577)

I don't think there are any tricks - just a lot of hard work and knowing/schmoozing the right people - and sometimes a lucky break. you could start doing competitions and trying to your work published - that's one way of attracting decent clients, but it takes a really long time. no wonder why many architects never really get famous or work that they want until they are well into their careers.

great clients make great architecture (that's the big secret they never teach you in architecture school) - you have to find the clients who actually want to be educated - and you have to be willing to be educated as well... most clients are only interested in the bottom-line and something they are familiar with - so when you see any bit of potential to do something interesting, run with it.

-to

great clients make great architecture (that's the big secret they never teach you in architecture school) - you have to find the clients who actually want to be educated - and you have to be willing to be educated as well...


very well said- I feel that we need to expend more of our energy educating our clients. Some understand but do not care, but perhaps more just do not understand the potential of architecture- a unique solution to their unique project. Most clients do not see what is unique about their project, only the similarities that their project shares with things they understand and are familar with.

very well said- I feel that we need to expend more of our energy educating our clients. Some understand but do not care, but perhaps more just do not understand the potential of architecture- a unique solution to their unique project. Most clients do not see what is unique about their project, only the similarities that their project shares with things they understand and are familar with.

educating is the same thing as teaching... many of us really stink at teaching. some architects seem to think "educating" is the same thing as being a condescending jerk. if we can't be bothered to train our interns or communicate with our coworkers, what hope do we have in educating the client?

-to

educating is the same thing as teaching... many of us really stink at teaching. some architects seem to think "educating" is the same thing as being a condescending jerk. if we can't be bothered to train our interns or communicate with our coworkers, what hope do we have in educating the client?

-to

I totally agree. I believe that it is more of a firm culture than knowing how. We all have something to teach, but the difference between a good teacher and someone who is not is that one takes the time to do it (pass learned information along).

Also, Not all good teachers make good "Practicing" architects. Just look at how many non-registrants are in architecture colleges.

I believe that firm principals can create culture within the office, but I think it may be more difficult to create the same culture with the client. One exception may be the "Dwell" firms. Certain firms are projecting themselves into dwell magazine with published projects and advertising. I think it creates a buzz about them and the client who reads over and over about "Dwell" projects is already educating themselves on an aesthetic they are drawn to. I guess in that case it is advertising that projects the education/culture out to clients.

Also, Not all good teachers make good "Practicing" architects. Just look at how many non-registrants are in architecture colleges.



I don't think teachers teach because they would not be good architects. I think they teach because it is so difficult to get good work done, and they are not willing to compromise their design values(this was true when I was a student).

As far as registration goes: It's a joke! Only exists to limit competition for architects! Your local builder can read the code just as well as you can. I hope you never judge someone on whether or not they are licensed, it is only a measure of how good one is at taking tests. Period.

...not that I have strong feelings about it or anything...:D:eek:

educating is the same thing as teaching... many of us really stink at teaching. some architects seem to think "educating" is the same thing as being a condescending jerk. if we can't be bothered to train our interns or communicate with our coworkers, what hope do we have in educating the client?

-to

Generally, our coworkers and iterns have had similiar educations to our own, either formally through academic studies, or through work experience.(not that we should not educate each other) I think the condescending jerk comes out when one states their viewpoint as fact, since most of architecture is subjective. Very often this type of person does not wish or value the opportunity to be taught or educated by their coworkers. It is that subjectivity that we need to communicate to our clients, to illustrate that there are many ways to approach a given problem. Although stating that there is no one solution does not help sell a given idea to the client, but they may become more responsive to creative thought processes- making them better clients which enables us more freedom to produce better architecture.

Also, Not all good teachers make good "Practicing" architects. Just look at how many non-registrants are in architecture colleges.


not all people in academia are good teachers either... many are doing "design research" and only teach because they have to.

-to

The most important thing is that you think positive on your architecture, your job, what you do and this feeling, spirit must be a one that your client sees and you must be proud of the job and work you do and you must be convinced of your (done) job and confident in the way you act. Your client will see the surplus value of architecture and the worth of your work :)

Every night I pray that client with taste will get money and client with money will get taste.
bill gardner, principal, gardner design

Every night I pray that client with taste will get money and client with money will get taste.
bill gardner, principal, gardner design

lol :craqueur:

I guess this could go under the quotes thread, but here's one that a senior architect relates to me frequently:
I'd rather be lucky than good.

He tells me that only to bring my spirits down when I think a good design will actually be built.