Top Habits of Successful Architects

Here’re top habits of successful architects from designing, client relationship, to operations. Read what traits make the good great.

Project Management

1. Time management

It’s important for architects to manage their time between designing, project and team management, and business operations. Even though it’s important to ensure that the business side of things go well, an architect needs to stay on top of their design game, as well, which requires sketching, research, and experimenting.

2. Visit your sites

Visit your construction site to see how your design is coming to life. It helps you appreciate your design’s construction process and also enables you to catch any issues and improve things at an early stage. This also allows you to interact with your contractors on a timely basis.

3. Good client relations

Maintain good client relations, so that they are able to share their requirements in a clear manner, and that you’re able to communicate any challenges or requirements with the clients. Be candid and suggest solutions for any situation--good or bad.

4. Ask the right questions

During the designing and planning process, ask clients all the necessary questions related to the project, their availability, pricing, and design. Talk about their vision of the project, so that you can align your design and the construction process with what the client wants.

5. Listening

Listen to the client’s story and what their vision is. Pay attention to their limitations as well as what makes them receptive to your suggestions. Listen to understand, not to respond. Find the right ways to share ideas with your clients, so that they understand how it will benefit them or align with their vision. Always make decisions in the true interest of the clients.

6. Communicate

Always communicate well with the clients. Set a schedule, so that you and your client can meet or chat timely. Give them updates of the project, and check with the client when is a good time for you to connect with them in case you need any approvals or feedback from the client.

Here’s some tips on maintaining good relationships with your clients.

Design-based

7. Design cohesion

Work on designs that are cohesive. Put character and stand-out elements in different sections of a building, but make them cohesive, so that they go well with each other. Good architects can focus on functionalities of different types of rooms, but ensure that the whole house come together as a whole in a great way.

8. Alignment, hierarchy and order

When designing, align things well. Pay attention to the order and hierarchy of the design element. Ensure that the integrity of the structure takes precedence over other things. Follow your top design principles, deliver functionality, and integrate your innovative design into the vision of the client.

9. Repetition

Some designs become great from good due to repetition of certain design elements. This not only helps bring cohesion into the whole design, but it also makes it easy to the eyes. 

10. Minding the environment

Use the elements of your environment to help elevate your design to the next level. Your surrounding environmental elements like the ground quality, air flow, availability of natural light, etc. can be used to your advantage to design a structure that blends well with the surroundings.

11. Problem solve

Think of designing as offering solutions to the requirements of the clients. Design houses that meet the functional needs of a family, and build spaces that deliver what their users need. Always think from a problem solving point of view when it comes to constructional or operational challenges. 

Research & Growth

12. Testing new technology and materials

Successful architects are often testing new technology and materials to find efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective ways to make buildings. This allows you to stand out and ensure that you’re able to offer innovative solutions to your clients.

13. Reading

Read, read, read! Learning never stops, and reading old and new architects and designers helps shape your design principles and offers you insight into some of the best design theories and ideas. This can also introduce you to new design styles that you haven’t worked with in the past.

14. Deal with criticism

When clients and your associates share criticism with you, it may or may not be 100% about the quality of your work. Designing is subjective, so learn to differentiate between subjective design-based feedback and quality-focussed feedback. Subjective design-based feedback can be worked on upon understanding the other person’s perspective, while quality-based feedback needs to be looked at closely to ensure that it doesn’t affect the integrity of your design and structure.

Be Yourself

15. Create, Sketch your concept

Never stop creating new designs, and sketch, sketch, sketch! Sketching keeps your creative energy flowing, and it helps you pull designs right from your back pocket whenever you need to. Sketching also helps you dig deep into your true design style, which helps you establish a unique brand.

16. Be bold and innovate

Follow the rules, but don’t shy away from being bold and innovative. Draw those slant lines whenever you need to. Go for bigger or bolder with your design to make a statement, but keep it all integrally sound.

17. Stick to your principles

Innovation needs to be paired with the right principles. Work around your design to incorporate the functionality needed for the building, but stick to your design principles to maintain your design style. This will help you establish your brand style.

18. Promote your work

Don’t be shy about promoting your work. Ask for reviews, share your work on social media, network on professional websites. Word of mouth can play a huge role in finding new clients. You can also list your architecture firm on industry websites like Archicheq.com to attract new customers.

19. Have a life outside of work

Architects’ daily routine is often busy, as they have to wear a lot of hats to manage their team, run operations, interact with clients, and design buildings. Therefore it’s important for them to have a life outside of work and take it easy from time to time, so that they don’t burn themselves out.