Archability

Author: Archability

Let’s face it, times simply aren’t what they used to for job seekers.  Changes abound from how work is now being delivered to how employees are sought after. What sets today’s job environment different from previous ones?  How can new grads make the most of today’s evolving marketplace and gain employment? Archability CEO, Livingstone Mukasa, was recently invited to sit down with with Fox23 News‘ Stephanie Grady to share some thoughts. Here’s how it went:

Author: Brinn Miracle

Architecture is a broad field that encompasses a wide variety of professionals. For those hiring a design professional, it can quickly feel overwhelming when presented with a list of available services. Having a basic understanding of what architects do and what services they can offer will help you engage in a meaningful dialogue and ask the right questions. Over the next few months, we’ll dive deeper into what architects do (and don’t do) and what each step of the design process entails so you’ll feel comfortable using the terminology and will be better prepared to discuss your next design project with a professional. For architecture projects, the steps of the [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

Contrary to popular belief and perpetuated misnomers, your home is not an investment. Unless you own more than one, a house is a living expense, similar to groceries or clothing; it is a necessity. By nature, investments are not necessities. While there are many home owners who realize a gain on their home’s sale, it is not the outcome that should motivate a home purchase. Similarly, while remodeling your existing home could translate to an increased sales price or faster sale, it is not the type of investment that will provide large gains in typical circumstances. In fact, most home remodeling projects will lose money. Although remodeling projects won’t measure [...]

Author: Archability

As you may have noticed, things have been rather quiet here at Archability. The past several weeks have been devoted to rolling out our new look and some new features, but most importantly, we’ve been gearing up for our public launch, which we’re please to announce was last week. Archability was invited to join a pool of 70 companies – with the passion, fortitude and insanity of launching a startup – to launch at the DEMO Sping 2012 Conference, in Santa Clara, California.  This bi-annual event, held at the Hyatt Regency – Silicon Valley,  gives startups the opportunity to launch their products in front of an audience of innovators, influencers, [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

For every design problem there are multiple factors that will determine the success of the project. One aspect that is often overlooked is the presentation of the initial design solution. While we have focused on the importance of the client, their needs and how they interact with a designer, it is equally important to address the designer directly. For this month’s post, the focus will be on presentation to a client to ensure that a client is neither underwhelmed or overwhelmed. As designers, we are in tune with the intricacies of a project. Our minds are trained to both pick out details and contemplate the bigger picture. It is often [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

When embarking on a new design project, an important question that will inevitably come up is, “What’s your style?”. While describing a fashion trend such as ‘punk’ or a general life attitude like ‘laid back’ can be done easily with buzz words and catch phrases, such terminology within architecture can have a profound impact on the project at hand. Terminology within architecture implies specific detailing, material choices and an overall look and feel. It is important to recognize the various styles of architecture and determine what best suits your tastes when approaching a design professional with a new project. The challenge is understanding which styles are most appealing, why they [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

Many posts to this point have dealt heavily with the importance of choosing the right design professional, understanding what designers and architects add to a job, and adding value to a project. This month we take a closer look at one of the more practical concerns many jobs face: selecting a product. While many clients may feel this is an easy task of selecting what looks best or fits the budget, there are a few more points to be considered when making a choice. A design professional will be well versed in working with product suppliers and can easily catch mistakes and avoid pitfalls. Below is a candid example of [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

Before you engage an architect or designer for a new project, think about what you expect to get out hiring a design professional. Beyond understanding how to choose the right design professional, there needs to be clarity in what an architect or designer does. While it is easy to simplify their job into buzz words like ‘plans’ or ‘construction drawings’, design professionals are unique in that they blend art and science together to create a finished product. One of the biggest misconceptions and points of contention within a project is whether architects provide products or services. By understanding the process a designer goes through, you’ll have a better understanding of [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

A concept that is both prevalent and relevant, especially due to the current economic conditions, is the idea of value. The concept of value is applicable to how we spend our money, and the perceived worth of what we receive in return. It is especially important when it comes time to decide on whether to pursue a design project. Design is very subjective, so it makes it quite difficult to determine the value of a design project. Even if a project is deemed necessary and makes good economic sense, how does one make a value judgement concerning the most detailed decisions? Something as (seemingly) insignificant as choosing between a fluorescent [...]

Author: Brinn Miracle

For many, the merits of hiring a design professional for a project are obvious. For some, however, the value added by a design professional is not readily apparent. To understand how a design professional adds value to a project, one must first learn how design is evaluated. If all design is created equal, then it doesn’t make sense to hire a designer with extensive training and expertise. However, if it is established that some designs are better than others, then a value proposition can be made. Let’s look at how designs are evaluated to understand why hiring a qualified design professional adds value to a project. Design is a process. [...]