What’s news at Sounds Like Design?
The Sounds Like Design blog began in 2016 and since then we’ve covered business development and marketing topics, important policy and regulatory issues that affect the profession, and we’ve featured guest posts from several influential architects.
If you’d like to contribute to the blog about a topic or issue that you are passionate about, or think is important to share with your peers and colleagues, email us with your story idea, suggested images and proposed deadline, and we’ll collaborate to help you tell your story to a wider audience.
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Can you help us gather market research insights?
Did you learn much about business development and marketing in your formal architecture studies? Share your thoughts, feedback and insights for a chance to win a free enrolment - for you and a friend - in Architecture Marketing 360.
Are you investing and upskilling in the right areas?
This blog post outlines some of the emerging key topics and issues from architects and provides resources to upskill and learn more - around AI and big tech, affordable housing, environmental sustainability and reporting, and well-being.
My pitch to the architecture profession
Architecture is undergoing a profound transformation - from client-as-patron to client-as-customer models – which presents new opportunities to make good design more accessible to more people.
Are you taking advantage of "persuasion windows" to grow architecture's market share pie?
This is Part 6 in the series on legal protections for the word “Architect” / architects’ salaries / well-being. It provides insights about how architects can take advantage of new "persuasion windows" to serve more clients, develop new services and grow architecture's share of the market pie.
How to report potential infringements of the protected title “architect” and its derivatives
This is Part 5 of the series that joins the dots between legal protections for the title architect, architects’ salaries and fees, and architects’ well-being. In this article, we look at how to report potential infringements, and whether that’s the best course of action for architects to take
What’s the magic bullet for architects?
This is Part 4 in the series on legal protections for the word “Architect” / architects’ salaries / well-being. It puts forward the magic bullet to help architects communicate the value of good design to clients and the wider community.
Feedback from readers and architects on the blog series about protected titles and architects’ salaries
This is Part 3 in the series on protected titles, architects' salaries, wellbeing and business development. It brings together feedback from across our community about the first two blog articles.
How do architecture salaries compare?
Architects’ salaries are typically lower than many others in the construction sector, and doctors and lawyers who also complete five-year degrees This article compares salary survey stats and asks whether there might be a way to improve this situation.
Protection and projection: two sides of the architecture marketing coin
Architects are fortunate that their professional title is protected under law in Australia, but this legal protection is no substitute for a considered and strategic approach to business development and marketing. This blog series looks at how and why architects should communicate their value, to improve remuneration, well-being and profitability.
12 things I learned at the National Architecture Conference and Awards in 2023
12 things I learned at the National Architecture Conference and Awards in 2023: observations on architecture, marketing, visibility, accomplishment, connection and lifelong learning.
Communicating the value of architecture at the National Conference
Rachael Bernstone will present two sessions on business development, marketing and communications for architects, at the National Architecture Conference in Canberra, in late October 2023.
Ask the AACA to add “business development and marketing” to the National Standards of Competency for Architects (NSCA)
Send an email to the AACA to request the inclusion of business development and marketing performance criteria into the next update of the NSCA.
Clarity comes through action: how to help your clients take the first momentous step
Is your architecture marketing focussed on the outcomes you provide (a building or project) or the process you employ (and the clarity that follows for your clients)? Read on to find out how your focussing on your process can help to set your services apart in a crowded marketplace.
Transforming architecture: from take-what-you-can-get to discernment, freedom and choice
Sounds Like Design developed a business development and marketing system that transforms architecture practices, by providing discernment, freedom and choice.
La Biennale di Venezia 2023: reflections from two seasoned travellers
This is a guest post by Michael Pilkington with photography by Susan Phillips, of Phillips/Pilkington Architects in Adelaide, who have generously shared their experiences of 2023 Venice Architeture Biennale.
5 ways to increase your enjoyment and revenue, by winning more of the clients you love
I often hear from architects that they aren’t sure how to market their business, or what steps they can take to make more money, or increase their job satisfaction, or improve their work-life balance.
Do architects in Melbourne win more HOUSES awards?
The HOUSES Awards 2023 shortlist was recently announced, and – as in previous years – it indicates a heavy bias towards projects in the two most-populated states. We dig into the data to try and work out why in this article…
Winning new clients: are you a hare or a tortoise?
This blog uses the tortoise and hare to explain business development and marketing for architects, to win more of the new clients and projects you most love working on.
The banks and the magic wand
The banks are waving a magic wand for architects: they have called for mandatory Energy Efficiency Ratings to be introduced at the point of sale for housing across the country. Read on to find out why this is so significant…
How do your architecture website analytics rank against your competitors?
Do you know how your website analytics stack up against other architects', and other businesses that are competing for the same clients as you? In this article, I share a competitor analysis of architecture, design and building websites, and provide five tips about how to get your business development and marketing messages out to a wider audience.