Architectural Designers vs. Architects: what's the difference?
It’s a big topic, and might even be called controversial. Depending on who you ask, you could get a wide variety of answers.
In this post, I’ll go over some of the differences and hopefully answer the second most important question: which one should you pick?
A MATTER OF DEGREES
All architects have been architectural designers at some point in their career. ‘Architectural Designer’ is the job title before you become a fully-qualified architect.
'Architect' is an official title, and people who are not fully qualified and registered can’t use the term. But all architects have been Architectural Designers for a time in their career. In fact, many architecture firms have architectural designers working for them in various guises.
Does that mean architects are simply better at building design than architectural designers? Well, that depends who you ask…
In truth: yes, that’s it in a nutshell. Architects are at the top of their game and design some incredible buildings. The majority of architectural designers are very capable and can be downright excellent. But there’s a reason ‘architect’ is a protected job title.
SO WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE JUST HIRE ARCHITECTS?
Well, it’s probably for the same reasons not everyone chooses the latest Porsche Cayenne as their family car: price and purpose.
Architects almost always cost more than architectural designers, which is fair enough. Like the Porsche, they’re capable of incredible things and can inspire envy in your friends and family. If I could comfortably afford one, I’d love to have one.
But I can’t. Nor can most people.
We Architectural Designers serve an important role: we’re practical, affordable and - depending on who you choose - can do most things our architect colleagues do. Amongst designers, there’s a wide variety of expertise, skill level, focus and pricing.
There’s also plenty of reasons architectural designers choose not to pursue the title of ‘architect’. Architects take longer to get qualified and spend a lot more time studying the conceptual side of design. The extra study is very, very expensive. And some ADs simply don’t want to!
In my case, I’ve never felt the need: I get to work on projects I enjoy, like designing some very nice homes. I love reading about and looking at the extraordinary work of the world’s best architects. But what I really enjoy is working with people to create homes for living in.
If you have the budget and vision for something extraordinary or unconventional, an architect is probably the right choice. For the majority of projects, and the majority of people, an architectural designer is a great way to go.
IT’S UP TO YOU
The first step should always be to meet with a few architects and architectural designers. One of the most important things to consider is being ‘on the same page’: you want a designer who understands you, what you want, and what you don’t. Getting the right fit is critical to getting something you are happy with.
If you’ve bought a plot of land with the aim of building a beautiful home, contact me. A conversation is free and I am committed to ensuring you get the right advice and information straight away.
Ready to start talking design? Get in touch!