Architects
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- meffid
New client is an Architectural firm.
Please post links/resources and tips when dealing with architects.
The only thing I know is they don't call them 'plans'.
Some nice sites to gander at would also be nice.
- meffid0
I also hear they have God complexes.
- Continuity0
My experience has been that it's _really_ tough to get them to accept the notions of usability and just plain good design. They tend to put themselves in the role of CD and ask you to do things that - whilst _might_ work in their medium - would make any designer cry.
- mydo0
We've designed for 2 architectural firms in the last 12 months.
both gave amazingly clear briefs
we busted our balls and designed some great stuff
both clients loved the designs
both clients thought about it for a long time...both clients decided they wanted to design their own and said they'd be in touch....
....waiting.
- ouch.. fuck that!set
- haha I had that, did an ident, web concepts the lotFallowDeer
- raf0
They can do anything design or tech related. The only reason they're hiring you is they're busy. They will remind you that at some point.
- < Pointed out for absolute truth.Continuity
- hahamydo
- Thankfully this isn't the case for us. Happy about that.meffid
- If by "anything tech related" you mean kinda use photoshop than yes.TheBlueOne
- meffid0
Any nice sites you've come across done by agencies?
- meffid0
They definitely fall into a category of their own as a client type.
- neue75_bold0
good luck mate...
- mydo0
- mydo0
- meffid0
STIGMA!
- Continuity0
Also be prepared for them to try to tell you how to do your job. They have a nasty tendency of figuring that because they design structures that look like they could fall over with the slightest breath of wind, that they're also branding experts.
- neue75_bold0
they prefer to use "+" instead of "&"
- and 'partners'Continuity
- ... "in collaboration with"...neue75_bold
- skref0
raf and mydo doth speaketh the truth.
In my experience, after working with two different architect clients and speaking with another it boils down to them being designers and believing they know best. Which is a shame really. I'm sure if they worked with interior designers in their buildings they'd be exactly the same.
- neue75_bold0
that said, as far as clients go, they can hold their own at the pub...
- Their office managers tend to be cute and good to go, too.Continuity
- Yolo0
just don't bother
- neue75_bold0
"yeah, those renders look great!"
- < get used to saying it without even looking at them..neue75_bold
- TheBlueOne0
I've been working on a site for an architect for 6mos now about to wrap it up.
The guy is Swiss-German and his one thing he said off the bat was: " I don't want it cold. Everything is this technical fonts and geomtetric. I want warmth."
Then he handed me his business card which was two shades of brown set with Times New Roman and said "Like this..."
Sigh. But the guy actually has been a pleasure to work with in general except his unbending desire to put up literally everything he's done over the last twenty years. "Is it really important on this restaurant facade renovation you did in 1981 to have 30 pictures?" I ask. "Absolutely!" the client says.
But having spent ten years working with architects from the construction management side they don't intimidate me. And I'll tell you dazzle them back with your knowledge of webdesign and they'll respect you a bit more. One thing I said during the pitch and during follow up meetings was that web design is different than architecture - imagine if everyone who potentially could come along and look at your building would see it differently? And then I started to passionately discuss html5 and typekit and whatever for about five minutes about the changes, and how Iwish the web would have something like the AIA for standards (I don't really wish this, but it sounded good). And then he showed me an example site of a another firm that is obviously done in Flash, that he says "well this looks the same"..and I noticed he had an iphone and I said, "Well, look at it there..." and minutes later of course he couldn't see anything and I said "How often do you look on the internet on your iphone?" "All the time.." "And you will never be able to see that firms site there."
Essentially architects thrive on commanding knowledge of alot of detail and ego (and little relation to real world costs), hit 'em back with your own knowledge and ego with web design and be passionate and authorative about it. They'll respect it.
- Good insightmeffid
- lol about 30 pictures.... :-))Miesfan
- Yeah...good thing I priced it correctly...TheBlueOne
- Samush0
I'm just finishing a site for an architect, but he's my brother so it's different.
Incidentally he's looking for a part 1 placement (so technically he's not a properly qualified architect)
- Miesfan0
One year, and then this
http://www.alzugaray.com/- 1 years then "no thanks" and this...http://www.dp...Aper