During a recent blog, I discussed the challenge of public outreach and how we would define success. Last week, during the Grassroots Institute Update Session and the Member Congress, there were several references by member leaders to the need to enhance the public’s appreciation for the value of design. Clearly this is a member priority.
In a down economy, it’s no surprise that conversation about the state of the profession quickly focuses on the public’s understanding of architects and architecture. As the economy drags on, there is at the same time a growing feeling that if clients better understood the value of design, things would be much better. Yet while several component surveys indicate that design does in fact matter to clients, these same surveys also reflect a perception that clients believe design fees are too high. Click here to continue reading
