8.2 - The Title Residential Designer
Below is a recent email thread from one of our contacts in Washington State.
To assist, here is a summary written by Jasper, my AI assistant:
This email thread is a discussion between Darrin Petersen, a self-identified Residential Designer, and Steve Mickley, Executive Director of AIBD (American Institute of Building Design). Darrin appreciates AIBD's work but expresses hesitation in joining due to the term "Building Designer," which he feels misrepresents his profession and carries a negative perception. He emphasizes the importance of branding the profession as "Residential Design" to distinguish it from architects and align with the specialized nature of residential work. He suggests a name change to AIRD (American Institute of Residential Design) to better represent the organization's focus.
Steve acknowledges Darrin's points and provides historical context, noting a similar name change proposal in 2009 that was rejected. He shares that some states, like Texas and Oklahoma, allow significant exemptions for non-licensed designers to work on small commercial projects, which may influence the organization's branding decisions. Steve supports Darrin’s idea of promoting residential design as a distinct specialty and mentions the launch of a new website, ResidentialDesign.org, to reflect this focus.
The exchange concludes with Darrin reiterating the need for identity clarity and his strong belief in promoting residential design as a distinct profession. Both parties express mutual respect and a willingness to continue the conversation.
From: Darrin Petersen <studio98362@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 5:07 PM
To: AIBD Info <info@AIBD.org>
Subject: Hello!
Hello! I keep up with all of your posts and love what you guys are doing. I refer to your website for info regularly. Good job!!
I haven't become a member because I don't design "Buildings".
People building single family homes don't live in buildings, they live in "homes" or "residences". The confusion to put that designation on my marketing materials would be confusing.
I refer to myself as a "Residential Designer", That's what I do. No one has ever called me to design them a building to live in. Many of my clients (and Builders) have HATED working with architects before and will never do it again. I have presented myself as a "Residential Designer", which is a HUGE advantage. I have signed tons of work up presenting myself as a specialist and NOT an architect.
With your marketing push into residential you may want to consider changing your name to AIRD. It would be more current and accurate.
Some people may resist a name change, because they want to be able to put themselves out to be an alternate to an architect for a small "statute protected" amount of commercial work. That now, I think is the minority of what people in our field actually do.
Just some thoughts. I know that you will never change the name, but you should think about it, as I would LOVE to join. For now, the perception (I have heard) is a "Building Designer" is a guy that wanted to be an architect but didn't quite make it, and is doing work only that he is allowed by state law to do. This term is embarassing.
That is not what I am. I am a "Residential Design Specialist" That runs circles around what an architect can provide for people, and I even get referrals from architects that know it. Keep up the good work. Hopefully, I can join someday.
Kind Regards
Darrin Petersen
Bjorn & Poulsen
9410 115th Ave Ct.
Anderson Island, WA 98303
+253-265-1536 Office
+206 605 2966 Mobile
On Sun, Dec 29, 2024 at 1:50 PM Steve Mickley <steve.mickley@aibd.org> wrote:
Hi Darrin,
Thanks for sharing your ideas. And for singing the praises of our website.
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. The holidays seem to be a source of delays, but at the same time, I look forward to them to do some catching up. Particularly on emails that can’t be answered with a yes or no. 😊
Your email will be an item on the Board of Directors meeting agenda on January 6.
The link to the virtual meeting is published in our Monday Minute emails.
Regardless of how the board feels, our bylaws provide a means for the membership to initiate amendments. It takes a formally written proposal signed by 10 Professional Members.
Below my signature is a gift card.
I invite you to become a part of our ranks and I’ll coach you through the process of crafting your proposal and recruiting your co-signers.
Also, you’ll have access to more resources on our website. 😊
Meanwhile, I too, call myself a residential designer. I also use home designer. I understand your position.
The rest of the world uses the title Architectural Technologist.
It’s only the US and Australia that use building designer.
The last time our leadership brought up a name change was in 2009, and it failed overwhelmingly. The name proposed was exactly what you suggested, AIRD.
I believe you’re correct in your assessment as to why. I’m constantly amazed at the number of states that provide for the design of some light commercial buildings without a license.
Texas and Oklahoma have the most liberal exemptions allowing for the design of some very large commercial buildings, as long as they aren’t more than two-stories.
One in every four members are in one of those two states.
The same applies to our certification.
Personally, when I joined 28 years ago, it was because I’m not a licensed architect and I didn’t want to be. It was my desire to support the organization that was helping protect the exemptions.
It didn’t matter what its name was. Its existence is what is critical to my professional goals.
If it’s any consolation, two weeks ago we began building a new website, https://ResidentialDesign.org.
The A-Team’s current approach is, the official website is coca-cola.com, but the domain cokecolacompany.com is used for corporate purposes.
ResidentialDesign.org and AIBD.org may evolve in a similar sense.
Please schedule some time to discuss this further, if you wish – https://AIBD.org/meetsteve.
Happy New Year!
Steve Mickley
Executive Director
PS – I’ve cc’d our President, Ted Hake.
Thank you for your kind response. We are all busy doing our Holiday things because this is really the only time of year where we can hide from our clients for a few weeks. Steve, it looks like we are on the same page. I am doing a home show in January for the first time. Nervous, but excited. I hope that you will share the contents of this email with them as well. We will have 17,000+ attendees, so I am prepared to present myself and my "specialty" very well. I will get the typical insults and belittling, because I'm not an RA but I am ready to respond forefully. I can't wait to count how many people will say, "oh so you are just a draftsman".
As I mentioned, it is important for your board to know, I (personally) am not putting myself out there as a "cheap" less educated alternative to an architect, (operating under an "exemption" statute, how embarrassing for me personally) and the name "Building Designer" does just that. My dream would be that our profession would be "the only" ones anyone ever calls to design a house, Period. My goal would be to be such a strong presence that no one would even THINK of having an architect design a house. We are two different professions and specialties. You promote everything residential, but refuse to update that fact in the name, it makes no sense.
I get approached all the time, after I tell someone that I design Residences... Their response is always..Oh so you're an architect? I always reply. "no but I do very similar work but specialize in residences only". Then I add (without them asking): " I don't have a license to design commercial, public and industrial buildings like an architect". That ALWAYS clears it up. That explains what I do, and it explains very subtly, but clearly "why would you want someone that has a license to design schools, banks and shopping centers to design your home?"
The point is to acknowledge what an architect is and how important (and respectable) their license and experience is to design buildings for "public safety" reasons. I also explain when asked, that "a few architects like to design houses, which does not require their license".
Please note that the Interior Designers (I used to be one) have done a spectacular job in defining their profession apart from architects, and it has been a fight. Architects have fought them tooth and nail, because architects always say that they are interior designers too, and they alone are qualified to design interiors, and wanted to relegate interior decorators to picking carpet, tile, and paint colors. The ASID educated the public very well, on their profession, enough to where clients don't really even think about hiring an architect to design a trendy new restaurant or upscale retail or hotel space in an existing building, They are all done by commercial interior design firms. People usually would never think about hiring an architect to design their living room or new kitchen. That is what an Interior Designer does. They have staked their claim as "specialists", and the word is out . They even went to states and insisted on being Licensed, which most states have adopted. Architects are not happy and still fight them, but were simply outmaneuvered.. look at www.ASID.org, very closely as an example
We can, and should do the same thing. Educate people on the importance of an architect's role in designing safe commercial, public and industrial buildings to very stringent codes. But, WE do the houses, no question of that. I don't compete with an architect, because I'm not out trying to get their commercial work under an exemption. I would like to do whatever it takes to keep them out of residential. They are two VERY distinct fields (if we play our cards right)
I know that in Texas and Oklahoma, the exemptions are generous for designers doing commercial buildings. Most states you can do a small commercial building. If you are in practice for a long time, an occasional dental office or medical building is going to come along sooner or later because of your clientele. But we shouldn't let that be the tail that wags the dog. It's a very small segment of the national market and billing. The people in TX and OK doing those projects now will continue to get referrals to do more, and there is nothing to say that they can't refer to themselves as "Building Designers" anyway. Most houses are done by Residential Designers nationwide. To put ourselves into that small confusing "box" nationwide because a few states allow large exemptions is puzzling. Texas has their own organization, TIBD (not sure if it's affiliated, other than by the CPBD) They do a great job in their state. I realize that there are a considerable number of AIBD members that, for whatever reason, were not able to become an RA, but would like that role and identity more as an architect, and have done very well.
Sorry to be so long winded. I have been in this for a little over 40 years, (like you, I'd imagine) and have heard it all. I have endured being looked down on and treated like an architectural school "flunky draftsman". Then I started presenting myself differently, and it has worked very well. Architects are no longer laughing, or worried I'm after their small commercial work. I have received many referrals from architects, because they know I'm better at houses. I run circles around architects in getting residential clients. At some point, the organization needs to decide what they are and go for it with their Identity. It's simply outdated (in my opinion) and does not describe the majority of most work that members do. I appreciate the offer for membership, I'll take you up on that, THANK YOU, but I'll never be a "building designer", or promote my affiliation to the group, I'd lose too many upper end clients. . I'm a specialist, and don't design "buildings" for people top live in, I'm a Residential Designer
If that ever changes, I will boldly promote it. Please "think outside the box on this one".
Keep up the good work!!
Kind Regards
Darrin Petersen
Residential Designer
Bjorn & Poulsen
9410 115th Ave Ct.
Anderson Island, WA 98303
+253-265-1536 Office
+206 605 2966 Mobile