Financial Management and Profitability
Designer Compensation: How Important is Money, Really?
As the economy grows stronger and the range of new work expands, there is a renewed focus on the importance of attracting and retaining qualified staff. Read full »
Firms Report Fees, Profits Edging Up
This headline is not a mistake. *DesignIntelligence* is currently conducting research on the growth rates at several hundred firms in the United States and Canada. Read full »
Confronting Commoditization
Commoditization is a big, handwringing topic that conjures up any number of nuisances in the path of what should be an enjoyable professional practice. Read full »
Redesign Your Profits: Value-Based Fee Structure
A brutal fact of reality for architecture and engineering firms is that prevailing pricing and compensation methods—setting fees on the basis of direct labor cost (whether selling hours on a... Read full »
High Profile Architecture Considering the Bottom Line
For many architects, “business” is a necessary evil—the compromise and the obligatory price paid to function in a competitive environment. Read full »
How Building Products Can Reach, Markets Faster, More Profitably
Achieving [these] goals above will also allow building product manufacturers to more effectively serve their customers, architects and general contractors. Read full »
Ascendancy vs. Gravitational Pull
This issue of DesignIntelligence is primarily about the facts and trends in baseball park design. But between the lines here is a story about professional ascendancy. Read full »
Sports Engineering Requires Speed, Skill, Endurance
Few building structures rival the complexity of Minute Maid Park. Walter P. Moore says retractability made the analysis of the curving roof at least six times more complicated than a fixed roof of... Read full »
Metrics of Value: Measuring How Design Adds Up
Ambitious firms may claim all four as core values. The important point is that to be successful, your firm needs to be distinguished in some way. What makes it special? What drives the bus? Read full »
Gensler's Vision
Gensler spent the better part of 2003 creating a Strategic Vision for 2010. In order to continue enhancing our service to clients on a global basis, we are reinventing Gensler. Read full »
HGA Vision
Economic cycles often result in systemic changes in the A/E/C industry. Looking two years out, clients will expect more value through cost-effective solutions that enable them to more effectively... Read full »
FUTURE VISION 2005
What percentage of U.S. architecture and design firms will truly succeed in 2004? How will they achieve this? How might you? This issue will look ahead to imagine the next 12 months forward to... Read full »
Your Future and The No Profit Zone
Profit is not an accident; it is an essential ingredient of a high quality professional practice. It is part of what enables you to do your best for your clients. Read full »
Driving Growth--Delivering Value
Successful firms know what makes them special. The following seven categories are key drivers to create value and identity. How does your firm measure up? Read full »
Translating Design Value into Business ROI
It’s been said that “design” is both a noun and a verb—a product and a process. While we may have words to describe design, it’s devilishly difficult to define because it means so many... Read full »
Missed opportunities: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
Better client research can help increase billings in difficult times. Read full »
Enhancing Profitability Through Integrated Design
How can we produce creative, dynamic, and inspirational architecture with both eyes on the ‘bottom line’? In an A/E practice, what should the rules be for navigating through uncharted economic... Read full »
Slow Times Need Fast Thinking
While nobody can predict with certainly what course the economy will take, there are some tactics that will help you navigate the slow periods. Read full »
Design School Survey Results Reveals Surprises
Since its introduction, the rankings have generated much attention and debate from students, design firms and the schools themselves. Read full »
Driving Out Failure Costs
Effective cost control covers two distinct realms: opportunity cost and failure cost. While opportunity cost retards growth, failure cost is an anchor that drags down the firm. Read full »
