How are Architects Perceived?

Let's look at a cartoon which I watch quite often with my children: Peppa Pig. Peppa Pig is a British cartoon show about a pig family composed of mommy pig, daddy pig, Peppa (eldest girl pig) and George (younger brother pig ). This airs in the US on channel such as Nickelodeon Junior. Many times throughout the episodes, the father pig is portrayed as an engineer by his actions (See HERE). However on one episode, he's clearly portrayed as an architect. Please watch this short episode and tell me what you pick up.

​See the following link if the above is not active: HERE

At 1:20 minute mark, he seems very arrogant. As if he's above the contractor/builders. In a recent twitter post by Bob Borson, he stated, "As an Architect, I appear only as skilled as my contractor is capable." This is all too true. It's a give take relationship with a common goal: a satisfied client with an interior or exterior space (or product) they will enjoy for years to come. The mentality and expectations of dealing with an Architect need to match reality.

You can check out this post here: The Incomplete Big Picture
Image courtesy of Instagram

My wife has had many odd encounters when telling friends and family what I do. Generally they immediately think I am a brainy intellect with no personality that bores her to sleep daily. I would hope this isn't how she feels! Though I have my intense moments of euphoric technical babble, I'm generally a down to earth type of guy who knows when to turn this off. I am personable with people at, let's say, a casual back-yard gathering. This bear another point, how approachable 
are architects?

We have to speak the language of the people we call clients but still express passion and knowledge which will ultimately produce a aesthetically pleasing and functional space. As pointed out in the ArchDaily article: 150 Weird Words That Only Architects Use, we as designers have an tremendous arsenal of terms and lingo. Complication is not ideal as it alienates you from the very people you'd like to help. 

In a recent article by Rosa Sheng, she speaks of deliberately fostering a trusting relationship with your clients. Check out the article titled: 7 Tips to Build and Maintain Trust in an Architect-Client Relationship. If we hope to get clients, succeed in delivering the project and win their trust for continued work, this communication and transparency is essential. Fellow architects, how are we perceived?

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Image courtesy BrainyQuotes.com

Image courtesy BrainyQuotes.com

We can only go as far as our clients will let us (or more rather what they'll pay for). So let's educate and instill trust so it is a pleasure to work through a design with the crowning moment being construction completion.

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Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.com 
ArchitectOWL Blog claims no ownership of or affiliation with Peppa Pig images or video. (Astley Baker Davies Ltd / Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003). See here for more information: YouTube & Website