Selecting your Building Designer or Architect

Architect vs Draftsperson vs Building Designer

What is the difference between an Architect, a Draftsperson and a Building Designer? Generally speaking, nothing. When it comes to designing homes and creating house plans, they all effectively perform the same role. However, when you consider all experts in terms of money and skill level, there is a significant difference. Architects cost more than a Building Designer and significantly more than a Draftsperson. Both an Architect and Building Designer have a higher level of qualification and are held to a higher standard due to industry bodies and legalities.

An Architect

To legally claim the title of Architect, an architect must be board registered with the Australian Institute of Architects. To become board registered they must:

• Complete a recognised university degree
• Complete a minimum of 2 years of on-the-job experience
• Sit and pass a written exam
• Sit and pass an interview exam
• Maintain an annual membership as an Architect, including continual professional development

As a rough guide, you would consider using an Architect for projects with a total cost of over $800,000 or for projects of any budget that require architectural design requirements.

A Building Designer

A Building Designer must also be formally licenced to use the title of Building Designer. The licencing requirements vary from state to state. Depending on the licence a Building Designer holds will determine the type and scale of building they can work on — residential houses, apartment buildings, or public facilities.

A building designer is able to obtain education and training through TAFE and/or University degrees. A Building Designer can often be a draftsperson who has gone through the process of becoming licenced, and can be a more affordable option if you are looking for both design advice and a complete set of building plans. You could consider using a Building Designer if your project is estimated to cost between $200,000 and $800,000.

A Draftsperson

A draftsperson is the most affordable option of the three. A draftsperson needs no formal qualifications, although there are TAFE courses available to learn the skills of drafting, building design and how to use drafting programs. A draftsperson is a good option if you know what design and layout you want and simply need plans created — great for projects with a budget of under $200,000.

Design Professional vs Builder

It’s not uncommon to be confused about where to go first when it comes to building your new home. The best answer is that it comes down to your project and what outcome you want to achieve.

If you have a particularly large budget, you are planning a high-end highly customised home, or you are after a home that requires architectural design requirements — then you are best to speak to an Architect first. For all other projects, you are best to speak to a builder who is experienced and skilled in the style of home or construction method you are looking for.

A quality builder will often have building designers and/or draftspeople working within their business or will have formed close working relationships with independent Architects and design professionals. If you want the best of both worlds, seek out both a builder and a design professional who already have a working relationship, have experience working together and have joint projects under their belt.

How to choose the right Architect / Building Designer / Draftsperson

Sourcing an Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson for your home is very similar to finding a builder. Run through the following checklist to find a suitable professional for you.

• Do they specialise in the work you need? At a minimum, you want a design professional who has experience in the area you are after.
• Can you review a portfolio of their work?
• Is there a consistent style the design professional produces, and is this the style you are looking for?
• How did you find them and how much do you trust the recommendation source?
• Is the design professional adequately licenced? Is the Architect registered with the Australian Institute of Architects? Is the Building Designer licenced?
• How long has the design professional been in business?
• Does the design professional have restrictions on their licence or disciplinary action recorded against their name?
• Has the design professional ever declared bankruptcy?
• Does the design professional have reviews and/or testimonials?
• Can you get feedback from past clients? Ask them to share contact details of past clients so you can hear directly about their experience.
• What is their availability and can they give you a timeframe to complete your plans?
• How many projects have they undertaken, and how many similar to yours have they successfully completed?
• Does the design professional operate on a fixed fee or hourly rate?
• How many amendments and changes does the design professional allow?
• Is the design professional willing to work alongside the builder throughout the project?
• Has the design professional been transparent and straightforward when answering your questions? Do they listen to you? Can they communicate clearly without confusing jargon?
• MOST IMPORTANT — Do you own the designs and plans for your home once they are created?