Architectural Design Values - The Economic Design Value

The Economic Design Value

Many architects and industrial designers often dread the financial and business side of architecture and industrial design practice, as their focus is often geared towards achieving successful design quality rather than achieving successful economic expectations.

This is the basis for a design value that can be characterised as 'voluntarism' or 'charrette ethos'. This value is commonly found among practising architects and designers. The 'volunteer' value is founded in the belief that good architecture and design requires commitment beyond the prearranged time, accountant’s budget, and normal hours. Implicit in the 'volunteer' value are elements of the following claim present:

  1. Best design works comes from offices or individual designers which are willing to put in overtime (sometimes unpaid) for the sake of the design outcome.
  2. Good architecture and design is rarely possible within fees offered by clients.
  3. Architects and designers should care enough about buildings or products to uphold high design standards regardless of the payment offered.

The 'volunteer' design value can be seen as a reaction to and a rejection of the client’s influence and control over the design project.

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