February 2010 Archives

This post on art and residential architecture starts with an example about accessibility.  Over ten years ago, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)designed a house in France for a client who was confined to a wheelchair.  The three story house has an elevator platform, 10' x 10.75', that moves freely between the floors.  The 'room', with its permanent wall of shelves, travels up and down through the house transforming the architecture of the house, becoming part of the kitchen, living space or enclosed as an office.    Thinking about rooms as elevators or even rooms on tracks...

"It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises but only performance is reality."~American Businessman Harold S. Geneen Throughout this entire series, I've been speaking about "business promises." While it's important to have a "promise" to build your business on, the vital thing is to deliver on that promise.  This alone is what the customer will remember. As a close to this series, I felt it best to conclude with a short list of statements/questions that you should keep top-of-mind:• NO AMOUNT OF MARKETING CAN OVERCOME CONTINUAL POOR COMPANY PERFORMANCE.    • If you promise...

To renew their license, Minnesota-licensed interior designers, architects and landscape architects must have completed 24 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) during the two-year period immediately preceding each biennial renewal date, which falls on June 30 of each even-numbered year (2010, 2012, etc). Professional development may include technical, nontechnical, regulatory, ethical, and business practice content provided the education help safeguard and promote the public's health, safety and welfare. Source: Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design Post comments or questions on this blog or contact Design Arts Seminars, Inc. For a list of continuing education opportunities...

Nevada-registered achitects, interior designers and residential designers are required to complete 8 health, safety and welfare CEUs annually, of which 2 must be code-related. The Nevada continuing education requirement went into effect January 1, 2010.  Registrants are responsible for tracking courses and maintaining supporting documentation in case of an audit.  A CEU Tracking Log must be completed and sent with each registrant's renewal for 2011.  Transcripts and other back-up information will not be accepted by the board, unless a registrant is audited. Source: Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design Post comments or questions on this blog...

Most people think of art as something to be inserted into architecture.  While art as an addition to architectural space as well as the mechanics of display are discussed in the seminar, I am interested in the dialogue between art and architecture.  The two influence one another; art can be an integral part of architecture rather than an afterthought.  Art and architecture are often most effective when conceived and executed jointly.  I recently attended a lecture by Joseph Kuspan, AIA, who is the director of design at Karlsberger Architects in Columbus, Ohio.  (www.karlsberger.com)  The topic was the LEED platinum-level...

"Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends."~Walt Disney Disney's quote is the epitome of what companies should strive for: satisfied customers who do your marketing for you.  In the meantime, you have to rely on strong marketing materials. This post will focus on how to evaluate your advertising collateral.  One of the biggest mistakes companies make is spending money producing a marketing piece and realizing that it's too complicated or too ugly when it's too late. Hopefully, after reading this, it won't happen to you. First, find someone who...