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The global pandemic hit the architecture industry hard. In the second quarter of 2020, almost three-fourths of design firms saw a decrease in their billings. When something unexpected happens to the economy, companies tend to put major development projects on hold. Fortunately, it isn’t all bad news. Some sectors of […]

This is the best interview tool. This is THE ONE tool I have to works in any interview situation. It is free and everyone has access to it. It is Cognitive Empathy.

What is extinct productivity? The old way of motivating talent to be more productive is extinct. There is a new way!

As the architecture employment market becomes more competitive, companies need to find strategic ways to improve the candidate experience. Providing candidates with a positive experience during recruitment improves the overall reputation of your company, increases the likelihood of your top pick accepting an offer, and helps new hires start off […]

Creatives. Do we need them anymore? It could be argued that the very way we see and perceive the world is because of the creative. But do we need them anymore? Can’t computers do the work?

On my way back from Las Vegas, two days of travel, I was thinking about the most important work that I do at DBI.  It is not the work I do during the boom times but my efforts in the lean times that make the most impact on me and […]

There’s no question that 2020 has brought a lot of uncertainty for the architecture and design industries, as the global pandemic continues to affect the economy. But times of hardship offer the perfect opportunity to build resilience in your career. Below are some tips to create resilience in your career […]

In this last installment of why the interview is dead we talk about the feedback stage.  This is critical in evaluation of candidates.  Hint: it all relates back to the first step! If you want to catch up, the two previous steps are here: The Interview is Dead: The Interview […]

The importance of intercultural competence has become a popular conversation in architecture and design as firms strive to reinforce values of equality and justice and to eliminate unconscious bias from the workplace. Below we’ll cover some ways to improve your firm’s intercultural competence. What Is Intercultural Competence? When a company […]

In this second part of our The Interview is Dead series we talk about how to conduct the in-person meeting to get to know the most about a candidate. If you would like to review the first in the series, you can find it here:

In the aftermath of this year’s pandemic, architects and designers have never been more important than they are now. Architects and designers serve critical roles in creating commercial buildings that are safe and healthy for the general public, but they also provide value to their clients, particularly during times when […]

Yes, you heard correct. The interview is dead. In this Design+Dialogue episode I share what killed it and what is replacing it.

While some professionals are reluctant to take contract positions, interim and contract work in architecture and design actually have a lot of advantages. Not only are contract workers classified as regular employees (and receive a W-2), they also receive many of the same benefits a regular employee would. Here are […]

I promised it on the first video and here it is!  DBI Wednesday Tips is now…. Design + Dialogue This space is a place where Architecture, Visual Design, Interior Design, and Creatives can share ideas, discuss theory, and learn.  There is some much more to come!  

With the slowing of the economy architecture and design firms are going to need to put in place new workflow strategies. These strategies will involve every aspect of your business, how you work in your space, and your clients’ business. This will ensure that your firm and your client firms […]

In this week’s tip I want to talk about the one thing that must be done to make the portfolio work….show your work.  For years I have referred to this as “hand sketching”.  The term hand sketching does not seem as relevant now but the spirit of the term is […]