Design+Dialogue

In architecture and design, firms thrive because of the character and creative talent of their team members. But if you don’t have the right branding and hiring strategies, you won’t find top performers. These strategies will help you make better hiring decisions and land exceptional talent for your architecture firm. [...]

The war for top talent still rages across the country.  Here are 5 tips to attract that top talent to your firm.  

Many job seekers in architecture and interior design have gap years in their resumes. For example, maybe you spent a year traveling and studying international architecture. While taking a year off can lead to life-affirming experiences, they can also damage your resume if left unexplained. Here are tips to tips [...]

This Wednesday I am in Cancun so the tip is simple.  Take time for yourself.  It is so important to recharge.

Hiring the right people can be challenging during rapid company growth. The firm feels pressured to meet all sorts of other demands during this time. Breaking the hiring habits that have worked for decades can be difficult, but the truth is that hiring processes are doomed to fail when they [...]

DBI polled 100 of our workers out on contract, asking why they loved contract work.  In this video we list out the top benefits of contract work.

Networking has gotten much easier thanks to social media and professional platforms like LinkedIn. If you have a professional online presence, then you should already be highlighting your skills and experience. But your future career growth depends on improving your professional profiles and keeping them up to date. Here are [...]

2020 has started strong but storm clouds could be brewing.  Now is the time to prepare your firm for economic uncertainty.

With no sign of an economic slow-down in the coming year and the skill gap widening, architectural firms need to engage and retain talent if they want to thrive in this market. To do so, focus on retention by keep employees happy and increasing engagement. Here are a few ways [...]

I have been reading about “Second Wave Gentrification” and I find it fascinating. For this Wednesday Tip I want to dive into this a bit deeper. Enjoy!

The design of meeting rooms and other office spaces affects employee’s ability to communicate, collaborate, create, and focus. In many industries where teamwork is essential to problem-solving and meeting deadlines, office designs are needed to encourage positive interactions between team members. Here are some of the new the trends in [...]

DBI is hiring a Client Development Rep into our Seattle group.  This unique role supports the recruiting efforts of DBI by managing the aggregation, organization, and dissemination of talent, oversight of marketing planning and ROI, ownership of strategic technology and tools development, and overall process improvement.  This is a critical [...]

From glacial retreat and shrinking ice sheets to warming oceans and rising sea levels, climate change is here and it continues to grow across the globe. The architecture industry is adapting to combat climate change. Here are some ways that architecture and design jobs are evolving to minimize climate change. [...]

2019 is over and the new decade has begun. Let’s take a quick look at a few of the residential architecture trends of 2019. Smart Home Technology and the Connected Home Interest in building smart homes has increased exponentially over the past few years as homeowners turn toward technology for [...]

Recent signs suggest the boom in growth in the architecture industry is gradually slowing down. It’s a good time to reflect on what it takes to successfully manage a firm during a time of economic uncertainty. Luckily, there are actions you can take to continue to prosper during any potential [...]

As architecture and design recruiters, we regularly make placements for our clients that result in stability, growth, and long-term success. It’s especially gratifying when we can help a firm in times of challenge and give them the boost they need to achieve their goals. Here’s an example of one of [...]

Over the past three years it has become so much easier for architects and design professionals to find freelance opportunities. Now that more employees prioritize work-life balance and want to be in charge of their own schedules, contract work or freelancing has become a great way for designers to grow [...]

It takes thoughtful leadership and effective communication to take a firm to the next level. It takes a vision and a solid plan to meet that vision. Many firms do a great job planning the budgets and expected revenue for growth. They do a great job of building a targeted [...]

Many architecture firms are now using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. If you want yours to even make it into the hands of a hiring manager, then it requires just the right format and contextual keywords. Here are a few ways to make your resume stand out when [...]

Evaluating emotional intelligence can be used as a barometer of future success. Those who have a good sense of emotional maturity and adaptability tend to succeed in architecture and design jobs. Although intelligence is still important in the workplace, hiring candidates who lack emotional maturity can lead to a toxic [...]