Practice Management For Design Professionals

In the mid-1960s geotechnical engineers paid the highest liability insurance of any profession and by 1969 were virtually uninsurable. As a result, the ASFE was founded and helped these engineers not only lower their insurance rates, but get to the point where, by 1980, they were the least liability-prone members of the design profession. Now, John Bachner and the ASFE tell all other design professionals how to accomplish the same task. This book, which incorporates the ASFE's Introduction to Professional Practice program for advancing architects' and engineers' knowledge of professional practice issues, addresses almost every aspect of the design professionals' practice as they relate to liability, from procedures for verifying the accuracy of technical output to steps for improving client and project selection, workscope development, personnel training and dispute resolution.

You don’t need to be a financial wizard to ensure the future success of your design firm! An accessible guide to financial management, Financial Management for Design Professionals is written for design firm principals who are responsible for their firm’s finances but have little or no financial management education or experience. For mid-career design professionals looking to advance their careers, the book is an indispensable reference and training guide. Using a simple, step-by-step format, this book shows design professionals how to: Develop an annual budget and profit plan Calculate the overhead rate for a firm Calculate the break-even rate and hourly billing rate for each employee Establish project fees Use readily available financial information in successful negotiation Design and interpret financial reports Plus: clear explanations of the fundamentals of financial management!

The professional architect’s business management bible now encompasses the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 to reflect the very latest practice in today’s cutting-edge architectural environment. With an emphasis on the practical aspects of working as an architect, the 9th edition combines clear and comprehensive guidance with a focus on new directions in practice management which will give a modern practice that vital commercial edge. Topics range from starting up a practice and developing a business strategy, to how to win clients, manage people, and handle fees. It includes new sections on topics such as knowledge management, QA, IT and project management too. With its clear, accessible layout, and no-nonsense style aimed at busy architects, this is a must-read for practices of all sizes and the ideal companion to the RIBA Job Book, 9th edition

Explains construction professional practice in an appealing, succinct, and relatively informal way This book details the management of construction projects from beginning to end, concentrating on the principles underlying what construction professionals like architects do. It covers the entire process—from the initial meetings with clients through the design, recruitment of a contractor, contract management, construction, and handover—all without referencing legal cases, contract clause numbers, laws, statutes, or the complex jargon that can muddle comprehension. The first part of Professional Practice for Architects and Project Managers offers enlightening chapters that cover: professional standards, perks of the job, bonds and parent company guarantees, office meetings, letter writing, the RIBA Plan of Work, and Building Information Modelling (BIM). The second section teaches all about dealing with the clients, and includes chapters that discuss the extent of services, fee negotiations, conflicts of interest, and more. Next the book looks at such on-the-job responsibilities as surveys, ground investigations, cost estimates, work schedules, letters of intent, etc. The final section goes over everything readers need to know about dealing with a building contract in progress, informing them about advance payments, insurance, site inspections, contractor disputes, terminations, final certificates, and more. Details the entire process of managing a construction project, including dealing with clients, the design process, running a construction project, and more Highlights what the construction professionals do in their positions Shows how principles of construction management are applied in practice Written in a reader-friendly and accessible way Professional Practice for Architects and Project Managers is an excellent resource for architects and other construction professionals such as contract administrators, project managers, quantity surveyors, and contractors.

In the fast-paced, big-stakes design industry, schedules are accelerated and client expectations are high. Literally, time is money and the responsibility for project success or failure rests squarely on the shoulders of one individual: the project manager. Since design professionals rarely receive formal training on project management, the complex discipline can be a sink or swim proposition. For the first time, veteran architect William G. Ramroth, Jr., taps the resources of his 30-plus years of project management experience to offer practical advice, instructions, and techniques to help you think strategically, plan carefully, and troubleshoot problems. Project Management for Design Professionals is written for architects, designers, landscape architects, urban planners, interior designers, engineers and others looking to plan and complete multidisciplinary projects successfully.

"Andy Pressman has effectively bridged the artificial gap that has developed between art, science, and professional practice in architecture. . . . This book is a crucial beginning in your search for excellence in professional practice."—From the Foreword by Richard A. Eribes, PhD, AIA Professional practice courses often suffer from a boring reputation, but there's nothing dull about Andy Pressman's Professional Practice 101. With its unique focus on the important links between practice and the design process, this book brings a fresh perspective to the many issues involved in the operation of an architectural practice, from how a firm is structured to how it manages projects and secures new business. Filled with insightful contributions from Charles Gwathmey, Gene Kohn, Mario Salvadori, and dozens of other leading architects and designers, this book offers an inspiring and truly relevant examination of architectural practice today. It will be welcomed by students and young architects as a vital part of their training. Professional Practice 101 contains a wealth of material on: Firm organization Group dynamics and teamwork Communication and leadership skills Marketing Financial management Client and contractor relations Project management Project delivery Design and information technology Legal and licensing issues Risk management and professional liability insurance Plus: Firm profiles, case studies And analyses, and real-life anecdotes Valuable reference information for architects who are preparing for the licensing exam

"Provides definitive guidelines on all aspects of the graphic design business."—FYI. * Newly revised and expanded version of an industry classic--5,000 sold! * Up-to-the-minute! Includes web, interactive, and green design, new legislation * Each chapter written by an authority on the subject. Here’s the definitive guide to professional business practices in graphic design, now fully revised and updated for the digital age. Up-to-the-minute coverage of web, interactive, and motion graphics; green design; potential repercussions of legislation on Orphan Works; protection of fonts and software; managing creative people; using professional help such as lawyers; and much more. Each in-depth chapter, covering such topics as professional relationships, fees, contracts, managing large projects, copyright and trademark issues, electronic uses, and more, has been written by an authority in the field. The newly revised AIGA Standard Form for Design Services is included for the convenience of readers, along with a complete resources section. No designer should do business without this comprehensive, authoritative book. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

This E. & F. N. Spon title is now distributed by Routledge in the US and Canada This title available in eBook format. Click here for more information. Visit our eBookstore at: www.ebookstore.tandf.co.uk.