Do you need an architect or a building designer?

Architects and building designers do the same thing — design buildings. Their primary difference is their certification and legal definition.

Architects are those who have completed a degree in architecture; they also have architecture licences or certifications provided by the professional board in their state or territory. On the other hand, building designers are what used to be called draftsmen — they are skilled in building design but do not have the education or the qualifications of architects.

Now, you might think at first glance that architects are more competent, given the training and licensure they have to go through. But sometimes, a highly experienced building designer might make up for his lack of formal education with hands-on involvement in relevant jobs. As some clients would say, “I would take a building designer with 20 years of experience over a freshly licensed architect any day.”

Also, each state and territory has an authorising body that provides certificates and licences to building designers; this is to ensure uniformity and standardisation in the industry. It also checks if a person has the required training and skills to perform the duties that come with building design.

If you’re still torn between building designers and architects, just think about whether you want to hire a licensed expert who’s fully educated on precision and the latest technology and advancements in architecture or a skilled tradie who has been tried and tested with time and experience.

It might also help to check references so that you can know for sure if you’re choosing the right person for your project.

ServiceSeeking.com.au has lists of the best architects and building designers, and you can have a look at them to know more about your options. They would be happy to send you quotes, and you can also set up a meeting with some of them to discuss your project in detail.