Architecture and Design Firms

Architecture is the profession of designing buildings and other constructions, usually with regard to aesthetic effect or design.

The key attributes of architecture are function, structure, and beauty. A building can provide shelter from the elements, but architecture does more than that, rising to the level of an art form.

Of all of the art forms, architecture is the most difficult to ignore. The chances are very good that you are experiencing architecture as you are reading this. In all probability, you are sitting in a room, with a floor, ceiling, walls, doors, and windows. In the hands of an architect or skilled designer, these are the building blocks of the art of architecture.

The key attributes of architecture are function, structure, and beauty. A building can provide shelter from the elements, but architecture does more than that, rising to the level of an art form.

Outdoors, many of the yards, gardens, and public places that we may encounter were designed by landscape architects, whose tasks are also that of combining function, structure, and beauty.

The role of architects and designers is to consider a client's list of functional needs and create a structure that will use space efficiently, admit light, and be durable, but also to reach beyond these necessities to achieve beauty and make a favorable impression.

That's not all they do, however. In some ways, architects have to be good at everything. In order to be successful, an architect must have business and management skills, as they may be required to market themselves, consult with engineers, builders, landscapers, and other specialists. Architects are sometimes called upon to supervise design and construction teams, and oversee budgets and schedules.

In the United States, architects are licensed or registered to practice within the state or states in which they work. Although requirement may differ from one state to another, the licensure requirements can be expected to include a professional degree in architecture, an internship, and a passing grade on a registration test administered by the state. Additionally, some states require continuing education in order to maintain licensure.

Most states also require landscape architects to be licensed, and to have graduated from an accredited program of training, complete an internship, and to pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination. Some states require landscape architects to pass a state-administered test in addition to the LARE.

Interior designers and decorators use artistic sense and creativity to improve the function and overall appearance of home, offices, and public spaces. The requirements for an interior designer or decorator might be expected to differ more widely from state to state, and an interior decorator generally has a different level of education and expertise than an interior designer, although apprenticeships and certifications may be required in some states.