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In this episode, Stuart, Aaron and I discussed: Why the studio believes engaging with the profession, and immersing themselves in their passion for architecture through books, travel and teaching, have contributed to a more sustainable and quality design practice. How Aaron and Stuart value the role of the ‘caring critic’ in their partnership, and why they believe it’s essential to have honest feedback to continue improving and growing as an architect. Why the studio focuses on writing, essays, and an upcoming book as helpful processes for clarifying their thinking, reflecting on their work and attracting like-minded clients. The reasons the practice has lost interest in Instagram over time as the platform has moved from being a place to socialise and share ideas, to just another channel for promoting finished project images. If you’d like to learn more about Vokes and Peters, you can visit vokesandpeters.com. You can also follow Stuart on Instagram at @stuart_vokesandpeters and Aaron at @aaron_vokesandpeters.  Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp, M.Arch—an architectural marketing expert and the director of Office D.SHARP, a practice providing specialised consultancy, marketing and PR services tailored to meet the particular needs of architects. Working as a sole practitioner, Dave employs a collaborative, conversational approach to his work, fostering long-standing relationships that yield tangible results for clients. Visit officedavesharp.com to learn more. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Sean and I discussed: Why he believes his small practice structure, currently himself and associate director Hayley Franklin, allows him to stay closer to the work and achieve the best design outcome. Why Sean believes committed clients will find their way to him without the need for heavy-handed marketing and PR - even though it can sometimes mean having to wait for the phone to ring. How the profession has become too obsessed with creating good looking images for Instagram, and why this form of feedback can lead architects off in the wrong direction. How Sean has developed a design methodology where his client are heavily involved in their project from day one, rather than the stereotype of the architect who imposes their ideas onto the client. Sean explains how viewing each project as an opportunity to improve on the ideas in the last has led to a consistency quality to his buildings, and shares his response to the popular argument that architects should avoid having a recognisable signature or style in their work. If you’d like to learn more about Sean and his work, you can visit seangodsell.com or follow the studio on Instagram at @seangodsellarchitects.  Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp, M.Arch—an architectural marketing expert and the director of Office D.SHARP, a practice providing specialised consultancy, marketing and PR services tailored to meet the particular needs of architects. Working as a sole practitioner, Dave employs a collaborative, conversational approach to his work, fostering long-standing relationships that yield tangible results for clients. Visit officedavesharp.com to learn more. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Sophia and I discussed: How the practice found a niche for itself bringing new life to Adelaide’s beautiful heritage buildings, while blurring the boundary between architecture and interiors. Why the studio does all of their architectural photography and styling in house, and how that’s contributed to the practice’s distinctive and consistent brand identity. How Sophia and her co-director David Burton navigated the retirement of the studio’s founding director, Robert Williams, and saw it as a catalyst to embark on a significant rebrand. Sophia shares why she believes buying and refurbishing the floor of an unloved heritage building in Adelaide’s city center, and turning into their office, was a pivotal turning point in the success of their practice. If you’d like to learn more about Williams Burton Leopardi, you can visit designbywbl.com.au or follow them on Instagram @designbywbl.  Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp, M.Arch—an architectural marketing expert and the director of Office D.SHARP, a practice providing specialised consultancy, marketing and PR services tailored to meet the particular needs of architects. Working as a sole practitioner, Dave employs a collaborative, conversational approach to his work, fostering long-standing relationships that yield tangible results for clients. Visit officedavesharp.com to learn more. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Neil, Lillian and I discussed: A high-level introduction to brand strategy, from the benefits of investing the time to explore what your brand is about, to the types of questions NHO ask their clients to help them unearth unique insights. Why it’s essential to figure out your brand strategy before making tactical decisions about your marketing, social media and digital presence. How a brand strategy document can be used to help you make a variety of important decisions in your practice, from hiring to your annual reviews. The importance of consistency and a curated quality to your marketing, website and social media–and why practices should think carefully about the projects they show on their website. An in-depth look at how NHO approach the PR process, from setting clear objectives, deciding on focus projects, managing stakeholders such as consultants, builders and clients, and finally their thoughts on how to select the right mix of publications to align with your goals. If you’d like to learn more about NHO, you can visit nho.agency or follow them on Instagram @nho.agency. Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp, M.Arch—an architectural marketing expert and Director of Office D.SHARP, a practice providing specialised consultancy, marketing and PR services tailored to meet the particular needs of architects. Working as a sole practitioner, Dave employs a collaborative, conversational approach to his work, fostering long-standing relationships that yield tangible results for clients. Visit officedavesharp.com to learn more. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Jeremy and I spoke about: Why Breathe has always doubled-down on their sustainable design niche, and why Jeremy believes you only need to speak to 1% of the market to attract a high volume of values-aligned clients. How Breathe adjust their message for their different client segments, from developers, to homeowners and superannuation funds–based on the unique needs of each group. Why every big organisation has at least one champion for sustainability, and the unexpected places architects can find them. Why a major setback with Nightingale in 2015 that left Jeremy crying on his bathroom floor turned out to be the project’s biggest marketing breakthrough. The opportunities Jeremy sees for architects to engage with society’s biggest issues, from electrification, to reconciliation, to increasing the share of homes delivered by architects beyond 3%. If you’d like to learn more about Jeremy, you can visit breathe.com.au or follow them on Instagram @breathearchitecture. Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp, M.Arch—an architectural marketing expert and Director of Office D.SHARP, a practice providing specialised consultancy, marketing and PR services tailored to meet the particular needs of architects. Working as a sole practitioner, Dave employs a collaborative, conversational approach to his work, fostering long-standing relationships that yield tangible results for clients. Visit officedavesharp.com to learn more. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

John has been shooting the majority of Australia’s significant buildings since starting his career in the 1960’s, and it’s a great privilege to have John on the podcast to share his unique perspective on the history of architectural photography, and where the profession finds itself today. In this episode, John and I spoke about: How architectural photography has changed over the span of John’s career, in terms of how it’s commissioned, produced and distributed. How John uses the lessons of his early work in advertising photography to sell buildings in a way that architects can’t. John’s critique of the current trends in architectural photography, and concerns about the popular obsession with pretty pictures that don’t fully describe the building and the architect’s ideas. John’s predictions for the future of the architectural media. Why architects should remember to take a longer term or historical view of their architectural photography, and approach it in a way that will stand the test of time. If you’d like to learn more about John, you can visit gollings.com.au or follow him on Instagram @johngollings. This episode was hosted by Dave Sharp, a marketing consultant for architects. You can learn more about Dave here. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Michael and I spoke about: How Milieu commissions a broad range of content such as photography, film, modelmaking and graphic design as the foundation of their marketing and content strategy. The qualities Michael looks for in an architecture practice they are considering for one of their multi-residential projects. Why Michael believes it’s important to tell the stories of their project occupants years after they have moved in, rather than just focusing on the perfect image once the project is completed. The steps Milieu took to better understand their values as a company, and how they communicate that to the public through their marketing. If you’d like to learn more about Milieu, you can visit milieuproperty.com.au or follow them on Instagram @milieuproperty If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Chris and I spoke about: A new approach the studio is taking to 3d visualisation that allows them to showcase their unbuilt design ideas, and as well as capitalise on the projects they have coming up in the pipeline. The networking habit and “champions list” strategy Chris has build over time that has lead to most of the studio’s project opportunities. Why investing in professional branding 5 years into the studio’s journey has helped them to attract both design-savvy clients and quality candidates. How a studio can find the right balance between brand and lead-generation in their website and approach to digital marketing, and how this balance might shift over time as your goals change. If you’d like to learn more about Field Office Architecture, you can visit fieldoffice.com.au or follow them on Instagram @fieldoffice.arch If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Chris and I spoke about: Archier’s approach to social media that has helped them to gain 65’000 followers on Instagram. Why Archier sees value in entering their projects into a variety of awards programs throughout the year. Why it’s important to make your work stand out, and how you can design your process to make producing distinctive and interesting work more achievable. What makes an ideal client for Archier, and how they structure their client selection process. Why Archier starts every project with a $10,000 concept design package. If you’d like to learn more about Archier, you can visit archier.com.au or follow them on Instagram @archier_. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, Graham and I spoke about: The pros and cons of hospitality from a marketing and communications standpoint. How the studio picks projects that will be highly visible and help build the studio’s brand. The importance of investing heavily in photography and branding, even in the early days of the practice. What hospitality clients are looking for when searching for an architect. studio gram’s approach to awards and building relationships with the design media has helped them to become so visible. If you’d like to learn more about Studio Gram, you can visit studio-gram.com.au or follow them on Instagram @studio_gram. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: The challenges that William and the team faced as the practice grew, and why William found hiring a skilled general manager early in the journey was key to their success. How William was able to win his first multi-residential projects, and William shared his tips for getting your foot in the door in this highly competitive space. Why it’s important to build a profile in the industry with a broad marketing strategy, and not just focus on reaching the next client. How William thinks about the studio’s unique selling points, and why it can be a good thing for an architect to have a signature approach that ties their projects together. Why it’s important for architects to spend time educating their clients about design, and how we, as a profession, can better engage with the public and promote the value of what architects do. If you’d like to learn more about William and the studio, you can visit smartdesignstudio.com, follow the studio on Instagram at @smart.design.studio or follow William at @williamsmart. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects.

In this episode, we discussed: Why people are losing interest in picture-perfect architecture porn, and what opportunities that creates for architects to show a bit more depth and vulnerability in their communications. Why you should set aside a portion of your marketing budget for activities and content that will help the general public understand the value of what architects do, even if it isn’t targeted directly to potential clients. How architects can use writing, podcasts and video to tell the stories behind their projects in new and exciting ways. How Amanda would allocate her marketing budget if she was starting an architecture firm today. If you’d like to learn more about Archiboo and enter your practice into the 2022 Archiboo Awards, you can visit archibooawards.com or follow them on Instagram @archiboolive. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: How the studio was able to win their first public projects in the early years of the practice by reaching out to potential clients. Why it’s important to get comfortable talking about yourself, what you can do, and what you want to do—so that potential clients can keep you in mind for future projects. Simple tips to help you find an interesting story within your projects, and why storytelling and words can help you stand out from the crowd. How Welsh + Major were able to clarify their message down to “We are modern-ish architects” and why it’s been successful in attracting new clients to the studio. The reasons behind Welsh + Major’s recent rebrand, the costs involved, and how the process helped them to notice and address weaknesses that had been holding the practice back. If you’d like to learn more about David and the studio, you can visit welshmajor.com or follow @welshandmajor on Instagram.  If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: The benefits of raising your profile within the industry as a springboard to working on bigger public project teams. Why Mat looks outside of architecture for design and business inspiration, and how this helps him to take a differentiated approach to his social media, marketing and photographic style. How Mat uses weekly email and Instagram outreach to grow his professional network and discover new project opportunities for the studio. The press and photography strategy Mat follows to ensure his projects are reaching the right audience of potential clients. Why encouraging clients to feel safe expressing their unique personality and tastes in their project can make the architect’s job of marketing the finished project so much easier. If you’d like to learn more about Mat and the studio, you can visit can-site.co.uk or follow @can_agram on Instagram. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: The guerrilla marketing tactics that have helped Amos to convert great projects, including a setting up stall at his local farmer’s market, joining mums and dads groups on Facebook, and setting up an online consultation model that had over 100 bookings during the COVID lockdowns. How Amos is creating content to help break down the barriers between architects and the general public, such as a welcome pack to set expectations using clear and friendly language, and a recent short film about his studio to help build trust with potential clients. Why Amos believes it’s important take risks with your marketing, go outside your comfort zone, and how he has benefited from business, marketing and public speaking coaching in recent years. The Feasibility Study service Amos has designed for potential clients to allow them to get a feel for what it’s like to work with the practice, and the value an architect offers, before committing to the full process. If you’d like to learn more about Amos, you can visit agarchitecture.net or follow @agarchitecture on Instagram.  If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: The advantages of interview based film as a way to tell captivating architectural stories, and how video allows viewers to experience what a building truly feels like as light and weather conditions change. What happens behind the scenes when you’re making a project feature film, and what to expect as an architect if you’re thinking about having a film made for one of your projects. Why film should be viewed as a long-term investment, and the many ways you can use video as part of your marketing mix. How architects can explore brand partnerships with suppliers, builders and consultants to help share the cost of video production. If you’d like to learn more about Cheer Squad and you can visit cheersquad.com or follow @cheersquadfilmco on Instagram. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by ArchiPro. ArchiPro showcases the best and latest in the architecture and building industry, and connects people with trusted trade professionals and products to suit their needs. Visit ArchiPro.com.au to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: Why it’s essential to develop a positive mindset around marketing and sales, and why viewing marketing as an extension of your design process will help you to enjoy it more and make it easier to prioritise in your busy schedule. Why it’s a good idea to develop your personal brand as an architect, and how Rion would approach it if he was starting from scratch today. The challenges architects face when we get too busy, and what you can focus on today to prevent these issues from overwhelming your firm in the months ahead. How to ensure you're developing your strategic long-term vision for your practice, rather than just reacting to day-to-day issues and demanding clients. If you’d like to learn more about Rion and his work, you can visit businessofarchitecture.com, follow @businessofarchitectureuk on Instagram, or subscribe to the Business of Architecture UK podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by Bowerbird. Bowerbird makes it easy to submit your architecture to magazines, newspapers and websites. Visit Bowerbird.io to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: How TRIAS have seen strong demand in the residential market for stripped-back, sustainable architecture, and how it’s helped the studio to stand out from their peers. Why Instagram has become a bit less important for TRIAS than it used to be, and what alternatives might be on the horizon to take it’s place in their marketing strategy. How TRIAS is planning to share their upcoming projects, and what they’re doing differently this time around in terms of photography, video and media selection. The slowness of the architectural process, and why it’s important to take the time to get the project photos and copy as perfect as they can be when it finally comes time to share the results of your hard work. If you’d like to learn more about TRIAS, you can visit trias.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @trias.studio. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by Bowerbird. Bowerbird makes it easy to submit your architecture to magazines, newspapers and websites. Visit Bowerbird.io to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: The importance of working with the best photographers, stylists, visualisation artists and copywriters, and why they believe investing significantly to create compelling project content is worth the cost. How Instagram has been integral to the studio’s growth, but why they see attention moving to new channels going forward. Why the studio believes being helpful, educational and taking stress off the client is a key point of difference in the eyes of potential clients, no matter their budget. How the launch of Ruum, their new business that offers limited edition home designs with fixed upfront project costs, has revealed surprisingly effective marketing strategies that can be applied to the typical architecture practice as well. If you’d like to learn more about Chamberlain Architects, you can visit chamberlainarchitects.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @chamberlainarchitects. You can also learn more about Ruum at ruum.com.au, or at @ruum_living on Instagram. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by Bowerbird. Bowerbird makes it easy to submit your architecture to magazines, newspapers and websites. Visit Bowerbird.io to learn more.

In this episode, we discussed: How self-initiated research projects have helped SIBLING to sharpen their design process, improve their visibility, and differentiate themselves from other architects. Why having a mix of small and big projects helps the practice to reach a broader audience, attract talent and have content to promote more regularly. The importance of strong branding, colour and injecting a bit of fun and personality into your marketing and social media, when architects can often take themselves too seriously. How the practice is able to look and sound consistent, even with four directors and projects spanning all sectors and sizes. If you’d like to learn more about SIBLING, you can visit siblingarchitecture.com or follow them on Instagram at @sibling_architecture. If you’d like to learn more about me, Dave Sharp, you can visit vanityprojects.com to check out my blog, join over 5000 other architects on my email list, or learn more about my marketing coaching services for architects. This episode was supported by Bowerbird. Bowerbird makes it easy to submit your architecture to magazines, newspapers and websites. Visit Bowerbird.io to learn more.