Bringing Architects and Their Partners Together: The Power of a Secure Extranet

So, you’ve been tasked with building a site that architects and their partners will use?

Sounds like a pretty straightforward project, right? If you have no experience in the architecture industry, I’m afraid it may not be, but don’t worry. In this post we will explore the reasons for these challenges and how to overcome them.

In order to make your project run as smoothly as possible we recommend taking one of two approaches: building a site from scratch or using an extranet platform designed specifically for architecture firms. For many businesses, this is really about coming up with the best solution for their business goals and budget. If your architect-client relationship is relatively new, they may not yet be able to trust that you will keep your information secure. In this case, solid security architecture will be crucial.

Personally, I’ve used extranet platforms for a number of projects over the past 15 years, and they are truly a godsend when it comes to managing my clients. They provide detailed information management (often including the ability to collaborate on designs from anywhere in the world), the ability to store large files (say, CAD drawings), and demonstrate a reasonable level of trust among my partners and I.

Even with the best technology and most talented architects, managing a large project like yours can be a challenge. Don’t let these challenges stall the project from moving forward. In this post we explore why you may have trouble working with designers, what to look for when evaluating your extranet options, and how to make our recommendations work for your organization.

Why Architect-Client Relationships Often Suffer From Burnout

When we were younger, we were more willing to compromise on things that really seemed non-essential when compared to what big business wanted. The internet has changed this game considerably though. Our clients want secure sites that are designed beautifully (and not just “made up” by doodlers). They want us to design beautiful things, and to do so efficiently. They also want us to have the ability to collaborate with others on their projects remotely.

In short, they know they need us. That’s why I think the unfortunate reality is that many of these same clients are being driven crazy by an over-demanding tech industry that treats them like less important than a big tech company might. Yes, some clients still go out of their way to make life as difficult as they can for a smaller firm, but in my experience technology has made this easier on them than it used to be.

The bottom line is that anytime you have multiple people involved in a project, you’re going to have trouble. It’s the nature of humans to disagree. The best way to avoid or resolve miscommunication or disagreements is for the people involved to understand each other. That’s where trust comes in.

But trust can be hard to come by, and it diminishes quickly over time. If your relationship with your architect is new then they may not know enough about you yet to trust that you will keep their information safe any more than they would trust a new stranger at a Starbucks.

If you haven’t worked with them before, you might not yet have built that trust. Without that trust it can be difficult to get them to sign off on your design approach.

Let’s explore the reasons you may be having trouble before we address some solutions for getting their signoff.

Problem 1: Designers Don’t Understand Architecture

This is probably the biggest challenge for most firms; designers are used to building visual interfaces for things and don’t always fully grasp how design works in the world of architecture. As a result, they may think what you want is going to create a visual mess.

This isn’t their fault. It’s just that they may not know enough about architecture yet to understand the design process in detail.

Solution: Find out what they need and talk with them about it. If they need a clean, simple site with as few visual elements as possible, then you have no choice but to step back and accept that fact — at least until you can get them a demo of your design approach. If this is a new relationship or one where you don’t have much history, that could be hard for them to accept, so it’s crucial that you help them understand why your design approach is the best for their project.

If you’re working with a firm that is long-standing and already has a good relationship, then this may not be as big of an issue. In that case, they will probably understand the importance of making sure the site is easy to navigate, and they will know how to go about doing so. They might even be willing and able to help you understand how they could get your design approach to work for them. In any case, it’s going to be very helpful if you can come up with ideas and suggestions on how their site can simplify navigation for them in your design proposal.

Problem 2: Clients Want to Have Control Over Everything

“What? There’s a problem with your design approach? Oh no! Fix it! We don’t want you to use our site the way you want us to use it. We need to have complete control over every area of our site — even though we will probably never change anything. But if we ever do change something, you are responsible for fixing everything. Oh, and we also want your services for free — just because.” OK, perhaps this is an exaggeration, but I’m sure you get the point.

Solution: It’s not going to happen. If your client expects this kind of behavior from you, then you probably shouldn’t be working with them.

Another reason that could be contributing to your relationship problems is if your client wants you to design something for them and then fix it for them if it doesn’t work out. I don’t know why — I guess they just think this is how the world works. But in today’s world, projects aren’t usually created by hiring a designer and then firing him or her once the project gets going.

Conclusion

If you’re having trouble working with designers, I’m not sure how to help you. Part of the problem is that it’s not easy for them to understand what you do and how your design process works. That said, I’ll offer a few suggestions and some advice that might help you get an architect on board with the design approach you want to do.

First, I recommend setting up an initial meeting where you can explain your process in detail and ask them questions about what they want from their site.