The Difference Between an Architect, Building Designer and Draftsperson

When you start a renovation of any kind, you are going to get lots of different advice from different people. There are some very strong opinions about whether to use an architect, building designer or draftsperson. That’s because nobody does the same renovation, so people have different experiences with all these professionals.

As with any profession, there are people who are great at what they do and those who aren’t. There are people who have skills beyond, and below, their training or accreditation. I can’t tell you which of these professionals is right for your home, but I can help you figure it out by giving you some information.

Architect

An architect has the most certifications and licenses, therefore is often the most expensive. They must have a qualification from a university, which usually involves about 5-6 years of study.

For someone to call themselves an architect, they must have finished a degree, completed a minimum of two years experience, then passed an interview and final-exam process. Then they can be ‘board registered’ as an architect. They must also re-register annually, which involves a certain number of additional hours of study each year. An architect has trained for a long time to think deeply and critically about designing your home, both inside and out.

I would generally recommend an architect if:

• You are doing a new build or large extension.

• Your project is more complicated, in-depth or more thoughtful.

• You are adding another level or changing the roof line.

• You are extending a new section over a difficult slope or site.

Building Designer

I think of a building designer as half-way between an architect and a draftsperson. They need some certification, but haven’t had as much training as an architect, and they have more licensing than a draftsperson.

The rules and licensing for building designers vary depending on which state in Australia you are from, but a building designer doesn’t do as much in-depth study as an architect. In most states a building designer has to be licensed to use the title, and the license will determine what kind of buildings they are allowed to work on (eg. homes, apartment blocks, public buildings, etc). 

There are specific TAFE courses you can do to become accredited as a building designer. The course teaches you some parts of design, but it is much shorter than architecture. Many building designers start their careers as a draftsperson, honing their practical drawing skills, then later get the necessary licenses to operate as a building designer.

I would generally recommend a building designer if:

• You are doing a small or medium-sized renovation.

• Your project is small or medium level of complexity.

• Your project involves changing some of the external walls and openings.

• There might also be some changes to the roof, but not very complicated or detailed ones.

Draftsperson

A draftsperson is the least licensed of the three, and therefore usually the most affordable. Currently in Australia, there are no requirements or certifications you need to operate as one. This is great for people who want to be self-taught, but it also means it’s hard to guarantee their level of skill or expertise.

A draftsperson is an expert at drawing home designs. They focus on documentation and delivery of plans. Sometimes a draftsperson will have trained at TAFE, but often they have learned and honed their drawing skills on the job. Generally speaking, a draftsperson doesn’t do any design work. They are specialists in properly drawing clear and accurate building plans. If you intend on submitting to council, you should check your draftsperson has some experience and knows how to do this.

I would use a draftsperson if:

• It’s a small renovation.

• The external walls of the home aren’t changing much.

• You have a simple renovation and/or a simple floor plan.

• You have a really good idea of how you want your home to flow/function, and you feel confident about this.

• You are happy to get really involved in thinking through all the design decisions yourself.

Hopefully this arms you with more information for your renovation. Generally speaking, the size and complexity of your renovation will determine the type of help you need. More in-depth and complicated builds need the problem-solving abilities of people with extra training. And vice versa.

My Favourite Websites for Design Inspiration

On the hunt for some home inspiration? The amount of resources available these days is impressive, but it can also be overwhelming, especially if it’s coming into your over-stuffed inbox.

So here are some wonderfully curated digital resources that I actually look forward to using as procrastination, I mean, inspiration. I prefer Australian-based sites because any advice you get, or products you see, will be much more relatable. Plus, I love supporting local! So, in no particular order, here’s a list of my favourites.

Hunting for George

Hunting for George has cemented itself as an authority in design in Australia. It creates unique stories to inspire, educate and engage with ‘honesty and a whole lot of fun’. The ‘Let Us In’ home tours are a highlight. One of the founders, Lucy Glade-Wright, walks you around with her energy and sense of curiosity. Who doesn’t love a good nosey around a beautifully designed home?

Habitus Living

Habitus Living explores the best residential architecture and design in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Be it interiors, architecture or products, they curate the stories behind the stories. There is an emphasis on Design Hunters – stories about the people who are the ‘shakers, makers, thinkers, doers and disruptors’ in architecture and design.

The Local Project

A publication, blog and magazine, showcasing a diverse range of local architecture, interiors and product design. They create high quality video features, which I love, where you get to tour homes while hearing from the architects and builders who created them. The website also has a ‘Marketplace’ to champion local Australian furniture and products.

Est Living

Est is a little more high-brow, in a good way! With a passion for sharing the world’s most beautiful design, Est is ‘fastidious about thoughtful design and great craftsmanship’. A great feature of their website is you can sort by spaces so if you want to read about kitchen designs, you can target and sort the articles. Genius.

The Design Files

Founded by Lucy Feagins, the Design Files calls itself a design blog, but really it’s a great, big, juicy box of inspo! It covers real Australian homes, gardens, art, architecture, craft, interior design, furniture, textiles, homewares, food and more. With lots of lifestyle content, the Design Files is really down to earth and relatable.

Yellowtrace

The brains behind Yellowtrace is Dana Tomic Hughes who admits to having an ‘unhealthy passion for design’. The content is carefully curated, cutting-edge, and highly researched, covering interiors, architecture, art, photography, travel and design culture. If you want international inspiration, Yellowtrace presents examples from around the world. As Dana says: refuse to settle for mediocrity!

Homes to Love

This one’s a bit different to the others. More mainstream, Homes to Love is the digital mash-up of the giants from the newsstand. You know the titles: Inside Out, Home Beautiful, Belle, Real Living, Country Style. The short, lightweight articles, with their pretty pictures, are easy to digest. Just be careful you don’t get caught up in the stuff about dramas on The Block!

Should I Tell the Builder My Budget?

People often ask if they should tell a builder their budget right from the start. Whether it’s a big project or a small one, my answer is always YES! And this goes for working with a designer or architect too.

Your Fears 

Sometimes it’s hard to talk about your project budget. I get it, I really do! As a designer I sometimes find it awkward too. The big fear people have is really common: if you tell the builder the budget, they’ll go and make sure they spend it all! This idea that you’re giving away your competitive advantage. Some people wonder if they could get it for less if they say they have less to spend.

But…

But builders, architects and designers need to know your budget. And they should know it right from the start, when you first meet them and start talking to them. It doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that amount forever, your budget can change, but it’s best to be as honest as you can from the start. I’m going to talk you through why this is a good idea.

The Right Fit

There are a lot of different renovation professionals out there, which means plenty won’t be right for you. You can spend $1000 per square metre or $6000 per square metre – there’s a big range! Some builders are keenly dedicated to the the finest, most luxurious, custom details, and others are good at getting your house done efficiently.

Builders also work in different ways. Some only take on one or two projects per year, some work with specific suppliers, some will only work in certain areas, and may charge a premium if you’re out of area. Talking about your budget helps your builder work out if your project will fit in to their business model. And you get to figure out if they’re right for you too. So, by talking about your budget from the start, you both save time figuring out if you should keep talking.

Budget vs Dreams

Do you want champagne on a beer budget? Don’t worry, it’s pretty common. We wouldn’t be human if our dreams weren’t bigger than our wallets. Builders need to see if you have realistic expectations about the cost of your project, and talking about budget is the best way to do this. I often talk about compromise and how it’s a normal part of home renovations. A big part of building/renovating is working out what you can do within your limitations.

So, it’s important for your builder to know how much you can spend because they can help educate you about what can be done for that price. Builders are often really good at figuring out how to get the most bang for your buck. You’ll get a better quality feedback, and a better result, if you’re honest about your budget upfront, which saves everyone time.

Remember, it’s okay if your budget changes as you come to understand more about what your money will get. I see it all the time. Once homeowners start talking, the designer and/or builder has to educate them about what they can actually have. But this isn’t possible if you don’t tell them your budget.

Are You Ready?

Building or renovating is never quick. A builder has to organise projects that go for many months, maybe years. There are a lot of pieces that need to fall in to place, so builders are booked up well in advance. Not to mention there’s a shortage of skilled trades in Australia at the moment. So, a builder is trying to understand when they might be starting your project and whether it will fit into their schedule. Talking about budget gives them a sense of whether you want to start in six months or six years.

The way you talk about your budget will help too. Some people start talking to builders when they have a full set of council-approved drawings, while others start with just a few ideas. Usually those who have drawings will have done a fair bit of investigation, eg. spoken to real estate agents to get a sense of value in the area, talked to the the bank about refinancing, talked to council about approvals. All this gives the builder a better sense of your timing.

Trust

Renovating or building is a long process, even before the builders start on site. So you want to work with people you TRUST, people you feel you can communicate with. It’s no good to be half way through a project feeling uncomfortable about asking questions, or feeling like you don’t understand what’s happening next.

If you talk about the budget up front, you’re developing a level of trust that’s so important during a build. Showing you’re prepared to talk about budget builds trust and enables your builder to help you with managing how much you spend. And, talking budget upfront makes money-talk more comfortable the whole way through.

Summary

Share your budget up front. Be open and honest about it. This way your designer/builder/architect can work WITH you to get the best outcomes. You’ll get the best advice this way, and save everyone time and energy.