Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Smart phone applications for Architects

Smart phone applications that relate to architecture are on the rise, but they’re not always easy to track down

An article By C. J. Hughes

Architects cannot design an entire building on a smart phone just yet. But increasingly, there are applications, or “apps,” for Blackberries, iPhones, and other mobile devices that might appeal to architects, and in some cases, enable them to do their job while on the go.

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Source: Architectural Record Website

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Architects - To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Increasingly, architects are tapping into social media to connect with peers and promote their work.

This article on the role of social media in the architecture industry talks about the benefits of being actively involved online the social network bandwagon.

Design firms that have integrated social media into their practices report a spike in interest in their work — particularly from journalists, publishers, and other architects. However, few can say their efforts have directly led to new projects … yet. Social media is so new to the profession that it may take a few years before the benefits can be measured, but some firms are investing now with high hopes for future rewards. Read More

Source: Architectural Record website

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

How to Close More Sales - Customer Relationships - Entrepreneur.com

When you move from 'vacuum salesman' to trusted advisor you seal more deals.

How to Close More Sales - Customer Relationships - Entrepreneur.com

Posted using ShareThis

Outsourcing firms - You MUST be world class in quality, lowest in international cost and faster than Speedy Gonzales in a Mexican bordello bedroom.

This contribution is an extension from the discussion "What country would you recommend to outsource an IT project to?" from our Linkedin group CAD Outsourcing.

This piece has been contributed by Mr. Charles Traylor who is a registered architect in Texas (formerly a holder of 21 state registrations), holder of an NCARB certificate, and a member of the AIA. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas. His take on the question asked above is as follows,

I would like to make a contribution to this discussion. Briefly stated, outsourcing works-with brass knobs on. It is a killer cutting edge 21st century resource, and anyone, who ignores or bypasses using outsourcing is as upside down, inside out and backwards as a latter day 19th century blacksmith, trying to compete with a horse and a surrey with the fringe on top at last year's Indianapolis 500.

I am a US Citizen, a registered architect in Texas (formerly a holder of 21 state registrations), holder of an NCARB certificate, and a member of the AIA. I work and live in Dallas, Texas, and in a month I will be relocating to Princeville, Hawaii, where I will be expanding our company's services to Guam and the Orient. I just returned from spending 5 months in West Palm Beach Florida, where my wife and I sat out the winter months to dodge the cold weather in Texas.

My company has been outsourcing CAD work product successfully for over 17 years. We have been outsourcing BIM work product for the last 2 years. During all that time I have worked from a personal computer station in my home or out on the road. I coordinate a wide area network of CAD and BIM architect collaborators, who are located in countries all over the world.

I WILL say this. Most companies in the outsourcing business, who are competing for work in the United States don't have a clue. It is axiomatic in this business. You MUST be world class in quality, lowest in international cost and faster than Speedy Gonzales in a Mexican bordello bedroom.

Big multinational companies would have you believe that there is this huge consolidation of business into the oligarchial hands of the tew. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that outsourcing makes potential Daddy Warbucks out of every person on the planet. We all are equipped with basically the same body parts and brains. The winners in this global ever increasingly outsourcing and international collaborating and trading economy are the ones, who like Johnathan Livingston Seagull, have the guts and the vision to get out there and to do aggressive wing overs, nose dives and smack down on the deck flat out full throttled flying.

Carpe diem, baby!