Office Talk Australia, Marketing for Architecture

Emma Williamson and Emma Brain are from The Fulcrum Agency, a design consultancy focused on social architecture based in Perth, Western Australia. Emma Williamson co-founded the agency with her partner Kieran Wong after 20 years running CODA studio, a medium-sized architecture practice. Emma Brain, who also came from the previous studio, is Fulcrum Agency’s head of communications. The Fulcrum Agen...

Kerstin Thompson is the director of Kerstin Thompson Architects, a large Melbourne-based practice established in 1994. KTA works across a variety of projects spanning architecture, interiors, landscape and urban design – with a focus on strong, clear design ideas and buildings that forge connections with their surroundings. In this episode, we discussed: How the practice got their first public pro...

Ian Motley is a Fee Proposal Consultant at Blue Turtle Consulting. Ian and his team help business owners in the architecture and construction industry improve their fee proposals, increase their conversion rates, and raise their fees. In this episode, we discussed: Why architects should start providing different pricing options in their fee proposals. How to avoid potential clients haggling over y...

Rebecca Caldwell is the director of Maytree Studios, a small residential practice based is Brisbane, Australia. Maytree Studios’ tagline is humans first and architects second – and this translates into every aspect of their work, business, and marketing. In this episode, we discussed: The lessons Rebecca took from the difficult first few years of the practice, and why she decided to start over aga...

Aaron Nicholls and Phillip Nielsen are the directors of Regional Design Service, an architecture practice based Corowa, a regional town located on the New South Wales and Victorian border about 3 hours drive from Melbourne. In this episode, we discussed: The reasons they left Melbourne to start their practice in a regional town (despite warnings from their peers). How they’ve engaged with the loca...

John Ellway founded his Brisbane-based architecture practice in 2017 and describes it as a small practice with a love for creating the places inspired by travel, memories, landscape, material and location. His goal is to create functional and simple spaces that delight and surprise. In this conversation, John and I spoke about: His relaxed, less is more approach to marketing. Why successful market...

Jean Graham is an architect and the director of Winter Architecture, a five-year-old practice based in Melbourne and Torquay. In this episode, we discussed: How Jean and her team approach remote working. The importance of maintaining work life balance and avoiding burnout. Why Jean produces video for each of her new projects. How to communicate the value of what an architect does to the general pu...

Paul Kegen is an architect and co-founder of S&K Group, an architecture and construction company based in Melbourne which he co-founded in 2013. S&K Group have built projects for some of Melbourne’s best-known architects and interior designers, including GOLDEN, Studio Esteta and Flack studio. They also design and build residential and commercial projects for private clients. Paul has rece...

Kate Fitzgerald founded Whispering Smith in 2011 and describes it as a staunchly feminist architecture firm with a focus on new approaches to millennial housing, sustainability, local craft and friendly minimalist architecture. Kate is well known in the Australian small practice scene for the way she helps other small practices grow their business, become more profitable and equitable.  Whether it...

In this special Q&A episode, I give my take on questions you've sent into the podcast, covering topics such as: You know you need to figure out your firm's 'message', but where do you start? And who can help? Many architects are struggling to find time for marketing during the pandemic. What should you do if you only have one hour each week to work on marketing? When it comes to copywriting fo...

Nic Brunsdon is an architect based in Perth, Western Australia. Nic first appeared on this podcast in 2017, in fact, he was my very first guest. I was super keen to get Nic back on for another episode, because he’s been on an absolute roll the last fear years. His most recent built projects, The Tiing, a resort in Bali, North Perth House, and now East Fremantle House – have won a pile of national...

On this episode I'm chatting to George Bradley from Bradley Van Der Straeten, a small residential firm based in London. George is also half of The Two Architects, a pay as you meet platform where George and his co-founder Ewald meet with clients on an hourly basis to provide online architectural advice. George is the host of Another Architecture Podcast, which he launched in May of last year. Sinc...

Joining me on the podcast today is James Murray, a director at TANDEM design studio, a medium sized architecture firm with offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. James and his colleagues have recently launched a podcast series focused on public markets (the ones that sell food, not shares in companies). They've also begun writing and sharing detailed articles on pre-fabricated building technology, hou...

Antony Martin is the director of MRTN Architects, a small residential architecture firm based in Melbourne, Australia. During this conversation Antony and I discuss the importance of mapping out specific client segments and personas before embarking on a marketing strategy. We discuss the reasons Antony hires a range of well-known architectural photographers, and how they help promote his practice...

Joining me on this episode from August 2020 is Ray Brown, a business mentor for architectural leaders and co-founder of Archibiz. Ray Brown has been a business coach and entrepreneur for over twenty-five years with a passion for helping architectural entrepreneurs find their potential by providing the fundamentals necessary to have and maintain a successful business. Join Ray and I as we break dow...

Anthony Richardson is the creator of Simple Dwelling architecture media platform and YouTube account. He combines his background in architecture, and his talents as an architectural photographer, videographer and journalist to tell thoughtful stories about residential architecture to an enormous online audience. In this interview, Anthony shares his journey growing his YouTube account, we discuss...

I’m excited to share this interview with Ben Morgan, an expert on architectural journalism and the co-founder of Bowerbird. Bowerbird is a platform for architects and interior designers to upload projects and share them with the media. In this interview, Ben shares loads of helpful insight and advice for architects. Much of the conversation revolves around how architects can get into mainstream me...

Jennifer Crawford is a registered architect who helps hundreds of people to make the right decisions when building a new home or renovation through her business, Our New Home Coach. You can follow Jennifer on Twitter at @ournewhomecoach or visit her Facebook page Our New Home Coach to stay in touch.

Matt Goodman is the director of MGAO, an architecture firm based in Windsor, Victoria. Born the son of a concreter, Matt was exposed to the workings of the construction site from a young age, working with the materials and tools first hand. These experiences imbedded a deep appreciation for the history and beauty of the ever changing Australian landscape and a strong respect for the hard labour an...

Lola Digby-Diercks is a graduate architect and the Business Development Lead at Breathe Architecture and Nightingale housing. Lola supports all facets of business procurement at both companies, coordinating residential purchasers, land owners and service providers. Lola also works with Nightingale's partners, handling licensing applications, processes and PR. Lola also assists the Nightingale Nigh...

Warwick Mihaly is a director of Mihaly Slocombe Architects in Melbourne. Warwick is a leader in the architecture profession. He is instrumental in championing positive change within the industry through mentoring the next generation of architects through lecturing, as a Director of Member Services at ArchiTeam, Practice Committee member at the Australian Institute of Architects, and through foundi...

Nic Granleese is a registered architect, architectural photographer and co-founder of Bowerbird.io - a digital app that helps hundreds of architecture firms all over the world to get their work published. On this episode, we discuss publishing and marketing architecture, building a brand over time, growing your firm like it's a startup.   You can sign up for Bowerbird at Bowerbird.io, or download...

Andrew Burns is the director of Andrew Burns Architects, a Sydney-based architecture firm. You can follow Andrew on Instagram at @bbbbburns

Lauren Li is the director of Sisalla, a Melbourne-based interior architecture and design studio. You can follow Sisalla on Instagram at @sisalla_interior_design