Confessions of a Design-Wallah

Hello architects, late-night CAD jockeys, and chai-fuelled creators! Let's talk.

We pour our hearts into designing spaces. We love this work, isn't it? But let's address the money issue. Why does our profession often run more on passion than proper payment?

I'm in the thick of it at my firm, learning and enjoying the creative side, but seeing the money pressures. When thinking about starting my own firm someday, I wonder.

The problem might start with calling our work a "practice." Sounds respectable, like doctors, highlighting skill. But the side-effect? It stops us from thinking like a "business," which running a firm absolutely is.

Result? Many talented architects aren't great with the money side. We undervalue time, feel awkward discussing fees, maybe don't chase payments. Designers first, negotiators second.

When the boss struggles with cash flow due to low quotes or poor management, who feels the pinch? Often, junior architects.

This kicks off an endless cycle. A client negotiates the fee down hard. The firm, needing the project, accepts. To make numbers work, salaries don't always match the long hours.

So, what happens? That underpaid architect gets experienced, maybe feels disillusioned, and thinks, "I can do this myself!"

They start their own "practice," often carrying the same weak business skills and memory of low fees. They undercharge, struggle to pay their team well... the cycle repeats. We copy the problem, driven by ambition but held back by poor business training.

Okay, what's the way out? Admitting the problem and talking about it is the first step.

What if architecture courses included practical 'Business Fundas for Creatives'? Real skills: valuing work, negotiating, managing project money.

What if we got better at tracking time and understanding our real costs? Maybe firms could be more open internally about finances, helping juniors learn.

And what if we collectively valued our profession more openly? Gently educating clients about the skill, time, and risk involved. It's not just sketching; it involves rules, management, problem-solving, and responsibility.

I love architecture. I wouldn't swap the late nights and design challenges. But loving our work shouldn't mean a lifelong financial struggle.

We design the world around us; perhaps it's time we redesigned how we value ourselves.

What are your thoughts? Does this sound familiar? Let's discuss and build a better future for architects in India.