Stay relevant

After working in this industry for over 25 years, though I hate to admit, I often think about Simon Cowell on American Idol (fyi, he’s not my favorite celebrity) saying to contestants, “You must be relevant.” What does that mean for an architect? It could mean different things. It could mean to adjust one’s design aesthetic, depending on the project’s location or costs or trends in the industry. It could mean focusing on different types of projects, whether residential, commercial, cultural or tenant finish outs, depending on the market. It could mean changing your source of revenues from architectural design to interiors to furniture procurement or even product design. It could mean updating your social media presence through your website, SEO or PR. We’ve done all of these periodically and consistently throughout the years. Never get too comfortable.