Locke Solutions’ Post

Are you struggling to attract followers or clients despite your stunning architectural designs? As an ex-architect with six years in the field, now transitioned into content creation and social media marketing, I often see architecture pages showcasing polished renders and finished projects. Yet, many complain about not gaining followers or securing more projects. The issue isn't your designs; it's the approach. In a country where many believe contractors can replace architects, they miss out on the potential of flexible, future-proof design. To stand out, don't just show the end product. Share the journey—highlight your client's pain points and how your designs address them, ensuring relevance and utility for years to come. This approach will help people see the true value of hiring an architect. 🤌🏻

Today, I'm sharing about the power of strategic hiring in the construction business! I recently brought on an Interior Designer, Sally Hill to our team. Why? It wasn't just about enhancing the aesthetics, it was about elevating the value we deliver to our clients. From time-savings for our project managers, to cost reduction on materials, each hire I make is a strategic investment. Every individual on my team is a specialist in their domain. They bring unique perspectives and solutions that I may not have thought of myself. This diversity of expertise not only strengthens our team but also enriches the quality of our output. Remember, strategic hiring isn't just about filling roles. It's about surrounding yourself with people who know more than you. It's about giving your business the competitive edge it needs to outshine and outlast. 💪 #StrategicHiring #ConstructionIndustry #BusinessGrowth How do you make your hiring decisions? Let's discuss!

Building or renovating one's corporate headquarters presents a perfect opportunity for merging brand experience with physical spaces to bring them to life. Oklahoma-based Flogistix did a great job of this, transforming its headquarters into an environment that’s as inspiring as it is functional. Throughout the build, an ethos of awe and discovery abounds, transporting staffers and guests to "a world where old limitations are cast off and new possibilities celebrated." Inspiring thought, feeling and action is a shared goal of every purposeful communication since the dawn of time. More and more, we're seeing physical spaces becoming a key part of that communication mix. This is certainly true in our ongoing work with clients who are also reimagining their collaborative spaces. By successfully blending message, media and technology within key spaces such as the main lobby, central hallways and customer engagement rooms, they're delivering experiences that helps customers think, feel, and do what the environment intends. It's a new way of looking at one's corporate space, but as the architect behind the Flogistix build points out, "Today’s challenges require us to think differently." We couldn’t agree more.

Have you noticed a new role popping up on job boards lately ‘Design Engineer’? The title made me curious. What exactly does a design engineer do? It’s a unique blend of design, creativity, development, and product! But there’s more to this role than just calling it an intersection. So, what is it? Who is a design engineer? What do they do? What’s the salary range for a design engineer? How do you become one? I wrote an article covering all these details! Give it a read. Link in the comments.

**Star Trek PriWatt Smart Glass in Doctor M’Benga’s Office** // Strange New Worlds ➡️https://lnkd.in/d8_ZUhDa - Folienwerk Wolfen GmbH Design efforts commenced in August 2020, with filming taking place at CBS Stages Canada. The PriWatt® glass was incorporated into the office of the USS Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer, Doctor M’Benga, who is discreetly working to find a cure for his daughter’s rare illness. The decision to utilize switchable privacy glass was made to embody a futuristic medical office aboard the USS Enterprise. The PriWatt® switchable smart glass represents a significant innovation in the healthcare sector, enhancing patient comfort, streamlining operations, and enabling healthcare professionals to concentrate on essential care. In the realm of television and film, innovation is crucial. The introduction of PriWatt switchable glass and self-adhesive switchable smart film signifies a transformative advancement for studios and filmmakers. Smart Glass Tech's installation team has achieved one of their most impressive projects to date. PriWatt switchable products provide unmatched versatility. Picture the capability to convert a glass surface into a large display with a simple switch. PriWatt switchable glass serves as an ideal canvas for vibrant visuals, and the self-adhesive switchable smart film introduces an additional layer of creativity, allowing for instant color changes to create unique atmospheres. Whether for a television series, studio production, or major film project, PriWatt switchable products present endless possibilities. Transition from transparency to privacy, craft immersive environments, or set the mood with a splash of color. PriWatt switchable glass and film epitomize the fusion of innovation and creativity. Smart Glass Tech is pioneering the future of visual storytelling, enabling creators to unlock the full potential of their vision with PriWatt switchable glass and film. For delicate inlays such as LC films, meshes, LEDs, and various other materials utilized in glass laminates, it is essential to employ a lamination film that can seamlessly flow into gaps without compromising or damaging the inlays, ensuring optimal outcomes. The custom-designed melt viscosity of evguard® laminating film facilitates the lamination of high-value materials. This film effectively fills voids without causing harm to sensitive inlays, including LC films, LEDs, meshes, solar cells, perforated steel, metals, papers, and other substrates. **Photo Credit:** PriWatt® Switchable Smart Glass by Smart Glass Tech For further details regarding this project, please contact Smart Glass Tech: Smart Glass Tech // Anton Yerkeyev **For the US and Canada:** Contact Glass Lamination of America for #evguard® Glass Lamination of America, LLC #qualityfirst #qualitymatters #interlayerforsensitiveinlays #madeingermany

Almost every company I have spoken to about a senior design leadership role has asked me about my level of craft and how much time I spend “in the work”. I consider myself a craft-led design leader (much like Tim Allen does), so hearing about the desire to have a design executive who can lead by example, elevate quality, and be more accountable for pixels being pushed without veering into micro-managing is encouraging to me. I've always tried to keep a hand in a team's output and an eye on the details. But this is almost in direct contrast to a few years back when business strategy, leveraging data, and being product-minded (all things I'm very capable of too) were front and center of all conversations I was having during my previous job search. Essentially, the higher you were in level, the further away you operated from the surface. The notion of being involved in the day-to-day design work was met with odd looks and people saying “I don’t know if you are allowed to do that...” So what’s changed? Is this just limited to the companies I’m speaking to, are businesses now recognizing the value of design craft, or have years of layoffs removed a layer of competency from teams? Curious if others are hearing the same within their companies. - And for those that are interested here is a great conversation with Tim (along with Peter Merholz & Jesse James Garrett) on being a craft-led design executive - https://lnkd.in/gyMW4TR4

Interesting article about 6 designers from the sports architecture team that made the move from AECOM to Gensler. We know that the industry is suffering from a skills shortage so retaining staff is essential to keep on track with projects. #gensler #aecom #newhires #staffing #staffretention #construction #usa #civilconstruction #civilengineering #design #designers

What do you think a true Founding Head of Design is worth? Going beyond that first designer and really trying to add a true Design Leader from early on. That proven Design Leader who is going to take the company through multiple raises and almost future proof Design for that company through their expertise. What do you think that kind of Designer is worth in salary? What should early stage companies be budgeting for Design?

Did you know that designers are the secret architects of our everyday experiences? They're not just creating—they're shaping how we navigate and interact with the world around us. From the layout of your favorite app to the comfort of your office chair, ease of a light switch, and seamless experience at a hotel- designers are behind every detail that makes our lives easier and more enjoyable. But their role doesn't stop at making things look good. Great designers listen, observe, and weave the stories of our experiences into the fabric of their creations. They're the curious minds who question the status quo and constantly think about how to improve our interaction with the physical and digital world- and they help us reflect on our emotional selves. And perhaps most excitingly, designers are the ultimate experimenters, bringing ideas to life through prototypes and pushing boundaries to drive innovation. When design is great- you don't even notice it! Designers are agents of change, transforming our stories and challenges into tangible solutions.

Yesterday I talked a little about generalists vs specialist, and how I feel we will start to see some focus on specialisms again later in the year. Caused quite a stir. I love it when that happens. It sparks some fantastic conversations. And I’m more than happy to be proven wrong too! The response was intriguing, with many rightfully highlighting budget constraints in the current climate as being a cause for the opposite. Here's the thing. I'm not saying everyone will need to specialise. Or that every business will need or hire them. Only that we will start to see more specialist opportunities in the market than we've seen lately. That being said, I believe the real discussion lies in how we are defining generalists and specialists. It's not about whether teams need or want them, but rather understanding the nuances of each role. It's not a matter of devaluing a broad skill set either, but about recognising the unique expertise specialists can bring to the table. And really, it's not about having one and not the other. It's about properly leveraging the benefits of both. For Product Design (as a complete discipline, rather than an individual role), I see a real distinction between being a specialist and a design generalist. The latter, while versatile, doesn't equate to being an expert in every facet of design. An expectation that the industry has started to impose in some cases. Whether you envision skills as T-shaped, follow Jared Spool's Broken Comb analogy, or any other model, the key is to identify core areas of expertise complemented by supporting skills. Expecting designers to be masters of everything is unrealistic. Instead, it's about building teams with diverse expertise that collectively cover the spectrum, ensuring a well-rounded and effective design process. Rather than expecting individuals to "do it all’’. And it’s this mentality, that brings me to believe specialisms will have a resurgence in how they are valued as part of a broader team. As always, I welcome the ongoing dialogue and being challenged on these thoughts so let's keep the conversation going in the comments! #design #designhiring #designrecruitment #designtrends #designjobs #specialists #generalist #designteams #designskills #designcareers