Architectural Designers New Zealand

There are many benefits to being a member of ADNZ. Click the image above to see some ADNZ members speak of how being a member has benefited them

Grow your business
Want to grow your business? Every successful business needs help from the experts. ADNZ has tapped into nationwide industry specialists who offer business mentoring and coaching through innovative planning sessions and workshops. Membership allows you to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best and grow your skill base.

New to Business
Starting out on your own can be daunting. Our membership services include workshop sessions on how to get started and how to manage a successful architectural design practice. Networking opportunities provide the ideal sessions to tap into some of the leaders in our sector and gather their tips for success. You'll also gain access to a suite of business templates, giving you everything you need from start to finish. Membership will help you maximise the chance of success.

Selling your Skill!
Marketing not your forte? Don't worry ‐ we've got it covered. Through our nation‐wide marketing platforms that include our website, defign magazine, blog, Facebook and our prestigious design awards, ADNZ will promote you and your designs to clients you may never have reached. This leaves you time to do what you do best – designing!

Reduce the risk
We operate in a high risk industry and it requires vigilance in terms of keeping up to date with the latest in legislation and regulations. ADNZ gives you peace of mind with discounted rates on professional indemnity insurance, access to regularly updated terms of engagement, alerts about the latest statutory requirements and other must-have business templates and documentation. There’s no point in lying awake at night worrying when you really don’t have to.

Life becomes easier
ADNZ members have access to online learning activities that qualify for CPD points. Our CPD competencies are recognised by MBIE and contribute to your LBP registration. What’s more our CPD system is all on line, so managing your points is easy. You complete the training, we manage the points - and just like that your design licence is renewed.

Online Forum
While nothing quite beats our face to face networking opportunities we do host on line forum so you can talk to others about issues you may need support on – tap into online chat and seek advice from more than 400 experienced qualified design professionals.

Training Opportunities
Keep up to date with design innovations and national and international trends through our training and seminar sessions. We search out the best on offer so that you don’t have to. Our seminars not only provide valuable education but also the chance to meet with others in the sector and share experiences and advice.

1. Prepare a Brief 
A brief will help you to narrow down what it is that you want from your build. Before you decide on the “who” you need to work out what it is you want in a design team and what is most important to you.

A good place to start is to ask:

• What is your maximum budget?
• Where are you willing to compromise and where do you need perfection?
• How many bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces do you need?
• What size home do you need – cool and compact or large and grand?
• Are green building principles important to you?
• Do you spend most of your time in your lounge, kitchen or bedroom?
• What is in your near future – retirement, a big family or three cocker spaniels?
• Do you need room in your garage for a work space or are you a one car family?
• Do you need a large wardrobe, an ensuite, a scullery, a study, a media room, games room, wine cellar, covered outdoor entertaining – a ballroom?!
• Do you want a local design team?

Do you want a design and build team or do you already have a preferred building contractor?

2. Browse Designers 
Every designer has a certain style. By using our designer files you can easily check out the work of local designers who will be able to fulfill your design brief. For a start you will want to read their design philosophy, view their gallery of work, check out their website and look at the skill-set of their team. Select a few designers who impress you and then make contact. If you don’t see anyone you like locally, then search for Designers in surrounding regions. Designers often work outside of their local area or may be able to recommend a local designer who has a similar aesthetic.

3. Meet the Designers
It's okay if you have several designers you want to make contact with – in the long run finding the right designer for your project will pay off. When you meet with a designer, you need to ask questions that are going to help reassure you that you have met your match. Begin with the basics – What are their qualifications? Are they a member of ADNZ? What is their experience? Then move on to questions that will help discover if they will deliver on your expectations. Ask – What do you think is good design? What is your design philosophy? Can you deliver on our proposed budget? What do you like about our build site and where do you see setbacks? Will there be a Project Manager or do you do the work yourself? What are your payment options? Do you have any testimonials or past clients I can call? What is your favorite project you have worked on? Do you do all the design work yourself? Do you have preferred builders? What is your area of specialty- alterations, hill design, green/passive design, compact homes etc.

4. Clarify the Details
Like any agreement you need a contract to protect yourself and your designer. Ask for a copy of your designer's terms and conditions and make sure they provide you with a legal written contract that clarifies price, timelines and what happens with certain eventualities. If you do not understand anything in the contract or want clarification – ask your lawyer. Make sure your Designers is using the ADNZ or NZIA terms of engagement. Read it thoroughly