How To Win Work: The architect's guide to business development and marketing

by Jan Knikker

You are a great designer, but no-one knows. Now what?

This indispensable book, written by one of the most influential marketers in architecture, will demystify Public Relations and marketing for all architects, whether in large practices or practicing as sole practitioners.

It bridges the distance between architects and marketing by giving practical tips, best practice and anecdotes from an author with 20 years’ experience in architecture marketing. It explains all aspects of PR and Business Development for for example, how to write a good press release; how to make a fee proposal; how to prepare for a pitch. It gives examples of how others do it well, and the pitfalls to avoid. In addition, it discusses more general aspects which are linked to PR and BD, such as being a good employer, ethics for architects and the challenges when working abroad.

Featuring vital insights from a wide variety of architects, from multinational practices to small offices, this book is an essential companion to any architectural office.

Genres: Architecture, Reference

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2021

Reviews

[Matthew Rusnac · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay; a broad guide that runs through a lot of marketing methods specific to architecture. It’s probably helpful if you’re just starting a practice and want a solid overview of the basics. Personally, I didn’t get much out of it- it felt pretty surface-level and stuck to the usual ways architects do business. I think this book is about helping you succeed within a system that’s already kind of flawed; and I’d rather look for ways to step outside that system altogether.

I actually learned a lot more from The E-Myth Architect, Built to Sell, and Good to Great — those books pushed me to think about business models and strategy in a way this one didn’t.

[Jacob Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many good business and marketing concepts in this book for creatives. Nothing all that revolutionary is discussed but it is a great reminder / wellness check for the various aspect of Business Development. An easy read as well. This book has helped me shift my mindset for BD and inspired me to connect and share more with peers in the industry vs. looking at them as competition.

[Sarah Shahin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical for most creative and enterprenuer-ly endeavours. Except for the case studies of course. If you aren't an architect, take the gest and leave the rest, you can still benefit from the advice.

[Manouane Beauchamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livre très intéressant qui présente les étapes à suivre pour démarrer sa pratique comme architecte. Tout s'y retrouve : les questions de base (mission, vision, valeurs), le site web et le design des éléments imprimés (carte d'affaires), les méthodes pour présenter des projets, etc. J'ai bien apprécié la section présentant les méthodes pour calculer les coûts inhérents à la pratique ainsi que la section concernant les relations publiques et la problématique des controverses. Vraiment intéressant même si, comme moi, on n'est pas architecte.