Tag: archsmarter | ArchDaily

21 Ways Architects Can Work Smarter, Not Harder

Michael Kilkelly — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 06:30:00 +0000

In their day-to-day work, architects face a lot of distractions and challenges: managing clients, collaborators and contractors; keeping up to date with the latest software and technologies; drafting planning applications and paperwork; and if you're lucky, even getting to design some things in between. Originally published by ArchSmarter, this article offers 21 tips on how to maximize your productivity and minimize unnecessary work.

3 Reasons Why Excel is the Ultimate BIM Sidekick

Michael Kilkelly — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published by ArchSmarter.

Have you ever played the party game “telephone”? You know the one, where you tell something to the person next to you and they pass it on to the person next to them and so on down the line. Inevitably, your original message is badly mangled and misappropriated by the time it gets back to you. Everyone gets a good laugh at how far the end message is from your original one.

The 10 Best Revit Apps and Add-Ins

Michael Kilkelly — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:00:00 +0000

This article was originally published by ArchSmarter as "The 10 Revit Apps You Should Be Using in 2017."

I recently asked ArchSmarter readers what tools they’re using to be more productive in Revit. Over 75 different add-ins were recommended! I tallied up all the votes and came up with this list of top-ten recommendations. There are some repeat nominees from my previous round-ups (which you can read here and here) as well as some welcome newcomers.

Are Your Revit Skills Up to Scratch? Find Out With This Handy Guide

Michael Kilkelly — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 09:30:00 +0000

When applying for architecture jobs, it's often necessary to self-evaluate your skill at various tasks. However, with many of these tasks--especially software--it can be difficult to give an accurate assessment since you often don't know what you don't know about the skill. This article, originally published by ArchSmarter as "Where Are You on the Path to Revit Mastery?" will help you come to an objective assessment of your skill level with one of the most complex and powerful pieces of software available.

Save Time With This Efficient Method For Managing Revit Templates

Michael Kilkelly — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published by ArchSmarter as "The Best Strategy for a Super Effective Revit Template."

The Ultimate Guide to Revit Shortcuts

Michael Kilkelly — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published on ArchSmarter.

How to Create Animated GIFs in Revit

Michael Kilkelly — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally posted on ArchSmarter.

The Numbers Behind the Top 300

Patrick Lynch — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:45:00 +0000

Last week, Architectural Record released their list of the top 300 Architecture Firms in the US, based on architectural revenue from 2015. But what can we learn from those numbers and the firms generating them? In this post for ArchSmarter, Michael Kilkelly dives deeper into the figures that have made these firms so successful, comparing numbers based on firm type, firm location and project location.

"The Archipreneur Concept": A Business Book That Brings Architecture Practice into the 21st Century

Michael Kilkelly — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 08:30:00 +0000

This review of "The Archipreneur Concept" by Tobias Maescher was originally published on Archsmarter as "The Archipreneur Concept: A Review."

The 80-20 Rule: The Key to Producing Better Work in Less Time

Michael Kilkelly — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published on ArchSmarter as "How to Work Smarter with the 80-20 Rule."

5 Reasons to Add Virtual Reality to Your Workflow

Eric Halsey — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published on ArchSmarter titled "5 Ways Virtual Reality Will Change Architecture."

How to Convince Your Firm to Pay for Training

Michael Kilkelly — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 09:30:00 +0000

Young designers, fresh out of school, often have incredible potential to contribute to their new firm: with fresh skills and capabilities that may have passed by the company's older members, they are in an excellent position to make their mark. But maximizing this potential may require expensive training courses, and asking your firm for that opportunity can be daunting. In this article originally published on ArchSmarter, Michael Kilkelly recounts a tale from his own early years as an architect to demonstrate that getting your firm to pay for training may be simpler than most young architects imagine.

5 Ways Computational Design Will Change the Way You Work

Michael Kilkelly — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published on ArchSmarter.

5 Ways to Be More Productive and Achieve Your Goals

Michael Kilkelly — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:30:00 +0000

In this post originally published on ArchSmarter as "5 Ways to Work Smarter This Year," Michael Kilkelly follows up on his hugely successful article 21 Ways Architects Can Work Smarter, Not Harder with a refresher of things you can do to improve productivity and meet your goals.

6 Essential Time Management Tips for Architects

Michael Kilkelly — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:30:00 +0000

It's a familiar story: with so much work to do and architecture's client-focused nature, many architects struggle to divide up their time effectively. But did you know that there are some simple time management techniques that might appeal to your architect mindset? In this post originally published on ArchSmarter, Michael Kilkelly shares some techniques such as designing your time and learning to effectively single-task that might help you to take control.

Why Sketchbooks Still Rule in a Digital World

Michael Kilkelly — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 09:30:00 +0000

In his articles for ArchSmarter, Michael Kilkelly comes across as something of a technophile: some of his favorite topics include Revit macros, coding, Excel, automation and... Moleskine? In this article, originally published on ArchSmarter as "Why I Still Use a Sketchbook," Kilkelly explains why despite all the technology, sketchbooks remain one of the most important tools at his disposal.

7 Ways to Be a More Effective Architect

Michael Kilkelly — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 09:30:00 +0000

As every architect knows by now, the profession has a problem with its work culture. Incubated in universities and perpetuated once graduates reach practice, the tendency to overwork is currently the subject of much discussion - but while there may be hints that change is afoot, it's unlikely to take place overnight. In the meantime, what can a stressed-out architect do to reduce their work hours to something more reasonable? Originally published by ArchSmarter, this post explores how to become a more effective architect - allowing you to win back some of that lost time by maximizing efficiency and minimizing unnecessary work.

How to Drastically Improve Your Architectural Renderings

Jonn Kutyla — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 09:30:03 +0000

These days, the production of architectural renderings is something of a digital arms race, as the more sophisticated visualization becomes, the more of a disservice you do to your designs if you're not able to present clients with increasingly photo-realistic imagery. In this post, originally published by ArchSmarter as the first in their "Pro Smarts" series which features tips and tricks from seasoned professionals, Jonn Kutyla from PiXate Creative describes his seven-step process for creating more realistic renders.