Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 8/2/2008

Question
I am a cad drafter that have a very good skills and abilities for architectural design... as well furniture design, landscape design, etc... and many friends told me that I could work like a designer...

what are the legal works for a designer ?
I mean can the Designers design a home addition, commercial building, landscape ?... even if they works as sole pro... without an architect ?  

Answer
Daniel - thanks for your question.

I assume you're in the U.S., so I'll answer as if you are.  Most states don't require an Architect's license to do single-family residential work, but all other forms of architecture do.  Most building departments also reserve the right to require an Architect's license on single-family projects if they think the project needs professional oversight.

I'll be honest with you - good CAD drafters are a dime a dozen; it's one thing to be able to draw, and quite another to know how to manage a design project, work with clients, structure a building, etc.  Every unlicensed designer I know gets their work by undercutting on price so they end up with the worst projects and the worst clients.

Since you have design talent, why not go to school and get your Architectural degrees and sit for the boards?  You'll have a much better career ahead of you if you get licensed.

More importantly, school teaches you things you'll never get the chance to learn if you start working now.  Good architectural design requires a "way of thinking" that you can only get through the training you'll get in school - I started my career much as you have and school really opened my eyes!

Finally, as soon as you begin designing on your own you will assume a large of liability for your work whether you like it or not (there is no way around this, no matter what anyone tells you).  If one of your designs is the subject of a legal action the attorneys will eat you alive for not being properly trained.  You could lose everything.

Get licensed, or go to work for someone who is - you'll enjoy your work much more!

Hope this helps,

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com