We ask a member of the A+D community to ’Speak Up’ on the issues facing you.
May 19th, 2009
“Step away from the latest glossy mag and let your mind rediscover
|
Max, you’ve been quoted as saying that a project can be “fast and good”, “good and cheap” or “cheap and fast”, but never all three. Can you explain this further?
Good, fast, cheap – pick two!
It’s an old adage. When I was at college we used to call it “Work, sleep, and play” which perhaps explains why I did so badly. I have also heard it used for us blokes: Handsome, High-Earner, Faithful; although by definition this means that all male designers are handsome and faithful.
Anyway, much has been written on the subject and the concept is pretty simple. If you want your project to be good and the client wants it now, then it aint going to be cheap. Equally, if that same client is still in a hurry but has no money then stand-by for a dodgy job. And yet what about good and cheap? Designers tend to groan at the prospect of cheap, and many will think it is an excuse for un-good.
However this is where I think the greatest opportunity for creativity lies. If there is time on your side, and assuming your client is wise enough to invest some money in your fees, here is your moment to shine.
Step away from the latest glossy mag and let your mind rediscover the art of creation. It worked for Shigeru Ban and his cardboard tubes, and I know local designers here who are exploring innovative uses for materials such as hebel in fitouts with great success.
I wish more designers would take a moment to step outside of the standard detail manual and be creative. It is why they chose this industry, and it is why they are employed.
Max Thomson is co-founder of design and project management firm hamiltonthomson.
hamiltonthomson
hamiltonthomson.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
A look at the tallest buildings in each of Australia’s capital cities, the tallest Australian buildings overall, and upcoming skyscraper construction projects.
Workspace Awards 2020 is an independent award program dedicated to celebrating Australian interior designers and their recent exemplary works.
Daytripper originated form aeronautical influences. True to its form and function, daytripper is a contemporary signature piece to suit the commercial and domestic market. Daytripper’s unique shape offers a compact and versatile system. The design is completed with an emphasis on sustainability and materials that do not impact the environment. Applications: Commercial or residential Designer: […]
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Lacquered in warm timber tones and complemented by high-quality furniture and fixtures, the new HQ for Salta Properties is a home away from home.
Esteemed international practice OMA has completed AIR in Singapore, a genre-straddling project defined by openness and an emphasis on waste.