Hello, I’m Rachael.
And I LOVE architecture.
I also love helping architects to build enjoyable, sustainable and profitable businesses.
Having interviewed thousands of architects and their clients over the past 20 years, I’ve gathered valuable insights about your challenges, concerns, and what keeps you up at night.
You’re worried about:
where your next clients will come from; and
how to win more and better projects - work that is impactful, enjoyable AND profitable.
And you’re already busy, so you don’t have time to figure out all of this business development & marketing stuff on your own.
I’ve provided business strategy, communications and marketing services to architecture firms across Australia, including Architectsmith, Blane Brackenridge Architect, Crosier Scott, Dunn Hillam Architects, Environa Studio, Gresley Abas, Kennedy Associates, Law Architects, Leanhaus, Maarch*, Marra + Yeh, MDC Architects, Mountford McCarey, Neil Cownie Architects, Noho Architecture, Paul Hofman Architect, Pennock Architects, Philip Stejskal Architecture, PTX Architects, Refresh* Design, Ricci Bloch Architects, SJB, SPH Architecture + Interiors, Suzanne Hunt Architects, Tim Lanigan Architects, Tobias Partners, TRCB, Whitehaus Studio and Windust Architecture X Interiors.
I’ve developed online CPD courses and workshops around business strategy, marketing and communications; three key areas that are missing from formal architectural education. And I’ve also:
consulted to the Institute of Architects WA Chapter;
delivered webinars nationally for the Australian Institute of Architects and the Association of Consulting Architects; and
provided pro bono communications advice to Architects Declare Australia and Parlour.
I am a business advisor to architects, advocate for good design, and journalist and editor, and I have specialised in communicating about architecture and sustainable design since 2002.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism, 1992) from RMIT, and a Masters in Architecture History and Theory (University of NSW, 2002), and I was awarded the AV Jennings Churchill Fellowship to study sustainable and affordable housing in 2003, travelling to the UK, Finland, Sweden and the USA.
I founded Sounds Like Design in 2016 to promote conversations about the value of architecture, and to plug the gap in architects’ knowledge about business and strategy.
I primarily work with architects who:
a) own and run their own small practice;
b) are directors or principals in a medium or large firm;
c) are actively involved in bringing in new clients and projects;
d) are considering leaving their current job to start their own firm; and/or
e) are responsible for delivering practice marketing...
... and who are ready to invest in transforming their own practice, to be part of the change that sweeping across the entire profession.
Or read on to learn more about my career evolution and purpose…
What are my qualifications and credentials?
How can we collaborate to transform your
architecture practice into a thriving business?
When I did my Masters of Architecture (History and Theory), I learned your language and professional idiosyncrasies.
My perspective on architecture shifted from “geeky fan” to “knowledgeable insider”.
And that led to my first lightbulb moment:
Architecture is a complex discipline to communicate well, and it’s difficult to distill all of that complexity into simple marketing soundbites.
Difficult, but not impossible.
That’s why I founded
Sounds Like Design
It’s the only holistic marketing consultancy in Australia that works exclusively with architects, to promote architecture and the value of good design.
Because I really want you to succeed: individually and as a profession.
1.
To improve the way architects communicate with past, current and future clients; stakeholders, regulators and policy-makers; and the public; so they can win more and better projects.
2.
To promote conversations about the value of good design in the public domain, using inclusive language, so that everyone can join in.
3.
And ultimately, to enhance design literacy in the wider community, leading to increased demand for quality built environments.
Sounds Like Design’s purpose is threefold:
Because the world needs good design now,
more than ever.
To non-architects - and that’s most people! - what you do looks like magic.
You envision new buildings, spaces and places; then you make them real.
Architecture may look like alchemy, but we know it’s underpinned by tried-and-tested systems and processes.
This realisation prompted my second lightbulb moment:
Architecture marketing is very similar to architecture itself.
It looks difficult to outsiders, but it’s easy to master once you learn and understand the systems and processes that underpin it.
Do you appreciate how extraordinary architects are?
I developed the Six Channel System of marketing for architects to respond to the unique needs and long sales cycle of the architecture profession. Now you can master architecture marketing quickly (much faster than it took you to complete your architecture degrees and registration!).
The Six Channel System explains which channels and platforms to focus on, and how they all work together to generate new business. Key data and metrics allow you to see what’s delivering positive results - in the form of new enquiries, projects and clients.
It’s not rocket science. You don’t need a magic wand. You can learn this system in my online course (and earn CPD points).
Then, you can implement the Six Channel System to grow your client and project pipeline.
Perhaps you’ll even generate a waitlist.
Other architects have queues of clients who only want to work with them. Why can’t you?
Are you ready to start transforming your practice?
What if you had access to a marketing system
designed specifically for architects?
