Draftsmen vs. Designers vs. Architects: Who is the Best Hire?

Posted by Cooper Crossley on July 19th, 2018

When you have a project that involves building infrastructure, it is quite common that you would look for the best drafting companies or the best designers or architects. However, it would be impractical to get all three professionals for your project. In all reality, you only need either one of them. The right one depends on the type of project you would want to have done.
To help you decide, let look at each of these occupations in detail:

Architects

In most countries, architects have to study for five years for a bachelor’s degree. In addition, a master’s degree in architecture requires the student to have another two years of accounting. After that, they are required to have a minimum of two years of experience in the industry proper.

When architects finally possess a license, they are legally and fully accountable for their work. Moreover, the architect may choose an area of specialization although they generally have experience in different areas such as residential architecture and historical preservation.

One sign that you can look for to decide hiring an architect is if the project needs to have inspections and approvals conducted. This is most common with projects involving the construction of commercial properties. While this is not really needed, having an architect’s approval will help you get away from the hassle of completing council requirements.

Designers

Licenses for designers are not really that required compared to architects. In some countries, designers can work as professionals without carrying a license. It is important to note that the jobs of an architect and a licensed designer are almost the same. Designers can essentially design buildings just like how architects would.

However, without a license, a designer can be compared to draftsmen. This means that building designers are somehow like a hybrid of architects and draftsmen.

If your project is more into building residential structures, then you can already make do with a licensed designer. However, you should remember that designers are not that cheap even if they are a bit in the lower level compared to architects. They are still able to charge you for more hours but rest assured, they can provide higher output.

Draftsmen

In general, a draftsman is more concerned with the provisions of technical drawings needed by building projects, whether it is a commercial or a residential one. The lines that separate draftsmen from designers are a little blurry so you should learn the subtle differences of the two occupations.

Unlike the two occupations above, a draftsman is not required to hold a license to perform their tasks. This is why you will find either a licensed building designer or an architect in the drafting companies. They act as supervisors to draftsmen because, in some areas in some countries, draftsmen are not allowed to work with clients directly.

If your project only involves minor renovations or if the project is not that big, you can get the services of the best drafting companies. Whether you are thinking of hiring a draftsman, an architect, or a building designer, the most important thing is to be sure about the work that you require.

Resource Box: If you want to Hire Draftsman In Melbourne, the author of this article suggests Dwelling on Design.