Ben SnapeIs your architectural practice staffed well enough for the challenges of 2025? While most architectural firms in the UK have the standard line-up of professionals, more and more jobs appear to respond to the new market trends.
Let’s review some of them and explain how PlanMan, one of the top architectural project management platforms, makes their job easier.
The basics
Architect (principal/director)
- Client Management: PlanMan includes a CRM-like module that allows architects to manage client interactions, store client data, and track communications, essential for maintaining client relationships and business growth.
- Project Overview: Our dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of all active projects, stages, and financials, all of which helps architecture leaders make strategic decisions.
Project architect
- Project Management: Features like project stages, document management, and invoicing help project architects oversee the entire lifecycle of a project, from design to delivery.
- Instant Chat: Real-time communication among team members, which is extremely handy for coordinating tasks and keeping projects on track.
Associate architect
- Permission Management: The ability to set permission groups allows associates to manage who can perform what actions is vital for project control and security.
- Workflows: PlanMan’s workflow management helps in organizing tasks, and managing project progression efficiently.
Architectural assistant
- Document Access: With mobile access and document management, assistants can view, upload, and manage project documents from any location, which leads to better flexibility and productivity.
- Project Dashboard: The system’s dashboard helps new or junior staff stay informed about their tasks and project status.
Technician or technologist
- BIM Integration: The document management feature implies support for managing technical drawings and models, which is key for technicians’ collaboration.
- File Security: Documents can be marked as private, and sensitive technical data won’t be accidentally shared.
Project manager
- Stage Tracking: Managers can track project stages, assign dates, and manage milestones, which is crucial for keeping projects aligned with schedule and budget.
We recommend most of your managerial staff undergo at least some sort of project management training – read more about that here.
Interior designer
- Document Sharing: Secure sharing of design documents helps all parties remain up to date with the latest design specifications.
Practice manager or office manager
- User Management: Efficient management of staff permissions provides data security and compliance with privacy policies.
- Billing Integration: With payment options like Stripe and GoCardless, you can collect payments against your invoices.
Marketing and business development manager
- Client Portal: Enhances client engagement by giving clients direct access to project information, which can improve satisfaction and lead to more referrals.
- Quote Management: Quick conversion of quotes to projects helps in managing leads and turning them into active projects more efficiently.
New and emerging roles
For an architectural practice in the UK looking to achieve maximum growth through more exotic or specialized positions, here are some roles that could either be niche within the industry or bring innovative approaches to traditional architecture:
Digital fabrication specialist
Function: DF professionals focus on integrating advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, CNC milling, and robotics into the design and construction process. This could lead to unique building designs or more efficient construction methods.
Growth Impact: Can offer specialist designs that set the practice apart, attracting clients interested in innovative or sustainable architecture.
PlanMan’s ability to store and manage documents securely can be used for digital fabrication files, ensuring easy access to CAD files, G-code, or other fabrication data.
Computational designer
Function: Uses algorithms, scripting, and parametric design software (like Grasshopper for Rhino or Dynamo for Revit) to create complex, adaptive designs that respond to specific environmental or functional needs.
Growth Impact: Enables the practice to take on sophisticated projects that require dynamic design solutions, thereby enhancing the firm’s reputation for innovation.
Real-time communication tools in PlanMan can be vital for coordinating complex design iterations or discussing algorithmic outputs with team members.
Augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) specialist
Function: Develops immersive experiences for clients to visualize projects in AR/VR before construction, aiding in better decision-making and client satisfaction.
Growth Impact: Provides a competitive edge by offering clients an interactive preview of their projects, which can justify higher fees for premium service and attract tech-savvy clients.
Sustainability and resilience consultant
Function: Makes sure projects meet or exceed environmental sustainability standards, focusing on materials, energy efficiency, resilience against climate change, and circular economy principles.
Growth Impact: With increasing demand for green buildings, this position can attract clients focused on sustainable development, potentially opening up new market segments.
PlanMan helps these professionals in documenting sustainability strategies, certifications achieved, or resilience features implemented, keeping all this information centralized for each project.
Well-being architect
Function: Designs spaces with an emphasis on social value such as health and well-being, using principles from biophilic design, neuroscience, and environmental psychology to create environments that promote health, productivity, and happiness.
Growth Impact: Appeals to health-conscious clients, including healthcare, educational, and corporate sectors looking to enhance employee or occupant wellness.
Well-being architects can use PlanMan to share wellness-focused design concepts with clients for feedback, enhancing the client-designer interaction.
Cultural heritage specialist
Function: Expert in the conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, ensuring cultural and historical integrity while adapting structures for modern use.
Growth Impact: Can tap into the growing market of historical preservation projects, which are often funded by grants or governmental bodies, adding prestige to the firm’s portfolio.
With PlanMan they can ensure sensitive historical data and plans for restoration are kept secure, with options to control access to documents.
Urban farming or vertical agriculture designer
Function: Designs innovative urban farming solutions or vertical agriculture systems within buildings, promoting food security, sustainability, and community engagement.
Growth Impact: Positions the practice at the forefront of urban sustainability trends, appealing to municipalities and developers with a vision for self-sustaining urban environments.
PlanMan lets them rack the design, implementation, and maintenance phases of urban farming systems within buildings or urban spaces.
Artificial intelligence (AI) integration architect
Function: Uses AI to optimize design processes, predict design outcomes, manage project risks, or automate parts of the architectural workflow.
Growth Impact: Enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and potentially offers new services like AI-driven maintenance predictions, making the firm a leader in tech-forward architecture.
PlanMan’s project management features let AI integrators manage AI-driven design processes, from data collection to algorithm application and outcome analysis.
Space planner for autonomous vehicles
Function: Designs urban and building infrastructures that accommodate the rise of autonomous vehicles, including parking solutions, drop-off zones, and adaptive urban space.
Growth Impact: Prepares the practice for future urban mobility trends, positioning it as a thought leader in an emerging field.
PlanMan’s dashboard lets them store extensive research on future mobility trends, urban planning data, or simulation results for AV integration.
Experience design lead
Function: Focuses on how people interact with spaces, emphasizing narrative, sensory experiences, and user journeys to create memorable and engaging environments.
Growth Impact: Can lead to high-profile projects in hospitality, retail, or cultural sectors where experience is as important as function.
Experience designers can use PlanMan’s communication features for team brainstorming sessions or for gathering feedback during user experience testing phases.
PlanMan is an amazing addition to your architectural practice, helping employees manage their work effectively regardless of their role and position.
Sign up for a free trial today and optimize your work!