Many people judge a person by the car they drive or clothes they wear. This judgement can include social or economic status, level of education, ability and knowledge, and skill. But can you really determine these qualities by outward appearance?
I was working as a project manager for store planning associates in San Francisco in the 80's, designing large retail stores for Macy's, Norstroms, The Emporium, I Magnin. As one of our more interesting projects, I went on a property condition survey field trip with the senior architect in the firm. Our task was to visit the Macy's retail buildings for a corporate buyer, documenting the type and condition of Macy stores throughout California, Arizona and Nevada.
We planned out our route to minimize travel, trying to visit two to three stores a day. Even so, we were traveling for a month. Our method was to first arrange a meeting with the store manager, who would show us the facility. We would take notes on adequacy of parking, type of construction, building features, and condition of the facility and plant.
The senior licensed architect I traveled with was around 55 years old. He would always dress well but with a quirky bow tie. I was around 25 years old at the time, and wore nice slacks, a button down shirt and tie to the surveys. Inevitably as we approached the store manager's receptionist to start our survey, I was generally ignored and conversation was directed to the senior architect.
A curious thing started to happen when I started to wear a suit. All conversation was directed at me, and the senior architect was ignored! I was the wet behind the ears recent graduate, and the obviously older senior architect had 30 years experience. In the eyes of the receptionist, fashion was more important than experience, knowledge or even an architects license.
In spite of this lesson, when the weather is nice I still drive my motorcycle to local jobs wearing a black leather jacket and boots. I'm able to avoid traffic and tolls, get 50 miles to the gallon, and have a lot of fun traveling fast instead of being stuck in a metal box. Sadly, some clients expect, want and are willing to pay extra for the architect to pull up in a Mecedes or at least a BMW, wearing tassles on his shoes. I realize the motorcycle and leather jacket put off some clients and I've lost work because of it, but that is who I am. I'm an outside-the-box thinking individual providing unique architectural designs. I do wear a suit and tie to design review or other formal meetings. For those occasions clothes are another tool to obtain approval of the project I'm presenting, much like an artistic rendering. But I have too much fun on a motorcycle to forgo it solely for fashion or expectations.
If anyone expects me to wear shoes with tassels, you should find a conventional architect. One who is fearful of leaving the safety of an automobile or the boundaries of architectural convention. If you are able to judge a person on their appearance, you will be more satisfied with an architect of style and little substance, one that meets your expectations.
I was working as a project manager for store planning associates in San Francisco in the 80's, designing large retail stores for Macy's, Norstroms, The Emporium, I Magnin. As one of our more interesting projects, I went on a property condition survey field trip with the senior architect in the firm. Our task was to visit the Macy's retail buildings for a corporate buyer, documenting the type and condition of Macy stores throughout California, Arizona and Nevada.
We planned out our route to minimize travel, trying to visit two to three stores a day. Even so, we were traveling for a month. Our method was to first arrange a meeting with the store manager, who would show us the facility. We would take notes on adequacy of parking, type of construction, building features, and condition of the facility and plant.
The senior licensed architect I traveled with was around 55 years old. He would always dress well but with a quirky bow tie. I was around 25 years old at the time, and wore nice slacks, a button down shirt and tie to the surveys. Inevitably as we approached the store manager's receptionist to start our survey, I was generally ignored and conversation was directed to the senior architect.
A curious thing started to happen when I started to wear a suit. All conversation was directed at me, and the senior architect was ignored! I was the wet behind the ears recent graduate, and the obviously older senior architect had 30 years experience. In the eyes of the receptionist, fashion was more important than experience, knowledge or even an architects license.
In spite of this lesson, when the weather is nice I still drive my motorcycle to local jobs wearing a black leather jacket and boots. I'm able to avoid traffic and tolls, get 50 miles to the gallon, and have a lot of fun traveling fast instead of being stuck in a metal box. Sadly, some clients expect, want and are willing to pay extra for the architect to pull up in a Mecedes or at least a BMW, wearing tassles on his shoes. I realize the motorcycle and leather jacket put off some clients and I've lost work because of it, but that is who I am. I'm an outside-the-box thinking individual providing unique architectural designs. I do wear a suit and tie to design review or other formal meetings. For those occasions clothes are another tool to obtain approval of the project I'm presenting, much like an artistic rendering. But I have too much fun on a motorcycle to forgo it solely for fashion or expectations.
If anyone expects me to wear shoes with tassels, you should find a conventional architect. One who is fearful of leaving the safety of an automobile or the boundaries of architectural convention. If you are able to judge a person on their appearance, you will be more satisfied with an architect of style and little substance, one that meets your expectations.
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