On the surface, an architect may seem interchangeable with someone who works in architectural design. After all, they both deal with the building design and structuring of homes, so they must be the same, right? Not so fast. There are actually some key differences between an architect and an architectural designer, a few of which are discussed in more detail below.

Licensure

Architects are required to take licensing exams before they can practice their trade. In fact, it is illegal to even call yourself an architect unless you have all the required schooling, extensive periods of internship and apprenticeship, and a passing score on the necessary examinations. For someone who works in architectural design, however, licensure is often optional, so there are some types of buildings they are legally prohibited from designing.

Specialty Areas

Any professional in the architecture field may have certain specialty areas or specific concentrations where they focus much of their business. An architect might have a broader, more all-encompassing scope of practice, while an architectural designer may have more precise work areas. For example, an architectural design professional may have concentrated on green building and design practices during their studies, and this might be the focus of their job; an architect may have studied green building as just one aspect of their trade.

Design

An architect doesn't usually concern themselves with the interior design component of building planning. This is a job that falls to the interior designer. With an architectural designer, on the other hand, they often consider a building from both structural and design perspectives, so while their work may not be strictly limited to interior design, it does include aspects of it in the building planning.

If you are thinking of building a new home or office, trust the architects and civil engineers at McCarty Associates. Since 1963, they have been serving the Hillsboro, OH, area. Call (937) 393-9971, visit their website, and reach out to them via Facebook or Twitter to learn more.