I still have a few questions about crowdsourcing architecture:
1. If the design request comes from a jurisdiction in which I am licensed to practice architecture and I respond, am I providing architectural services without a contract, which would be in violation of the professional practice act in some jurisdictions? (I know that conceptual design is considered an "architectural service" in some jurisdictions in which I am licensed.)
2. If I am not licensed to practice architecture in the jurisdiction from which the design request comes and the project is not exempt from professional licensing laws in that jurisdiction and I respond, am I providing services without a license, which would be in violation of the professional practice act in some jurisdictions? (I know that conceptual design is considered an "architectural service" in some jurisdictions in which I am licensed.)
3. Are all respondents held to the same legal standard of care, whether or not they are licensed to practice architecture in the jurisdiction from which the request comes? (Won't courts be more inclined to levy greater judgments against licensed architects than against individuals who are not licensed to practice architecture for the same errors and omissions given the standard of care to which architects are held?) Therefore, if the playing field is not level, why are the designs presented anonymously and with the same potential reward for disproportionate risk?
4. If no significant public relations advantage is expected as a result of winning (or even just participating in) a crowdsourcing competition, is crowdsourcing really "no worse than a design competition" since it lacks (arguably) the most critical element to making design competitions viable?
5. Who owns the design once it's been posted on a crowdsourcing architecture site?
6. If crowdsourcing architecture's greatest advantage to architects is believed to be the expansion of the market for architectural services, are there any statistics showing that it is accomplishing that? (A handful of $250 fees doesn't seem to me to be a significant expansion of the market. Nor does it seem to expand the market if a large portion of the competition winners are not licensed architects.)
In response to the argument that "...
architects in conventional practice would never pursue such modest projects by clients who would otherwise not seek out design services." Having spent several years trying to build a non-conventional practice myself by seeking out just such modest projects, I have concluded for myself that that market segment isn't worth pursuing as a career nor as a spare-time-killer. There may yet be a way to bring this market segment into the fold, but I haven't found it yet and crowdsourcing seems to be working against discovering a way, not with it.
I am also suspicious of the assertion that "..
.the public for the most part does not have a ready opportunity to seek and benefit from the work of architects..." With the rise of LinkedIn, Facebook, Houzz, AIA.org and other sites that can put potential clients in touch with architects, I believe the public currently has as ready an opportunity as ever to seek and benefit from the work of architects. What is lacking is the widespread belief that the work of architects has value equal to or in excess of the cost. Making our services next-to-free does nothing to enhance the public belief in the value of our work and the potential next-to-free fees only disguise the true cost of providing those services. Crowdsourcing architecture may not be de-valuing architecture on its own, but it seems to be exploiting the negative trend, rather than helping us to reverse it. -------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall AIA
Architect
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2014 15:10
From: Michael Crosbie
Subject: "CROWDSOURCING" DESIGN
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Project Delivery and Committee on Design .
-------------------------------------------
Is "crowdsourcing" design a threat to the profession? Or a new chapter? Take a look:
http://bit.ly/1kwkNbz
What do you think?
-------------------------------------------
Michael Crosbie FAIA
Editor-in-Chief
Faith & Form
Essex CT
-------------------------------------------