Office Talk Australia, Marketing for Architecture

Adam Haddow is the Director of SJB, a multi-studio collective of experts in architecture, urban design, interiors and planning founded in 1976. 

Adam has been a Director of SJB’s Sydney studio since 2001, leading the practice in the development of multiple award-winning projects. He has recently been appointed the National President Elect of the Australian Institute of Architects, and his own home, 19 Waterloo Street, won the prestigious Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture in 2023. He first appeared on Office Talk in 2021, episode No. 37.

If you’d like to learn more about SJB, you can visit sjb.com.au or follow them on Instagram @aboutsjb.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand strategy practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across Australia and the world. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans. You can also follow Programa on Instagram at @programahq.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Bankston has kindly supported today’s episode of Office Talk to discuss Hemispheres, their latest architectural collaboration.

To discuss the new collection, we are joined by Steve Bradley of Bankston architectural hardware, and Nicko Elliott, a principal of CIVILIAN, a New York-based design studio he founded with his partner Ksenia in 2018.

The Hemispheres collection follows the success of Bankston's architectural collaborations Casts with Edition Office and Super Collection with Sans-Arc.

The 10-piece collection marks a departure from conventional architectural hardware featuring bold geometries, striking finishes, and innovative functions, reflecting a shared ambition to elevate the ordinary. The collection title, Hemispheres, not only references a central dome motif within the range, but also symbolises the collaboration’s global nature—Civilian in the Northern Hemisphere and Bankston in the Southern Hemisphere. This title encapsulates the essence of the partnership, emphasising a shared design ethos transcending geographic bounds.

If you would like to learn more about the Hemispheres collection, you can visit Bankston.com, or follow them on Instagram at @bankston_architectural. Civilian is also on Instagram at @civilianprojects, and their website is civilianprojects.com.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Chris Gilbert is a director of Archier, a Melbourne-based practice known for creating design experiences that contribute to a better quality of life. Chris first appeared on Office Talk in August of 2022, and we are delighted to welcome him back to the show.

In this episode, Chris and Dave discussed:

• The power of cultural narratives, such as current attitudes around the risks of building, and whether it’s better for architects to push back, or accept these powerful beliefs and adapt our approach.
• How Archier identified a pain-point in the design process, the endless hours spent pricing projects, then developed custom software to help speed up the process and drastically reduce the cost to the client.
• The story of starting Candour, a prefabrication and advanced manufacturing company helping architects to make off-site construction faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
• What impact a move towards automation, efficiency and accessibility could have on the brand perception of Archier, and architecture more broadly, as it challenges the traditional exclusivity of residential architecture.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit archier.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @archier_.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

This episode of Office Talk is supported by Mast Furniture. Mast is an established furniture design and manufacturing company based in Brisbane. In operation since 2012 and climate neutral certified since 2021, Mast has built a national and international reputation for producing original furniture of the highest quality. For Mast, the phrase ‘Good Design, made right’ embodies who they are, what they do and what they’d like to achieve. Mast values enduring design, taking their time to develop well designed products both in house and in collaboration with established and upcoming designers. With all of their furniture being produced from their Brisbane workshop and made to order, the majority of their range is able to be customised in material, size and finishes to suit specific projects and spaces in both residential and commercial environments. To learn more about Mast, visit mastfurniture.com.au or check out their instagram @mastfurniture.

Rodney Eggleston and Anne-Laure Cavigneaux are the directors of March Studio, a Melbourne-based practice known for its multidisciplinary approach to architecture, graphic, interiors and industrial design.

In this episode, Rodney, Anne-Laure and Dave discussed:

• The influence their early years in Rotterdam had on their views about the role and value of design, and the unique ideas and approaches they brought back to Australia with them.
• Why they’ve tried to avoid being typecast or tied to a specific stylistic approach or project type, and how you can position your practice to speak to range of project types and scales.
• How they’ve designed their physical studio environment to encourage creativity and experimentation, and the important role physical model making, prototyping, hand drawing and fabrication have played in their work.
• The importance their work on Aesop stores had on their practice, particularly from a learning and experimentation perspective, how they think about managing long-term partnerships with a fast-growing brand.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit march.studio or follow them on Instagram at @march_studio.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

This episode of Office Talk is supported by Mast Furniture. Mast is an established furniture design and manufacturing company based in Brisbane. In operation since 2012 and climate neutral certified since 2021, Mast has built a national and international reputation for producing original furniture of the highest quality. For Mast, the phrase ‘Good Design, made right’ embodies who they are, what they do and what they’d like to achieve. Mast values enduring design, taking their time to develop well designed products both in house and in collaboration with established and upcoming designers. With all of their furniture being produced from their Brisbane workshop and made to order, the majority of their range is able to be customised in material, size and finishes to suit specific projects and spaces in both residential and commercial environments. To learn more about Mast, visit mastfurniture.com.au or check out their instagram @mastfurniture.

John Wardle and Jasmin Williamson are partners of Wardle, a highly recognised Gold-medal winning practice known for creating extraordinary buildings and places that matter.

In this episode, John, Jasmin and Dave discussed:

• The practice’s evolution from the early days of small, but highly considered residential projects, to the broad range of sectors and scales they work in today.
• Their process in pitching for work when entering into new sectors, and how they identify the right ideas and details from other projects to draw upon to inspire potential clients.
• Why John believes that not having previous built experience on a project typology can be advantageous for the client, but can also come with challenges when competing against efficient specialist practices.
• The thinking behind the rebranding of the studio and the decision to shift the focus from John to the other partners, who each bring a different voice to the practice.
• Their recent expansion into the Sydney market, and how a practice like Wardle goes about building relationships and brand awareness in a short space of time.

If you'd like to learn more about the studio, you can visit wardle.studio or follow the studio on Instagram at @wardle.studio.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

This episode of Office Talk is supported by Mast Furniture. Mast is an established furniture design and manufacturing company based in Brisbane. In operation since 2012 and climate-neutral certified since 2021, Mast has built a national and international reputation for producing original furniture of the highest quality. For Mast, the phrase ‘Good Design, made right’ embodies who they are, what they do and what they’d like to achieve. Mast values enduring design, taking their time to develop well designed products both in house and in collaboration with established and upcoming designers. With all of their furniture being produced from their Brisbane workshop and made to order, the majority of their range is able to be customised in material, size and finishes to suit specific projects and spaces in both residential and commercial environments. To learn more about Mast, visit mastfurniture.com.au or check out their instagram @mastfurniture.

Emlyn Olaver is the director of Olaver, a Melbourne-based practice known for residential and commercial work that balances the imperfect and the refined.

In this episode, Emlyn and Dave discussed:

• The benefits of working on hospitality projects in the early stages of their practice, allowing them to have built work available to publish at a faster rate than typical residential projects.
• Olaver’s unique approach to photographing residential projects during handover; working with professional photographers to document the project in a raw, imperfect and restrained way.
• How these Handover images have helped to raise awareness of the practice, through the website and social media, as well as collating them into a print publication, which led to a launch party.
• Why he believes it’s far better to collaborate with professional creatives, such as graphic designers and photographers, to undertake their work they’re good at, as opposed to trying to do everything himself.
• The importance of communicating your design values clearly, and how he has developed a clear practice positioning statement over time.

If you'd like to learn more about his studio, you can visit olaver.com.au or follow the studio on Instagram at @olaver_architecture.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Aidan Anderson is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Local Project, an architecture publication known for celebrating extraordinary design to an inspired community.

In this episode, Aidan and Dave discussed:

• How The Local Project has evolved from an Instagram page Aidan used to share his favourite architecture and interiors while working as a furniture maker, to a 46-person media company with a category-leading YouTube channel, website, magazine and book.
• The importance of highlighting the humans behind architecture, ensuring the architect or homeowner is front-and-centre, and how this narrative-driven approach has been key to the success of their well-known project films.
• Why Aidan believes architectural print is far from dead, and the thinking behind the launch of a magazine that has the qualities of a book, designed to be kept and displayed.
• What’s next for The Local Project, and why Aidan is excited about the potential for new forms of educational content that teaches the public about the thinking behind great architecture.

If you'd like to learn more about the publication, you can visit thelocalproject.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @thelocalproject.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Mel Bright is the director of Studio Bright, a Melbourne-based practice known for creating enduring and responsive architecture for people and place.

In this episode, Mel and Dave discussed:

• How she has translated her background in civic projects into the studio’s residential work, and the importance of investing in big ideas, even for small projects.
• The small steps she has taken toward different project typologies, such as social housing, and how she strategically over-invests in projects that have the most potential to lead to similar projects.
• The importance of creating a healthy and strong workplace environment and the positive impact that has had on staff retention, morale and culture within the practice.
• The evolution of her Instagram account, from the early days of posting more personal photographs, to her thinking around sticking with one architectural photographer.
• What work-life balance means to her, and how it has changed as her children have grown up and the fulcrum has shifted.

If you'd like to learn more about her studio, you can visit studiobright.com.au or follow the studio on Instagram at @studio__bright.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Anita Panov and Andrew Scott are the directors of Panov Scott, a Sydney-based practice known for their approach to ethical, sustainable and innovative architecture.

In this episode, Anita, Andrew and Dave discussed:

• How crafting personalised books about each of their projects has allowed them to form deeper relationships with their clients, better communicate ideas and articulate their values.
• How being quiet on Instagram doesn’t translate to a quiet practice, and how they have spent the time off social media designing their business to suit their desired lifestyle.
• The importance of ensuring that the perception of the practice, and how you communicate and engage with the community, is authentic to the personality of the people within the practice.
• The evolution of architectural photography over their careers, and the photography trends from the early years of their practice they see re-appearing today.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit panovscott.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @panovscott.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Patrick Kennedy and Rachel Nolan are the directors of Kennedy Nolan, a Melbourne-based practice known for their approach to built form, contextual response and a close relationship with landscape.

In this episode, Patrick, Rachel and Dave discussed:

• How they reject the negative associations around following design trends, and instead embrace the idea that their projects are reflective of their time and place, and will eventually date as tastes change.
• How having a strong workplace culture that encourages having a life outside of architecture gives them the energy and inspiration to come up with new ideas.
• The important considerations they make about the best way to photograph a project to enter into awards and media, and how to create images that will better communicate ideas to clients.
• How the strength of their brand has helped them move into larger scale projects such as Nightingale Leftfield and a 16-storey hotel building currently under construction.
• Why blurring the lines between architecture and interior design has helped their projects to feel more emotionally engaging, both in person and in images.
• The value of being an active participant in award programs from the very start, and the positive impact winning an award for their first project had on their practice.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit kennedynolan.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @kennedy_nolan.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. Our practice works collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation to discuss your practice, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.