PR is a key part of the business and marketing drive of any practice. Unfortunately, communication skills are not often taught in architectural schools and so practitioners end up trying to figure things out for themselves, which can leave projects without a home in a competitive media landscape. Bad PR can also lead to problems with client relations and even develop unwanted reputations that can take years to undo. This two-part workshop will tackle what PR means for architects and how to think about developing your external perception.

The first session will establish the fundamental basics of PR in the built environment, including the main communication channels that are available to architects, and will feature a series of successful case studies. Awareness of the market is important and so peers and competitors can be used to help define an approach for particular sectors and design approaches. By the end of the workshop, each participant should have a good understanding of how to communicate their practice and its projects to the outside world.

In the second workshop, the group will work on how to put this into everyday use via press releases and developing good relationships with relevant journalists. There are numerous events, awards and networking opportunities available to help access the industry and so this workshop will provide the building blocks for an adaptable PR strategy for the months and years ahead.  It’s important to plan ahead for key opportunities and avoid time-wasting activity at all costs. ​