January 12, 2007
  Participate in the 2007 AIA Environmental Scan
The AIA needs your assistance in undertaking a 2007 Environmental Scan to identify emerging issues and trends in the environment. By doing so, a professional society can refine its strategy and better position itself to be successful in the future. To accomplish this, AIA researchers are compiling information from external sources that will inform them of changing political, economic, social-cultural, technological, and industry trends that may have an impact on the organization and its membership in the future. Equally important to this analysis are the perspectives and insights of the membership. By participating in this on-line poll, you will help identify emerging challenges and opportunities with the potential to have the greatest impact on the profession. This will provide guidance for the delivery of AIA programs and services that better meet the current and future needs of our membership. It is important that we hear from you and we thank you for sharing your opinion. To participate in this brief poll, click here.

Top Ten Home Décor Trends for 2007
Environmental Graphics Inc., a custom murals design firm in Hopkins, Minn., sent us their prognostications of the Top 10 home décor trends for 2007. They say that certain themes will continue from previous years, with some gaining momentum as they become more widely accepted. Still others will explode onto the scene as fresh, inventive options for today's decorating enthusiasts. All of them will be woven together seamlessly by the thread of personalization and comfort.

best practices
Offshore Outsourcing for Small Projects
With the recent demand for labor, as noted in Work-on-the-Boards, and offshore outsourcing becoming a new business model, AIArchitect turned to a large-firm principal who needed help on his own home remodeling. His experience with an offshore outsourcing provider subsequently led him to use the service for his firm’s work as well.

 

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Welcome to the Practice Zone
This is the home of the weekly Best Practices column, news of tips and tools that you can use in your day-to-day practice and case studies illustrating “how-tos” and “lessons learned” for all stages of practice. The Practice Zone also features reports of research in architecture and related fields.