Have you ever wondered what the difference is between an architect and a draftsman? If you’re looking for design plus drafting, then you’ll need to know which service is going to be best for you. In this post we’re going to explore some of the differences so that you can make an informed decision as to which will be best to assist you on your next project.
First of all, it’s important to recognise that both positions hold great value. Architecture and building design are admirable pursuits and requires a significant amount of talent and dedication to master. However, a qualified architect will have spent an extra 3 years in education, with an additional 2 years of practical experience before qualifying.
Architecture courses will have a stronger focus on the interpretation of 3-dimensional space, various form, functions and technical design. Draftsman on the other hand, is more focused on technical drawing and general construction knowledge.
So, it’s fair to say that an architect might be more suitable for a larger building project, which requires a little more finesse. However, a draftsman would be better suited to the more straightforward construction projects. Architects are considerably more expensive and will take much longer to draft a piece. So, if you’re looking for fast, affordable and efficient; then a draftsman will be your best bet.
That being said; the quality and long-term affordability of an architect is irrefutable. A building which was designed by a qualified architect will be worth a fair amount more, having been designed with greater depth and interpretation in mind. You will find that an architectural approach will have paid closer attention to the materials used and the longevity of the property.
The fairest comparison would be a surgeon and a general practitioner. The surgeon will have more specialised knowledge and will have trained longer in their particular field. However, a general practitioner will still be significantly experienced and capable of offering advice and identifying problems.
Ultimately, it comes down to the speed, cost and depth that you are looking for. There’s no good spending out a significant amount more on having a fairly basic building designed. There are pros and cons to using both services and we want to put a particular focus on the fact that both are competent at what they do. Provided that you do your research and roll with a particular company or a highly-qualified and experienced individual, then you can’t really go wrong.
