Business of Architecture Podcast

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this live talk at Westminster University, Rion Willard shares a sharp, practical look at one issue many architects feel but rarely name: why good work does not always lead to a healthy business. He speaks from direct experience, moving from practice into advising firms, and he challenges some deeply held beliefs about fees, value, and the role of money in architecture.
But this episode is not just about charging more. It is about a bigger shift in how architects think, speak, and act when business decisions carry real weight. Rion points to a few hidden patterns that quietly shape results, and he shows why some common habits may be costing firms far more than they realize.
If you have ever felt tension around pricing, growth, or client expectations, this conversation will give you plenty to think about—and a new lens for what may be possible.
The quiet belief that may be hurting your fees more than the market
Why one common way of billing can create far more stress than most architects realize
The subtle shift that can change how clients see your value before numbers even come up
Resource: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/smart-practice-project-fee-budget-calculator

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode, architect Eric Lam joins Business of Architecture to explore a design tradition many architects have heard of, but few understand in depth: Feng Shui.
Eric shares how his early life in Hong Kong, his work as an architect, and his interest in biophilic design led him back to ideas he first heard from his grandmother. The conversation opens a thoughtful look at how space, energy, psychology, and business all connect.
You'll hear how ancient principles still shape major cities, why small shifts in a room can change how people feel, and how architects might use deeper awareness of space to serve clients in a more human way.
The overlooked design idea hiding in plain sight inside some of the world's most powerful cities
Why "good energy" may be less mystical—and more practical—than many architects think
The simple spatial shift that can change how a business owner feels at work
To learn more about Eric, visit his website: https://www.redwoodsdsa.com/

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode, Erick Darbo Diaz and Carolina Civarolo share how they built ORANGE MADE in the Rio Grande Valley with a strong sense of place, purpose, and partnership. They talk about choosing to stay rooted in their community and why that choice shaped both their work and their vision.
You will also hear how they work together as husband and wife while leading the firm side by side. They reflect on how their roles grew over time, what helped them stay aligned, and why building the business became just as important as designing the work itself.
The conversation also explores a quiet shift that changed the path of the practice. Without giving too much away, it reveals how better thinking around the business opened new possibilities for the team, the work, and the future they want to build.
Why staying in a "smaller" market gave them an edge they did not see at first
The subtle change that made the firm feel very different almost overnight
What they now believe matters just as much as great design
To learn more about Erick & Carolina, visit their: https://orange-made.com/

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode, Rion Willard speaks with Caspar Schols, the designer behind Cabin ANNA, about how a deeply personal project grew into something with global reach. What begins as a conversation about making soon turns into something wider: craft, grief, nature, and the strange path from one handmade object to a living body of work.
You will hear how Caspar thinks about building, why small projects can hold big meaning, and what happens when growth starts to pull you away from the work you love most. He also shares how intuition, ritual, and careful iteration shaped both the design itself and the business that followed.
You will discover:
Why one quiet project struck a chord far beyond what anyone expected
The hidden tension between scale, structure, and staying close to the work itself 
To learn more about Caspar, visit his website: https://www.cabin-anna.com/

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework
If your firm can't move without you, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar today. Rion Willard shares a talk he gave on how small practices can build teams that act with ownership, not constant supervision. It's practical, grounded, and aimed at the real pressure points that make good architects feel stuck.
You'll hear a clear way to spot when "leadership" is quietly creating stress, slow decisions, and repeat mistakes. Rion also walks through a real client story that shows what changes when a firm shifts its structure, its conversations, and its expectations—without losing its design culture. If you want more freedom, stronger delivery, and a team you can trust, this one is worth your time.
The subtle reason "help" can make you busier—not lighter
A simple shift that changes how accountability lands in your office
The one number that can reveal more than a year of guesswork