Building Without an Architect

You wouldn't build a home without first hiring an architect. If you wouldn't build a home without an architect, you're doubly unlikely to build a commercial office tower without one. In addition to being illegal (you'd never get a permit), it's also too risky.

In a previous post I wrote about the similarities between building a home and building a website. The analogy isn't perfect, but it works well enough to illustrate a few points, one of which is that the architect's role is pretty critical. The architect role in the physical world may be better established and understood, but there is no less need for an architect when creating digital products like websites, apps, and software.

The architect's job in the digital world, much like in the physical world, is to translate the desires of the client into a detailed plan for the builders. This translation step is critical in determining the outcome of the project. The best developers in the world will fail on a project where this step is skipped or done poorly. At Agency Fusion our ability to truly understand what a client wants and needs and then translate that understanding into specifications for designers and developers is what determines our success on each client project.

If the architect role is so critical, why is it so often unfilled on digital projects? First, there's not yet any established standard the way there is in construction. People already know they need an architect to create blueprints for their new home, but the web is still new enough that this understanding isn't widespread. Second, when it comes to digital products, you can't really see the foundation, framing, etc. so it's harder for people to understand that the digital equivalents exist and that they need to be properly planned from the beginning.

When the architect role isn't explicitly filled, what happens? The project may still get finished and appear to be a success, but with time problems may begin to appear. A poorly constructed home may look fine but over time cracks will appear in walls, the roof will leak, etc. Likewise, a poorly constructed app or site will show its true colors as updates become painful, maintenance becomes expensive, and performance degrades.

A little bit of advanced planning by an architect can ensure that a digital product is set on the correct course from day one. Updates and maintenance will be easier and more affordable, and the chance of rework will be greatly lessened.