What is Architectural Design? It's Not Just a Set of Plans or Pretty Pictures
Most people think architectural design is just choosing between "Modern Farmhouse" or "Mid-Century Modern." They think it’s about picking tiles, paint colors, and deciding where the sofa goes.
But that’s not design. That’s decorating.
Real architectural design is the process of removing uncertainty. It is the difference between a house that just keeps the rain out and a home that feels like it belongs to you.
I once had a client look at a 3D model of their future home, seeing exactly how the elevations came together and how the light hit the space, and tell me: "Watching this is better than therapy."
That is what design actually is: Clarity.
Here is the truth about what we actually do when we design your home.
We Kill the "2D Plan" Lie
There is a dirty secret in the industry: Regular people cannot read 2D plans.
I realized early in my career that raw architectural linework is a foreign language. If I show you a black-and-white floor plan, you might nod and say "looks good," but you don't actually feel the space. You can't see the light. You can't feel the volume.
I once worked with a team where another architect (working strictly in 2D) spent three hours trying to figure out why an elevation looked wrong. It turned out to be a missing window. Because I work in BIM (Building Information Modeling), where the 2D and 3D are created simultaneously, I could have spotted that error in five seconds.
We don’t ask you to hallucinate your future home from a flat piece of paper. We build a Digital Twin. We put the trees in. We put the people in. We show you the reality before you spend a dollar on concrete.
We Don't Guess (The Sun & The Section)
Amateurs guess. Professionals plan.
The number one thing that gets "guessed" in bad design? The Sun and The Section.
Most builders think in "Plan View" (looking down from above). They draw a box, divide it into rooms, and call it a day. But humans don't live in floor plans. We live in volumes.
The Section: We design vertically. We look at how high the ceiling feels, how the roofline compresses a cozy nook or expands a living area. People who only work in 2D often miss how a change in height changes the feeling of a room.
The Sun: We don't just put windows where they look nice on the outside. We model the sun angles. We know exactly where the light will hit your kitchen island at 9:00 AM in December versus 6:00 PM in June.
If you ignore the sun, you end up with a house that is freezing in the morning and an oven in the afternoon. That’s not bad luck. That’s bad design.
Dignity vs. The Tape Measure
I spent years designing affordable housing, maximizing well-being for hundreds of residents within strict city constraints. The biggest lesson I learned? There is a massive difference between Ergonomics and Dignity.
First, let's explain Ergonomics. This is a word designers love, but it really just means "human mechanics." It’s the science of: Does it fit?
Is the countertop high enough so your back doesn't hurt?
Is the hallway wide enough for you to carry two grocery bags without scraping your knuckles?
Is the toilet too close to the wall?
Ergonomics is vital, but it is the bare minimum. It just ensures the house doesn't physically annoy you.
Dignity is different.
Dignity means the space enhances your well-being. Architecture is not passive; it either harms you or improves you. If a space is well-thought-out, you get a sense of peace that, over time, sinks into your identity. You feel like you belong there.
When I look at bad multifamily buildings, I often see a "game of squares". Just boxes stacked up with no thought. But when I look at a generic ADU, I see something even worse: Flatness.
There is no "play" in the facade to create interest. There is no differentiation of space. It’s just a flat box.
In Los Angeles, we often lack that connection between the building and the street, the "public dignity" you feel in places like Little Tokyo or near Girl & the Goat. When we design, we are striving for that feeling. We want the space to be a positive influence on your life, not just a shed that fits your furniture.
The Bottom Line
You can hire someone to draw a permit set. They will give you a building that meets code.
But if you want a home that feels like therapy, where the light is right, the facade has character, and the design respects your dignity, you need an architect who builds it digitally first.
Don't guess with your biggest asset.