Too many “high‑performance” homes still miss the mark for clients who plan to age in place or live with changing abilities. They perform well on paper, but fall short on everyday usability and resale appeal. That gap shows up as frustrated homeowners, costly callbacks, and designs that look dated the moment someone needs a walker, wider clearances, or better‑planned kitchens and baths. Join the AIBD High‑Performance Homes Team for “A Practical Guide to Universal Home Design” (1.0 P3 CE), a...
1 day ago • 2 min read
May 11, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive This weekly newsletter is created by and for those designing homes in North America. Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals. Here's what you get: Field Notes Nuts & Bolts Highlights Workshops & Gatherings What We're Up To Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry. Let's dive in. Email servers may truncate this newsletter because...
2 days ago • 4 min read
Residential Design’s premier annual event is coming to Cleveland, and we want you there. The American Institute of Building Design’s Annual Conference is our central gathering for building designers, industry professionals, and partners. It brings together advocacy, certification, education, networking, and recognition for the residential design profession over four focused days. You’ll experience: Annual Business Meetings, including the National Council of Building Designer Certification,...
5 days ago • 2 min read
ARDA 2026 is accepting submissions, and we want to keep introducing you to the talented professionals who will be evaluating this year’s entries. Today, we’re excited to introduce Michael J. Battaglia — a residential designer whose career spans nearly five decades and whose obsession with accuracy and well-coordinated construction documents sets the bar for excellence in the field. Michael began his career in 1975 working as a Staff Designer for a residential building company. It was there,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Congrats on surviving Monday and crushing Tuesday. Now, Wednesday beckons you to take a break and step into a pattern of discovery. Welcome to the Midweek Meander. Did someone forward this to you? Please consider subscribing. Picture this: You’ve reached an influential stage in your career, so you want to start sharing your experiences and ideas with the world through writing. Maybe you envision a newsletter, a series of articles for your company’s blog, or some killer posts for...
7 days ago • 9 min read
Here’s what’s happening this month in AIBD’s webinars and roundtables. Upcoming live webinars and roundtables Members Helping Members: Architectural Storytelling Through Photography (1.0 P1 CE) – May 7, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT, 1 hourLearn practical strategies for capturing your projects in both still images and video, with a focus on telling a compelling visual story for your portfolio and award submissions. Coffee With Bernie: Designing for Lifestyle Trends – Home Offices, Multigenerational...
8 days ago • 1 min read
May 4, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive This weekly newsletter is created by and for those designing homes in North America. Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals. Here's what you get: Field Notes Nuts & Bolts Highlights Workshops & Gatherings What We're Up To Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry. Let's dive in. Email servers may truncate this newsletter because...
9 days ago • 5 min read
You've designed incredible homes. Projects you're genuinely proud of. But when it comes time to enter ARDA or update your portfolio, you hit the same wall: No professional photos. Maybe the budget wasn't there for a photographer. Maybe the homeowner hasn't moved in yet. Or maybe you've got photos, but they don't tell the story your design deserves. So your award-worthy work sits on your hard drive, invisible to potential clients and judges alike. Every year, talented designers skip ARDA...
12 days ago • 1 min read
This summer, AIBD's Annual Conference Design+Build Cleveland brings the entire residential design community together under one roof for four days of learning, connection, and celebration. From high-impact business sessions to deep dives into design, technology, and energy performance, every day is packed with experiences that sharpen your skills and expand your network. Whether you want to grow your firm, elevate your design work, or simply reconnect with colleagues who “get it,” this...
13 days ago • 1 min read