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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

AIBD VP Shares Vision in TV Interview [Monday Minute]

Published 1 day ago • 3 min read

October 13, 2025, Edition

Ignite your mind and improve the way you are #CreatingWherePeopleLive

This weekly newsletter

is created by and for those designing homes in North America.

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Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.

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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.

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Let's dive in.

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Field Notes

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AIBD VP Shares Vision in TV Interview

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Brandon Clokey was awarded the 2025 Designer of the Year by AIBD, becoming the first African American recipient in the Institute's 75-year history. In the interview, Brandon advocates for open concept plans to reduce material and construction costs and believes that the definition of affordability should come from the needs of homeowners rather than builders or developers.

Source: WKBN27

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Should Designers Be Paid the Same as Engineers?

Residential building designers can learn a lot from the pay equity debate between [digital product] designers and engineers, particularly how business value, market dynamics, and negotiation strategies affect compensation. This discussion highlights the importance of focusing on tangible business impact and productivity for residential designers to shape their own market value.

Source: Andy Budd

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Why High-End Homeowners Still Spend Smart

In the affluent North Carolina market of Lake Norman, a local builder finds that building lasting quality consistently outperforms bargain pricing.

He says the chatter hasn’t translated into major price spikes or project delays—at least not yet.

Source: BUILDER

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$100 Increase Set for CPBD Exam Fees, Starting January 1.

Starting in 2026, the CPBD Exam will transition from a single 3-hour test to three separate, specialized sections:

  • Business (30 minutes)
  • Design (30 minutes)
  • Building Design Sciences (2 hours)

With this change, the total cost for all three sections will increase to $400, compared to the current $300 exam fee.

Certification demonstrates a professional's mastery of industry-specific experience and knowledge.

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Nuts & Bolts

Turn feedback into final designs – seamlessly in SketchUp

With this new release, SketchUp leaps forward in collaboration capabilities, letting you centralize your design conversations. Additional updates enhance 2D drafting, enabling you to position models within a more detailed context and gain greater control over visual styles.

Source: Trimble

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Highlights

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Welcome New Members

And those returning

Jeff T Haider (ND) - Professional

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Thanks for Referring AIBD

This week's movers and shakers:

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Structural Building Component Association (SBCA) for featuring AIBD on your recent podcast. This inclusion led directly to a new Professional member joining our community.🎉🥳

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CPBD Anniversaries

Congratulations to those celebrating the anniversary of their certification this month.

A special congratulations to...
​Kevin M. Young CPBD, FAIBD (TX), for celebrating 40 years!

Keith Hake CPBD (OH), for celebrating 30 years!

David Joiner CPBD (TX), for celebrating 20 years!

John Rodriguez CPBD (WA), Robert Klob CPBD (AZ), and Scott Brekke CPBD (SC), who are all celebrating 5 years!

🎊🎉

Thank you for your expertise, commitment, and passion for enriching our field and setting a high standard for those who follow in your footsteps.

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Workshops & Gatherings

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AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.

October 15 - Western North Carolina Chapter (Virtual) 10:30 am ET

October 15 - Eastern Shore Chapter (Virtual) 3:30 pm ET

October 17 - Northeast Ohio Chapter (Virtual) 1:00 pm ET

October 17 - Central Colorado Chapter (In Person) - BBQ & 3D Printed Home Tour - 3:00 pm MT

CANCELED: October 21 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (Virtual) 11:00 am ET.

November 5 - Board of Directors (Virtual) 4:00 pm ET

November 5 - Networking Event: Phoenix, AZ - 6:00 pm

November 16 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (Virtual) 11:00 am ET.

November 18 - Networking Event: Denver, CO - 6:30 pm

AIBD Webinars

October 21 - High-Performance Homes Team - 2:00 p.m. ET (1.0 P4 CE)

October 28 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET - Navigating Historic Renovations (1.0 P3 CE)

November 14 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Are stepped ceilings still a thing?

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

AEC Daily - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

Chief Architect's Kitchens & Baths Boot Camp - October 17, 2025.

Green Home Institute - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

SoftPlan - Virtual training dates​

SBCA - Components Craft - February 24-25, 2026 - Austin, TX.

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What We're Up to

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Building Codes Committee

On Friday, Committee Chairman Jack Butler secured approval from the Florida Building Commission's Technical Advisory Committee for two code proposals.

These proposals clarify what counts as a "Special Condition" and an "Additional Construction Document" during plan review.

They also confirm that not all such documents need to be provided by a registered design professional.

Questions or comments?

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Contact us at info@aibd.org, 800.366.2423, or 110 Front Street, Suite #300, Jupiter, FL 33477.

One more thing—we want to lead with transparency. AI was most likely used to complete this post in one way or another. Don't blame the technology if you find a mistake; in most cases, our emails are written by humans and AI-supported. Now and then, they are AI-generated and human-edited. Both humans and AI still make mistakes.

American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.

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