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.
Don't let this hold you back from winning design awards
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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 submissions because they think they need a professional photographer first. Meanwhile, competitors with weaker designs but stronger visual storytelling walk away with recognition. The truth? Professional photos alone don't win awards; great stories do. But if you don't know how to capture your projects effectively or curate a compelling photo set, even finished projects stay stuck in limbo. That's exactly why we're bringing back ARDA Winner Roberta D'Andrea's "Members Helping Members: Architectural Storytelling Through Photography" webinar. This session was previously exclusive to the AIBD Eastern Shore Chapter, but Roberta has graciously agreed to do an encore—and this time, we're recording it and adding it to the Win An ARDA bundle of AIBD On Demand Education Courses. On May 7, 2026 at 3:00pm EDT, Roberta will share practical strategies to help you capture your projects more effectively, including:
Plus, there's dedicated Q&A time where you can bring your own examples and questions. Here's What You Get:
The ARDA Call for Entries is OPEN now through June 8, 2026. This webinar is perfectly timed to help you prepare winning submissions—even if you're starting with just your smartphone. Register for the Live Webinar Here Don't let missing photos keep your best work hidden any longer. Can't wait to see your entries, P.S. The ARDA submission system enables you to save your progress on entries, allowing you to complete them gradually, without having to do all of them, or even a single entry, at once. Enter ARDA 2026 Now, get access to the Win An ARDA Course Bundle, and finish your entries later. |
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.
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...
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. It happened in an instant. At exactly 8:28 a.m., the ground beneath Puget Sound didn’t just shake—it revolted. In one violent, 6.7-magnitude shudder, Mother Nature reminded Western Washington exactly who’s in charge. Buildings cracked like eggshells. Nerves...
We have a packed lineup of webinars coming up and we don’t want you to miss a single one. Here’s everything on the calendar: TODAY – CE Watch Party: Structural Engineer vs Architect – Design Meeting (1.0 P3-CE) Tuesday, April 28 | 2:00 PM EDT | 1 Hour A structural engineer is a crucial part of the design team for all residential work in the studio — but how often do you actually get to sit in on that first meeting? In this CE Watch Party, you’ll join the kick-off meeting with the structural...