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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Navigating the March CPI spike [Monday Minute]
Published about 12 hours ago • 5 min read
April 13, 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
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Field Notes
March 2026 CPI: Navigating Costs and Client Shifts
The March 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows a significant spike in short-term inflation, driven mainly by energy costs. Core inflation, however, remains relatively stable. For a small residential design firm, this creates a mixed bag of increased operational overhead and potential shifts in client behavior.
Learn how to protect your firm while taking advantage of the trends
Source: AIBD via theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A one-day pass for The National Building Museum and its exhibits, plus an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, and a unique opportunity to network with fellow residential design professionals.
Instead of a flat fee increase, provide a detailed breakdown of service components. This allows clients to see the "why" behind the numbers and gives them the agency to adjust the scope of work rather than walking away entirely.
Ever wonder what it’s like on the other side of the permit desk? Pima County is looking for a Plans Examiner I to join its Development Services team. If you’ve spent years mastering residential design and complex construction codes, this is your chance to pivot your expertise into a stable, impactful role within the public sector.
Two free design competitions open now for interior designers — including a trip to Italy
Two design competitions – one celebrating Italian ceramics, the other focusing on flooring sustainability – are now open to interior designers and free to enter. Ceramics of Italy and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) provided updates on the competitions at the recent Coverings show in Las Vegas. TCNA is a co-host of the Flooring Sustainability Summit, which will take place July 15-16 in Washington, D.C.
The "ununionizable" industry is changing. New York’s Sage & Coombe Architects just became the second private U.S. firm to ratify a union contract, following in the footsteps of Bernheimer Architecture. In a field notorious for "all-nighters" and thin margins, this unanimous vote marks a major shift in how design labor is valued.
Matching historic details shouldn't be a drag on your schedule or your budget. In this JLC classic, Matt St. Martin breaks down a "production-style" approach to high-end trim work on a three-story Denver addition.
Murus high-performance building enclosures simplify designing sustainable, energy-efficient, and net-zero residential and light commercial buildings. For more information, call 570-549-2100 or visit www.murus.com.
Workshops & Gatherings
AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils
Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.
April 28 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (30 min) - Structural Engineer vs Architect - Design Meeting (0.5 P3 CE)
May 8 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Designing for Lifestyle Trends: Home offices, multigenerational living, and wellness-focused spaces. (1.0 P3 CE)
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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