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.
Want to Enter ARDA but Don’t Have Photos Yet?
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You want to enter the American Residential Design Awards (ARDA), but you do not have professional photos of your projects ready to go. Maybe the shoot is still on your to-do list, the budget is tight, or you are waiting on a photographer’s schedule. Meanwhile, the entry clock is ticking. Without strong images, even your best design work can get overlooked in an awards program. Great plans and brilliant details do not always come through in quick snapshots, harsh lighting, or cluttered rooms. It is easy to feel stuck—knowing you have award-worthy projects but feeling like you cannot compete because you do not have “magazine-quality” photography yet. The good news is you can start building a portfolio of award-ready images using just your smartphone. We have put together a list of blogs and videos specifically about architectural and real estate photography with phones—covering interiors, exteriors, staging, composition, symmetry, and simple editing. These resources will help you capture clear, compelling images of your work so you can confidently submit to ARDA this year. You can explore all of these smartphone photography tips and resources here: Can't wait to see your photos, P.S. When you are ready, get all the details about categories, deadlines, and how to submit your projects here: After you register your first submission (you don't even have to finish the submission), you'll also have access to our ARDA course bundle which includes: How to Take Award Winning Photos with Your Smartphone and How To Create Winning ARDA Entries (2025 Update) |
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.
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. There is something powerful about standing in a city for the very first time and realizing that every building around you carries a story—not just of design and ambition, but of safety, compromise, and consequence. My first visit to New York City last week...
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your time “on the tools” into a long-term design career, today’s AIBD webinar was built for you. This afternoon, we’re hosting “Going from the field (nailing) to the desk (designing) (1.0 P2 CE),” an interactive roundtable on how to move from field operations into the design studio. Led by Dennis Fletcher—who spent 20 years balancing job sites and office work before transitioning fully into design—the session will dig into the real-world challenges of that...
March 23, 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...