lessons in appropriate concept design, pt II

Perhaps the issue of raising design standards is more a question of taking baby steps toward the type and style of architecture that the practice envisages producing and being associated with. Hiring designers from Foster or Rogers, Meier or Polshek is quite a good indication of the type and style of architecture that a practice wishes to pursue.

That said, it seems almost pointless (if not mis-guided, arrogant, naive or just plain stupid) to suggest designs in a conservative yet changing firm that are too far off the beaten path. Show a future systems or an asymptote project as a design precedent to a conservative principal/boss (or client) and expect to get slapped down - slowly and politely, or straight away.