Are Architectural Designers an Asset for Developers?

[Tyler Hiatt]

Hello All,

I'm a young designer looking ahead at my career and wondering if there is a more profitable path for me outside of the traditional architectural practice. Currently I design architectural projects of many sizes across the country, but it seems that all of the value (and profit) from my efforts goes to the client. I'm left feeling deflated, and often disappointed at what the end product has been stripped down to. My ideal situation is to fund and design my own projects, seeking out the property, making the deal, and then using good design to generate a solid profit. My question to this community of professionals is this: Is there a value for designers/architects in the real estate/property development arena? Where does "quality in design" fall on your list of priorities? Am I making a valid connection between architecture and real estate?