Alison Brooks is the director of Alison Brooks Architects, a London-based practice known for generous and inclusive city-building supported by uniquely sculptural design.

In this episode, Alison and Dave discussed:

• The challenges of participating in design competitions, and how the need to produce so much more and satisfy stringent criteria compared to the early days, creates barriers for emerging practices.
• The important role competitions play in their business, and how they think strategically about selecting the right competitions to invest time and resources in.
• The challenges she faced establishing her practice as a Canadian in the UK, and how she was able to develop new client relationships without relying on an existing network.
• Why Alison believes higher education projects offer some of the best opportunities for architects, because the clients are highly motivated to be at the forefront of design, technology and sustainability.
• The value of developing an ability to write as a way to articulate your ideas as an architect, and why Alison often finds herself spending more time writing than designing.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit alisonbrooksarchitects.com or follow them on Instagram at @alisonbrooksarchitects.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.