Name change: an open letter

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 19

Name change: an open letter

By

IAN CUMBERPATCH,

M.N.Z.F.A.D.

As national president of the New Zealand Federation of Architectural Draughtsmen, I take this opportunity to inform and clarify to the public the services our profession offers.

For many years the public perception of the service our profession offers has not been properly understood or recognised. In recent times this has changed through public awareness. We are designers, creating spaces and places for our clients to live and play in, work, and earn in, and most of all to enjoy. As with other professionals in the design sector of the building industry, such as architects, engineers, interior de-

signers, design consultants and others, we have a vital role to play in fulfilling our clients’ needs.

At the 1987 annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Architectural Draughtsmen (Inc), it was decided to change our name to define properly to the public, and our clients, what we as a profession do. A special general meeting in December passed the required resolution and our name was changed to the New Zealand Federation of Architectural Designers (Inc). The name change formality has yet to be completed. It must be clearly understood that members of the N.Z.F.A.D. are not architects or registered architects and do not wish

to be known as such, nor are they draughtsmen merely drawing up plans designed by someone else. Members are designers who offer their clients the complete project service that starts with the ideas, the concepts and the design and is then followed by working drawing documentation, tendering and contract documentation.

By changing our name to the New Zealand Federation of Architectural Designers we will continue to inform the public, our clients, of the services and value we offer to them and will do so without any intent to mislead or deceive anyone. We will be known by the name that most properly describes our profession, that of architectural designers.