The business of architecture and design can be as complicated and mysterious as the design process itself. For emerging architects and designers, the key is to learn from others. Carolina Álvarez Arellano, associate director at TURNER, has built her career on human-centric, community-focused design through the delivery of residential and mixed-use projects in Australia. Here, Álvarez Arellano shares her knowledge of successfully navigating the sector with ADR.

Securing significant mixed-use development work as an emerging or smaller architecture practice can seem daunting, especially when competing against established firms with extensive portfolios. However, success in this space isn’t solely about experience – I’ve learned that any architect can tackle these projects. It’s not just about proving you can handle large projects – it’s about showing that your creative and problem-solving skills can adapt to any scale.

These are my top five tips for emerging architecture practices seeking to work on mixed-use projects.

1. Employ the power of networking

One of the most important aspects of building a profile as a smaller or emerging practice is networking. Architecture, at its core, is about problem-solving. If you can solve design challenges, then you can work on any project, regardless of its scale or complexity. But the opportunity to prove your capabilities often comes from who you know and the relationships you build.

For emerging practices, forming connections within the industry – whether through professional associations, local council collaborations, or even design competitions – is essential. Developers, larger firms and potential collaborators need to know who you are and what you can offer. Being visible to developers and other architects allows you to position yourself for those crucial opportunities that can lead to larger projects.

2. Collaborate with larger practices

In my own experience, TURNER has benefited immensely from collaborating with smaller practices. We’ve worked with small firms of only a few people and found them to bring many fresh, unbounded ideas to the table. These partnerships allow smaller firms to scale up their resources and experience while contributing creatively to the design process.

Participating in design competitions is another powerful way for smaller firms to build their portfolio and win larger projects. Competitions give smaller firms the platform to showcase their skills, creativity and ability to work on significant work, often without the same financial and resourcing impacts that commercial projects can have on a small team. Collaborating with larger practices on these competitions can open doors to future opportunities, allowing smaller firms to learn from more structured processes and access the resources of larger practices.

This kind of partnership also benefits larger firms like ours. For us, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship – both parties learn from each other, and together, we can produce better design outcomes. Seeing how smaller teams approach design with fresh perspectives broadens our own creative processes. Each competition is an opportunity to learn, and the diversity of approaches encourages growth on both sides.

3. Speak a developer’s language

When it comes to securing mixed-use development work, a key challenge for any architecture firm is negotiating effectively with developers. Every developer is different, and the trick is to understand what drives them, whether it’s a focus on a project’s economic feasibility or a passion for creating something beautiful.

Some developers are driven by a desire to create positive community impact and prioritise design excellence. With these clients, it’s important to communicate the value of beautiful spaces and how good design can enhance the overall experience of a development. Other developers might be more focused on the bottom line: how many apartments can you fit on a site? How much will it cost? In these cases, architects need to speak the developer’s language and explain how design decisions can affect profitability.

In my experience, the most successful projects occur when you tailor your communication to fit the developer’s priorities. This doesn’t mean compromising your values, but rather translating them in a way that aligns with the developer’s goals. Once you have a developer on board, they’ll follow you through the project, trusting your expertise to bring their vision to life.

4. Design everything with purpose

It’s very common to encounter a situation where the budget becomes a significant constraint during a project. One memorable case involved a mixed-use project, where we wanted to create something both cost-effective and beautiful (a challenge in itself). The brief was to take inspiration from old industrial warehouses and our interpretation translated to the use of bricks and arches as central elements. These features weren’t just aesthetic – they served practical purposes as well. The brick, for example, was low-maintenance and would age beautifully over time without needing repainting or repairs. The arches were integral to the structural design, echoing the heritage of the warehouse aesthetic.

When the inevitable value engineering process arrived, there was very little that could be removed from the design. Every element served a purpose. This approach – where every design feature is functional and integral to the concept – meant that even under cost pressure, we retained the essence of the project. The lesson here for smaller practices is to design with purpose and ensure every feature justifies its place. Then when budget challenges arise, the project’s core elements remain intact.

5. Communication is key

Throughout my career, I’ve found that almost every problem, whether related to budget, design, or construction, can be solved through effective communication. It’s essential to build trust with your clients and collaborators. For smaller practices, maintaining open lines of communication with developers, contractors and other stakeholders is critical to navigating the complexities of mixed-use projects.