Look for work like yours, and for the story behind it
Photographs show how a model looks. Project descriptions show what it was for. A model for a proposal interview, a design competition and a marketing center each have a different job, and a good maker can explain the choices behind each one. Our own project pages describe the brief first, such as Buena Vista, where the building blocks peg in and out so the presenters could rearrange them, and the HOK competition site model, where a restrained white finish keeps attention on the architecture.
Ask how it will be built
Different parts of a model call for different methods. Our shop combines 3D printing, CNC milling and laser cutting with hand building and finishing, so one team can match each part to the job and keep the finish consistent across them. Ask any maker which methods they use in-house and which they send out.
Notice what they ask you
Plans, elevations or a 3D file are very helpful, but the best early questions are about people: who will see the model, where it will be displayed, how close visitors will stand, and what they need to understand. A maker who goes straight to a price without asking those questions may be guessing.
Talk through the details that cause surprises
Ask about schedule, how changes are handled once building starts, who you’ll talk to, and how the model gets to you. At Archetype3D, you review the finished work before it is packed and shipped. We ship worldwide and can help plan packing, delivery and on-site installation. For a sense of what shapes cost and timing, see what a custom scale model costs and how long a model takes.
Ask what happens after the presentation
A model may stay on display for years. Ask about the base, a protective cover and who can repair it later. We also repair, clean and refurbish models. (See model repair and refurbishment.)
Questions to ask an architectural model maker
- Can I see projects with a similar purpose, and what the brief was?
- Which methods do you use in-house?
- What do you need from me to start, and what can you do if I only have an early idea?
- How do you handle changes after work begins?
- Who will I talk to during the project, and when do I review the model?
- How will the model be packed, shipped and installed?
- Who can maintain or repair it later?
For an example, see our HOK Competition Site Model project. We also have architectural models in the portfolio.