Many architects aren’t leaving the profession because they’ve lost their passion, but because the role no longer supports them emotionally, financially, or professionally.

Fees are collapsing, salaries are poor, and the core responsibilities of architects are being chipped away. Unqualified designers undercut the market, clients can’t always tell the difference, and developers and contractors are increasingly taking over key design and technical decisions.

The result? Architects carry more liability while having less influence, for ever-diminishing fees. Talented professionals are pushed into low-value work under intense pressure, producing far more than they are paid for.

Where architects once led conversations on design quality, sustainability, and public safety, they’re now often brought in late to validate decisions made by others. This isn’t progress—it’s decline.

If the profession doesn’t defend its purpose, authority, and responsibility to safeguard the public, architects risk becoming underpaid, last-minute consultants who are blamed when things go wrong.

This is about value, not ego. Architecture is a regulated profession because buildings shape people’s safety, wellbeing, and the environment. We must reassert our role, defend standards, and insist on fair fees for skilled, accountable work.

Protecting the function of the architect is essential for dignity, survival, and ensuring the next generation can build a viable career. A profession that won’t defend its purpose cannot thrive.