What to put on an architect’s digital card
- Council of Architecture registration Confirms you are legally entitled to practise as an architect and lets clients verify your standing.
- Studio or practice name Clients often remember the studio rather than the person, so show both consistently across card and website.
- Type of projects Residential, commercial, interiors or institutional work attract different clients, and naming yours filters enquiries.
- Portfolio link Completed projects and plans convince homeowners far more than a description of design philosophy.
- Studio address with map Clients visit for meetings and material samples, and suppliers deliver there, so a precise location matters.
- WhatsApp number Site updates, photos and drawing revisions with contractors and clients mostly move on WhatsApp.
- Services you offer Some clients need full design and supervision, others only drawings for approval; stating your scope prevents mismatched expectations and awkward fee conversations later.
- Project size you take A line like “homes and small commercial buildings” keeps enquiries within the work your practice can handle, and politely turns away the rest before anyone wastes a site visit.
When to share it
- During a site visit with a prospective client, so they can see similar completed projects while standing on their own plot.
- At material showrooms and trade fairs, where suppliers and other professionals want your details for future collaborations.
- Shared with contractors and consultants at the start of a project, so drawings and site queries reach the right person.
- At housing society or institution meetings where a committee is shortlisting architects for renovation or new construction.
What to say when you send it
A card link on its own is easy to ignore. Add a line that reminds the person where you met and what to do next — for example:
Hello Mr and Mrs Shah, thank you for visiting the studio. My card has three completed homes, including the courtyard house we discussed. Share the plot plan and any society rules, and we can schedule a site visit.
Where to put the QR code
- The site board on projects you are supervising, if your client agrees to it.
- Drawing sheets and presentation boards you leave with clients after a meeting.
- Your stall at a home and building materials exhibition, next to a model or printed project.
Mistakes to avoid
- Showing only renders Polished renders look attractive, but clients trust completed work more. Include photographs of built projects and label any render clearly as a design proposal.
- Using “Ar.” without registration The title is protected; using it without valid Council of Architecture registration can lead to action against you. Use it only if you are registered, and keep the number on the card.
- Leaving out how fees are charged Clients worry about open-ended costs. A line like “fees as a percentage of project cost or a lump sum, explained at the first meeting” helps them start the conversation calmly.
Tips for a card that gets saved
- Keep the card as factual and restrained as your professional conduct rules expect: registration, practice details and work, without superlatives or promises about costs or timelines.
- Feature a completed project photograph rather than a render, since clients trust built work, and credit the photographer on your linked portfolio.
- Keep a site-friendly version with large text and a big save-contact button, because contractors often open it outdoors on small phones in bright sunlight.