Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson? Who’s the Right Fit for Your Home?
If you’re planning a new home, extension or renovation in Tasmania, you’re probably not quite sure where to start.
Do you talk to a builder first?
Do you need a designer before that?
And what is the difference between an Architect, Building Designer and Draftsperson anyway?
I get it - it’s confusing. Let’s clear it up in simple terms.
Great Design Isn’t About Job Titles
For homes, what matters most isn’t the label, it’s:
Experience with real homes and real people
Understanding Tasmanian planning and building regulations
Knowing how things are actually built
Being able to balance design, budget, approvals and buildability
And listening properly to how you live - not just how your project looks on paper
Different professionals get there via different pathways, and that’s okay.
The goal is to find a design professional you feel comfortable working with, and who genuinely understands your project.
Licensing and Roles in Tasmania
In Tasmania, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) requires all architects and building designers to be licensed to provide services. Licensing ensures the practitioner has appropriate qualifications, experience, and professional indemnity insurance.
The key difference between licence classes is the scope of work they’re permitted to undertake.
Architects
Architects are university-qualified and registered professionals. They hold an open licence, meaning they can work across residential and commercial projects of unrestricted size - provided they’re acting within their area of competence.
They’re often a great fit for:
Custom homes with complex briefs
Public buildings
Large commercial projects over 2000m²
Highly conceptual or technically complex work
Architects must be registered by the Board of Architects of Tasmania and also hold an occupational licence through CBOS.
Building Designers
Building designers are trained in building design and documentation, often through a mix of formal qualifications, registration pathways and hands-on industry experience. Many building designers in Tasmania (myself included) are university-qualified with a degree in Architecture.
There are three licensing tiers:
Domestic:
Covers standard residential work - typically Class 1 and 10 buildings (houses and sheds).
Requires a Certificate IV in Building Design Drafting (AQF 4) and two years’ relevant experience.Limited:
Allows work on all classes of buildings, residential and commercial.
Commercial buildings are limited to two storeys or a maximum floor area of 2000m².
Requires a Diploma in Building Design (AQF 5) and two years’ relevant experience.Restricted:
Allows work on all classes of buildings, residential and commercial.
Commercial buildings may be up to three storeys, with a maximum floor area of 2000m².
Includes refurbishments of any storey, including buildings over three storeys.
Requires an Advanced Diploma in Building Design (AQF 6) and three years’ relevant experience.
Building designers are commonly engaged for:
New custom homes and multi-residential projects
Extensions and renovations
Commercial projects such as retail shops, cafés, bars, clinics, offices, showrooms and warehouses
Projects where practicality, budget and buildability matter just as much as aesthetics
Draftspersons
This is where terminology can get confusing.
In Tasmania, a draftsperson must meet licensing requirements to act as a licensed building designer. In practice, many draftspersons fall within the Domestic Building Designer category, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
The distinction often comes down to service focus rather than capability.
Draftspersons are typically engaged when:
The design is already resolved
Plans need to be documented or amended
The project doesn’t require extensive design input or strategic advice
Choosing The Right Professional In Tasmania
Tasmania has its quirks, and your designer needs to understand them.
Most residential and commercial projects here involve:
Local council planning schemes
Bushfire, wind, soil and other environmental considerations
Coordination with consultants, engineers and building surveyors
Navigating planning and building approval pathways smoothly
The question isn’t which title someone holds, but whether they:
Are appropriately registered for the work they’re doing
Regularly work on projects like yours
Understand your local council and approval processes
Can guide you confidently from early ideas through to build-ready drawings
Can a Building Designer Do What An Architect Does?
For residential projects - yes, usually they can.
The main limitation is when a project exceeds 2000m² in size or moves into certain large-scale commercial categories.
Many building designers specialise entirely in homes. We work on them every day, designing for real budgets, real families and real Tasmanian conditions - and we stay closely connected to how things are actually built.
The biggest differences between the various licensing categories are often around design education, capability and service focus.
How I work at Tahleah Hoyle Design
At Tahleah Hoyle Design, the focus is on creating homes that you genuinely love to live in, and;
Feel good
Make sense financially
Are thoughtfully designed and straightforward to build
Respect the site, climate and way you use your space
I work holistically - combining thoughtful building design and interior design from the start.
That means I’m thinking about the smaller, essential things inside your home like:
Layout, light and circulation
Joinery, storage and finishes
How spaces connect and function day to day
Not just whether something looks good, but whether it will work long-term
I’m not here for ego projects or “grand design” moments if you aren’t. I’m here for people, and for homes that support the way they live.
If you’re planning a residential project in Tasmania and aren’t sure who you actually need, I hope this has helped. A short conversation early on can save a lot of confusion later.
And if I’m not the right fit? I’ll tell you that too - and help point you in the right direction.
A good place to start is asking yourself:
“Do I feel like this designer understands me and will meet all of my design needs?”
