Picking a design, or a design team? The role of reflective practice and team learning in architecture competitions

Abstract This paper examines the role of Reflective Practice and Team Learning when architecture teams pitch their proposals in a design competition. Pitching proposals is significant to architects because pitching designs in competitions is one of the ways architects procure jobs. Previous researchers used the principles of Reflective Practice to describe how teams design together. This study adds to those works by using the principles of Reflective Practice to describe how teams communicate their design to clients. Additionally, this case study introduces team learning concepts to describe how clients perceive design teams when pitching their proposal. In 2018, we observed six architecture teams pitch their design in an architecture competition, analysed the documents presented, and interviewed the jury. Results revealed that the winning team demonstrated the most Framing, Moving and Evaluating language in their pitch. They were also perceived to have demonstrated the most team learning behaviours amongst all the competitors.