Architecture relies heavily on the careful balance of great design and the right technical tools. When your software dictates your limitations, it is time to rethink your approach. At GB-A, we constantly look for ways to work smarter, design better, and empower our designers.
Recently, we made a significant structural change to support this vision. We transformed our traditional BIM Manager position into a brand-new role: Design Technology Lead. Wayne Clarkson, our newly appointed Design Technology Lead, recently sat down to share the backstory of this transition.
Moving Beyond Software Management
Historically, a BIM (Building Information Modelling) Manager handles the technical oversight of specific BIM authoring platform, primarily ensuring models meet project standards. While crucial, this role often remains highly niched. Wayne saw an opportunity to push GB-A further.
He championed a movement to upskill the entire company, recognising that the traditional BIM role needed a much stronger alignment with actual design processes and keeping in line with industry leaders.
“The BIM Manager role can be very niched,” Wayne explains. “Someone in my position goes well beyond BIM, looking after quality, IT, and a much more diverse range of software—like Autodesk, Rhino, and others.”
This transition shifts the focus from simple software management to strategic design enablement. By becoming more software-agnostic, GB-A eliminates double handling and increases overall efficiency. We no longer tie ourselves to a single platform. Instead, we ensure our team has access to the exact tools they need to achieve the absolute best design outcomes.
What Does a Design Technology Lead Do?
A Design Technology Lead serves as a vital bridge between creative design, technical execution, and digital innovation. This position provides both strategic direction and hands-on leadership.
Instead of acting solely as a support mechanism, the Design Technology Lead drives practice-wide influence. Key responsibilities of this expanded ecosystem leadership include:
- Overseeing advanced technologies – Evaluating and adopting the best new tools on the market.
- Optimising workflows – Streamlining processes to eliminate friction for the design team.
- Developing high-performing teams – Upskilling staff across the entire digital ecosystem.
- Acting as a key translator – Bridging the communication gap between design, engineering, and executive leadership.
This holistic approach ensures that technology actively increases design quality and builds long-term organisational capability, rather than just solving day-to-day software challenges.
Fostering Creativity Through Automation
When you ask Wayne what excites him most about stepping into this new role, his answer focuses squarely on the people at GB-A. He wants to get the team thinking holistically about the tools they use every day.
“I’m looking forward to bringing what is out there into the practice to see how we can get the best outcomes,” Wayne says. “I want to expand the team’s knowledge and upskill us as a whole.”
One of his primary goals is to remove the mundane, repetitive tasks that often drag down the architectural process. By introducing smart automation and better technological workflows, the team can step away from endless production cycles.
Wayne believes that work has to be enjoyable. When you automate the tedious aspects of project delivery, designers can return to what they do best: investigating design, exploring creative solutions, and letting their true talent shine. Seeing the team enjoy their projects more deeply remains a core objective of this role transition.
Adapting to an Evolving Industry
The tools we use to design and build are constantly evolving. Falling behind is simply not an option. Adapting with these changes keeps our knowledge base updated and ensures we fully utilise all the tools we invest in. For GB-A, this digital evolution guarantees we continue to create outstanding results for our clients.
“We don’t want to get stuck behind everyone else,” Wayne notes. “To keep doing great work, we need to look at ways we can be efficient and cost-effective without ever compromising quality and design. By expanding from Revit oversight to holistic digital ecosystem leadership, we ensure that creativity remains at the forefront of our practice.”
Wayne’s role as Design Technology Lead guarantees that we do not just react to new technology, we actively harness it to push the boundaries of what our architecture can achieve.
Looking Ahead
The transition from BIM Manager to Design Technology Lead marks a pivotal moment for GB-A. We are breaking down the silos between IT and creative design, building a culture where technology actively serves our architectural vision.
Are you interested in seeing how our innovative workflows translate into incredible design outcomes? Explore our latest projects to see our digital ecosystem in action or reach out to our team to discuss how our approach can help bring your next project to life.
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