Susanna Sirefman
Dovetail Design Strategists is the leading independent architect selection firm in the United States servicing developers, civic, cultural and educational institutions looking for world-class architecture and design excellence. Dovetail's founder, Susanna Sirefman, is trained as an architect and draws from extensive knowledge of the latest design and building trends and unmatched access to both emerging and acclaimed talent in the architecture field. Dovetail's signature methodology and competitive selection process, tailored to each project, thoughtfully leads its clients to inspired architect shortlists and winning designs as they prepare for growth and enhanced visibility.
Live your passion
March 4, 2021
While studying to be an architect at the Architectural Association in London, Susanna was commissioned to write a book on contemporary architecture in Chicago. She spent the summer before her final year at school exploring over 228 square miles of Chicago and meeting with almost every single architect in her book, which featured 100 contemporary buildings. Her comprehensive and design excellence-focused approach laid the foundations for her perspective on architecture, and many years later, the groundwork for founding her company, Dovetail Design Strategists.
Following the publication of her first book, Susanna built a career that included writing four more books on contemporary architecture and teaching at the university level, while maintaining a demanding schedule of visiting projects and meeting with architects all over the world. People constantly asked Susanna what architect they should use for their projects, but she knew that you cannot recommend an architect as you would a doctor. Architect selection necessitates a carefully crafted process. Establishing the right team makes for a much smoother construction process, improves longevity for both building and organization, and is the catalyst for world-class architecture.
Susanna identified a gap in our industry—the need for clarity and guidance in selecting the right architecture firm for the right project.
Dovetail today is the leading independent architect selection firm in the States, and helps clients realize their visions and harness the full potential of a project. Ultimately, Susanna forged a unique career path through her unwavering passion and belief in design excellence, creating a new line of business that allows her to remain a fierce advocate for architects.