residential, commercial, or civic?

All of the above, but residential seems to provide mor oportunity for creativity.

Damn spell check.

if you've got at least 3 years experience (their policy is not to hire entry-level people), try Abramson Teiger, they do nice residential work. If you're very emotionally tough (can take a lot of shit), try Pleskow + Rael, they do both nice residential and commercial. Both are top-notch design-wise, but very small and local.

I like Syndesis, Inc. David Hertz is the principal. He produces modern / experimental projects that are environmentally conscious. For instance, he is building a house now in Ventura county out of an entire 747. I think that would fall under the “experimental” category.

[url=http://www.link.com]link[/Syndesis]

On more try for the link...

Syndesis

ooh, try Koening(sp?) Eizenberg as well. They do fun stuff, but I haven't got time at the mo to search for their site.

Chu Gooding, Patrick Tighe, GRAFT, PATTERNS, Xefirotarch, Level Design, Glynn Design Build, Barbara Bestor,Bonura Building, Standard, Richard Corsini, (M)Arch to name a few. Also, try going to California Architects

Evan- Patrick Tighe laid off recently because of losing some projects, so I wouldn't bank on him.

Corsini's a funny, funny man. That'd be an interesting experience. Great attention to detail.

Thanks, I was familiar with all but Corsini, GRAFT, and Level Design.

Griffin Enright, Johnston Marklee, Alice Kim/John Freidman, Taalman Koch Architecture, SLO (SwiftLee Office)...are Hedge or RAW still around?

oh yes, and Hricak Associates. When you look them up, keep in mind they used to be Rockefeller/Hricak until a couple years ago, so you'll probably find most of their portfolio under that name.

are lubowicki/lanier up to anythign these days?

i like Alice Kim/John Freidman a lot and Callas Shortridge did some interesting work (residental) as well..

but what do you mean by small?! 5?! 10?! or 20?!

I should have been clearer.
The size doesnt really matter, but I don't see myself fitting in well in a corporate hierarchical system, which tends to develop in Larger (>20) firms.