Working toward fairer professional architectural practice is an ongoing uphill climb in the industry, but which practices are already getting it right? The Architecture Lobby recently co-launched an initiative called JustDesign.Us, a certification process to distinguish architecture firms with exemplary labor practices, including fair pay, family-friendly policies, diversity, transparency, and agency.

Certification is a two-stage process. In Stage I, employees who want to nominate their firm will answer an online questionnaire — which The Architecture Lobby, the Yale School of Architecture’s Equity in Design, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Women in Design developed. Submissions will remain anonymous. 

Image via justdesign.us.

In the second stage, JustDesign.Us will ask the nominated firms corresponding questions that may lead to certification (endorsed by the JustDesign.Us partners and affiliated organizations like SEED, ArchiteXX, and the American Colleges and Schools of Architecture). Currently, the initiative's website doesn't give much detail on evaluation methodologies and who specifically will be evaluating the firms in this stage. Once a firm is certified, there will be ongoing follow-up annually.

Nominations will be accepted continuously, but those submitted by July 15, 2017 will be considered for the first “class” of certification. The first list of certified firms is expected to be released this December.*

Want to nominate your firm? You can start the process here, or find more info at JustDesign.Us.

*Update 5/8/17: This post has been amended to include deadlines.