Fats collaborative process is driven by the technologies of communication. Concepts and images derived from many sources, including fine art, television, advertising, film, literature, music, philosophy as well as from clients are collaged, juxtaposed and superimposed to create new meanings which are then developed architecturally. This precipitates an architecture which is dialectical and content based rather than formal and which accommodates the chance element in opposition to supposedly rational processes. This seemingly banal fact is of utmost importance to the new generation of architectural practices whose methods are interdisciplinary and whose medium is content not form. Content is rich and can be achieved on a budget.
Formalism is arcane and expensive to boot.
The influence of the group extends beyond architecture, as demonstrated by the publication of its work in magazines like ID, the Face, Dazed and Confused, national and local news papers such as the Guardian, the Independent, the Sunday Times and the Evening Standard. Fat has largely succeeded in its aim of reaching a wide audience and recognition of its influence is demonstrated by numerous of television appearances as well as a prolific coverage in the architectural press. The Fat example of approach and attitude has been the model for other representatives of a new kind of critical interdisciplinary practice. As such Fat represents the architectural practice of the future which is increasingly displacing current definitions of architectural practice. In addition Fat has created editorial content for innovative publications such as Mute and Pulp Faction.