When writing my articles, I often recommend that my readers employ a “qualified
designer”. But what does this mean? I consider myself qualified of course, but
generally speaking, a qualified designer is one who is:
- Educated
- Experienced
- Talented
- Good listener
- Connected
- Compatible
- Recommended
EDUCATED
There is no substitute for a formal education in interior
design. While education will not
necessarily give someone “talent”, it is crucial to understanding the different
aspects of the trade. In an accredited
design program today, courses include: architectural drafting; building codes
and standards; color theory; different materials and applications; textiles; furniture
design and history; lighting design; green design; commercial design; ADA
compliance; universal design; environmental psychology; business; and
more. Many people assume that an
interior design education is merely learning which colors go together, and how
to create a room furniture layout. These
sorts of things do not require formal education. Schools that are FIDER or CIDA accredited
will comply with the highest educational standards in interior design.
EXPERIENCED
As with education, there is no substitute for
experience. Working in the real world directly
with clients and contractors refines and adds to the skills acquired in formal
training. Do not assume however that a
designer with 30 years experience will automatically be BETTER than a designer
with 10 years experience. That is a
matter of talent. There are some “designers”
that have been in the business for over 30 years that are unable to read a
floor plan. This is why it is important
for a “qualified designer” to meet a variety of requirements.
TALENTED
No amount of education and experience will give a designer
natural talent. “Talent” is the ability
to deliver a truly pleasing design to a wide variety of clientele. Of course, talent is in the eye of the
beholder. That is where portfolios come
into play. When hiring a photographer, one
does not hire based on education and experience alone. One MUST view the photographer’s portfolio to
determine if their style is compatible with one’s preference. You may find 5 excellent photographers, but
they will all have different techniques, and those techniques will identify
which one is best for you. It is the
same for interior designers. They can
have all the education and experience in the world, but if their technique just
does not go with your preferences, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere.
GOOD LISTENER
This is probably the most critical aspect of qualifying a
designer. If a designer has impeccable
talent, education and experience, but is not a good listener, they cannot
possibly produce a design that is best for you.
If a prospective designer talks more than he/she listens, it is not a
good sign. A good designer will want to
make sure you are 100% comfortable before final decisions are made.
CONNECTED
A connected designer usually has a list of reputable contractors
and vendors that he/she refers on projects.
Vendors include custom cabinet makers, furniture manufacturers, art
galleries, drapery companies, etc.
Contractors include architects, builders, carpenters, electricians,
plumbers, painters and miscellaneous specialists for interior work. The point of a designer having connections is
to save the client time and stress. If
the client needs to sift through the phone book for contractors, make
appointments for dozens of bids, and visit dozens of various showrooms, it does
not reduce, but ADDS to stress. As a
full service designer, I coordinate and supervise estimates and installs, and
do all the research and product selection on behalf of my client. I also have connections with various vendors
that allow me to save the client money as well.
Designer discounts and connections are part of the advantage of hiring a
qualified designer.
COMPATIBLE
A qualified interior designer needs to be open to new ideas
and different styles. Your home should
not be part of a typical routine, but a brand new concept that is customized to
your style and personality. Whether your
style is modern, very traditional, or somewhere in between, the designer needs
to accommodate that easily and gracefully.
If the client consists of a couple, or a family of five, the designer
must be compatible with all the individuals to deliver the most functional and
suitable results. If a client is
wheelchair bound or vision-impaired, the designer must be familiar with ADA/special
needs design/universal design to have a good sense of the design approach
needed. Formal education will usually
include this in the curriculum. In
addition to compatibility with the client, a qualified designer needs to be
compatible with the CONTRACTORS working on the project. This is one advantage of hiring a designer
with connections, is it is already pre-determined that the designer and
contractors will work well together.
RECOMMENDED
It is reassuring to the client when a designer can provide a
list of testimonials and references.
Despite how photos may appear in a designer’s portfolio, that does not
necessarily mean that the client was pleased, or that the project went
smoothly. The professionalism of a “qualified
designer” will mainly be determined by client reviews, not a portfolio. It is good to ask for references if you are
deciding on a designer for your home improvement project.
In conclusion, when selecting an interior designer, it is
important to fully understand what “qualified” means. The candidate should be considered by ALL the
above criteria. Interview them and see
if you are compatible. It should be very
obvious in an interview whether a designer is right for you. Trust your intuition, but be sure to ask
about all the above mentioned. Regarding
fees, do not assume that more expensive is better, or that less expensive is
poor quality. If you are considering
employing a qualified professional interior designer for your next project, I
would be pleased to meet with you for an interview and initial
consultation. 925-895-1336
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