CHOOSING A
DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
By Gay N.
Lewis
Before I became a published author with Prism Book Group, I worked as an interior designer. Sarah: Laney's Angel, my second book in the Sarah series, is about a Houston designer who works for a builder. I drew from my personal experiences as I wrote the book.
When I worked in the profession, I found that choosing
a design expert was a daunting experience for most people. I wrote the following criteria to help clients choose the appropriate specialist.
When choosing a design professional,
one needs to consider experience, personality, budget, style and fees.
EXPERIENCE. How long has the professional been in the
design field? Does he or she have access
to manufacturers, retailers, and contractors?
Does a portfolio exist? Can he or
she give references?
PERSONALITY. Is the professional willing to work with the
client’s personality? Does the
professional have an agreeable personality?
Does the professional comprehend the needs the client presents? Is he or she critical of existing
surroundings? Does he or she make the
client feel inadequate? Is the
professional’s personality one the client is comfortable with?
BUDGET. After deciding the budget, the client should
make sure the professional understands the financial guidelines. Understanding a budget can prevent heart aches
later. Some professionals present
furniture, accessories, and other ideas that are too costly. Clients sometimes find it embarrassing to
say, “That isn’t in my budget.” When a
professional presents ideas outside the budget guidelines, a client often feels
let down because it is something they cannot have at that time.
STYLE. Is the professional current and comfortable
with a variety of styles? If the
professional doesn’t enjoy working with a preferred style, or doesn’t seem to recognize
that style, have him or her recommend another designer. If the client doesn’t have a design
preference in mind, is the professional willing to help the client define a
style?
FEES. This is important. Ask the designer how much
the fee is and how and when it is to be paid.
Some designers “double dip,” that is to say they charge a fee on top of
commissions they receive from vendors. A
few choose an hourly rate. Others markup purchases they make for a client and
their fee is the difference in price.
Agree on the fee. Is there a
contract to be signed? Is there a
retainer required for the professional’s services? Understand from the beginning the designer’s charges,
and include them in the budgeting process.
Working with a design professional
is a rewarding experience. It saves
money, relieves a client of distasteful choices, and saves the client
time. The designer is able to give
the client an aesthetic surrounding that accommodates the client’s style, is
pleasing to the eye, and well within the client’s budget.
I'll post future design tips, and I hope you'll read Sarah: Laney's Angel. It's a lighthearted work of fiction based upon the life of a designer.
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