In this article, the head of the design studio addresses complex client inquiries, explaining the principles of collaboration with a design studio.
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Infographic: Responsibilities of the interior designer and the client.
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In this article, the head of the design studio answers complex questions from clients of the design studio. Below are the principles of collaboration between the client and the design studio. The goal of the article is to answer typical questions from potential clients.
The contract for interior design development is not helpful
The client misses non-obvious questions that arise when working with a designer. The problem is that designers do not always detail the “pitfalls” to the client during the first organizational meeting:
- the order of interaction.
- a description of the service that the client will receive
- the duration of the service
- the price of the service
The contract is written in bureaucratic language. Therefore, the contract for interior design development is read by lawyers instead of the client, who do not understand the client’s tasks and are unaware of the nuances of the design process. As a result, the parties violate the contract. Problems are “silenced.”
Answers in the contract:
-How many layout options will I have? Can I make changes?
-To create one replanning, the designer from Neoluxe studio makes no less than 6 options, of which we show the client only 3 drawings. We clearly understand the task – we show one option. One task – one correct solution. Only one layout will be seen by the builders. Two out of three options are not suitable. The probability of making a mistake is 33%. According to observations, in 70% of cases, clients choose the simple and obvious option for replanning.
-How long will the design project take?
– In the contract, we specify deadlines without considering the time for project approval. For designing an apartment with an area of 100 square meters – 1.5-2 months.
-What is the payment schedule? How much is the advance payment?
– Payment is divided into installments:
1. 4% (advance payment)
2. 35% (after layout approval)
3. 45% (after image approval)
4. 16% (after project completion)
-What is included in the interior design project?
- Measurement plan
- Planning solution
- Visualization album
- Drawing album for builders
- List of finishing materials
Unanswered questions in the contract:
-Does the designer create the project according to their taste?
-The designer relies on knowledge, experience, and artistic taste. The designer does not impose ideas on the client. The client trusts their ideas more when realized by a professional. The designer’s task is not to impose on the client but to earn trust and help the client make the right choice.
-I can’t decide on the interior style. Can the designer help me? Should the style be suggested by the client or the designer?
-The style defines the appearance of the interior. The client chooses “the right” style with the help of the designer.
The designer shows:
- examples of styles in interiors.
- the differences between styles.
- the distinctions between styling and style.
The interior designer helps the client clearly and understandably formulate their preferences.
As a result, the client and designer develop a shared understanding of the style.
-If funds are limited, can we agree on the budget for which you will create the project?
-The client limits the designer’s creative freedom in the technical assignment:
- Sets the interior style
- Sets the budget limits
- Lists the composition of rooms
- Indicates preferences for materials and colors.
The technical assignment is a list of the client’s requirements for the apartment design. The technical assignment formulates and agrees on ways to solve tasks through the design project.
-To what extent should one intervene in the process once the client has approved the project?
-The client is involved in the creative process: makes adjustments and approves the design. The client of the design studio experiences a pleasant sense of collaborative creativity. The client becomes engaged in the process. This is normal. It is important to know when to stop. Do not create problems – do not make changes to the completed project.
Why the finished design project should not be adjusted.
It is necessary to promptly correct mistakes in the project. Designers are responsible for errors in the project. Adjustments not related to correcting mistakes harm the result in 5 out of 6 cases.
Some drawings in the design project are interrelated. After the designer changes the size of a detail on one sheet and forgets to make changes on other sheets, an error occurs.
In interior design, details are also interconnected. Changing one element disrupts the balance and harms the integrity of the project. It is easier to redo the project than to track disrupted interconnections and find new solutions. Adjustments should only be made to improve the result.
-Do you make adjustments to the project drawings for free if necessary during the renovation and finishing work?
-Designers at Neoluxe correct errors in the project for free. If the reason for the changes is different, each situation is assessed individually.
Sincerely, the head of the Neoluxe design studio, Vladimir Kandalov
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