For the clients who went ahead with more work, who for me probably represented about 90% of the people I met at an initial consultation, the next step in my process was to onboard the client. A customer welcome pack is an incredible resource to have ready to send customers for onboarding. This will immediately improve the professionalism of what you do with your clients and will make an excellent first impression. Review your client onboarding checklist: if you don't have one, you'll find my Client Project Tracker useful, as I have the full list in it.
The conceptual documentation consisted of a combination of drawings created in SketchUp and Layout, which were then presented in a design concept (get my template here)). Prepare the initial conceptual documentation in SketchUp (see here some examples of what I would send) Review and edit your documentation for errors. This is very important, because if you have errors in the documentation, your customers will start to wonder what else could be going wrong with their project (even if nothing else goes wrong). Submit the concept documentation and set up a meeting with the client once you're ready to talk (or, instead, organize a zoom meeting, whichever best fits your business model) Develop detailed design documentation.
Create design documentation and FF&E schedule (usually the longest part of the design process for me). Get my FF&E drag-and-drop template here. Check the documentation for errors (as mentioned above) Some projects get stuck in the documentation phase. Customers decide it's too difficult, too expensive or circumstances simply change.
However, most projects will move to the construction phase once the tender process has been completed. That's when a designer strives to truly understand the client's needs and lifestyle, and how they can better adapt the space for better living. If they design interiors for public buildings, they must ensure that their proposals meet accessibility standards. If you're interested in creating spaces for people to experience day in and day out, an interior design career might be right for you. The truth is that I was okay with either option, although I tended to realize that the design intent was much more respected when I was more involved in construction, so I would definitely try to participate if the client was happy with this.
By going to a client's home and learning about their life, their passions and their future goals, designers can redefine the project based on the client's needs and desires. Some designers even work for manufacturers of products made of the materials and furniture used to build the spaces. They work in interior design firms and in the design departments of retailers, manufacturers, facility management companies and construction companies. Primarily, interior designers are responsible for working alongside clients and meeting their daily needs, following health and safety regulations, meeting accessibility standards, understanding how their work fits a larger community, and planning and completing feasible design projects within specific time frames. In new residential developments, for example, they design the interiors of pilot houses and select elements such as carpets, kitchen and bathroom accessories and color combinations that the developers offer as standard throughout the development.
Designers also work on a contract or permanent basis for retailers and manufacturers of interior products, such as lighting, carpets, kitchens, curtains, and residential and office furniture. You can contact an interior designer for a new construction, either to improve your work environment, fix existing design elements in your home, or create a space that didn't previously exist in your community. Interior designers and interior architects focus more on creating the base of the space, while interior decorators focus on filling the space.
