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. 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. The truth is that I was okay with either option, although I realized that the design intention was much more respected when I was more intensely involved in construction, so I would certainly try to participate if the client agreed to this. Since the interior design industry is constantly changing, many designers specialize in what the trends are, how to use them, and how to educate others about them. If you're interested in creating spaces for people to experience everyday life, an interior design career might be right for you.
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. They advise retailers and manufacturers on interior design trends and carry out essential design and project management services for their clients' clients. In the detailed design phase, interior designers prepare detailed plans for the space, showing the combination of colors, materials, lighting and decorative furniture they recommend. Create design documentation and an FF&E schedule (usually the longest part of the design process for me).
Some designers even work for manufacturers of products made of the materials and furniture used to build the spaces. It'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. Interior designers and interior architects focus more on creating the base of the space, while interior decorators focus on filling the space. The design process may be different for each professional, but their general skills will be similar.
During this phase of a project, I used to work on a retention model, since it gave me some certainty and also helped my clients to budget the expenses of design.
