Design Management and Coordination
Can Interior Designers manage designing and coordination?
In fact, interior designers gain in a lot of knowledge when they coordinate projects from start to finish. There are various stages of design management, let us go through them:
1. Stage One:
The Initial Meeting with clients helps the designer understand the project work. Recently even clients are well aware of the subject and wish to be more involved in the process. The information collected here helps define the brief and gain the client's confidence and decide on your fee structure. The Proposal is given to the client so that he can expect a breakdown of all the services along with detailed terms and conditions. A designer should be ready to negotiate at the time as per various constraints.
2. Stage Two:
An important task is always to Survey and Measure the site earlier for the creative process. It should be comprehensive and meticulous as extra hours spent on site can save us checking the details and supplementary information later in the project.
The favorite part is the Creative process of deciding on a concept, moving on to planning and designing it on paper and finally the design presentation. While designing for a client, the idea should give the essence of the clients brief and clarify the mood.
A scaled furniture layout is drafted out on a computer which helps in the basis of the Planning Process along with sketches. Once a design is final it is moved further on for client presentation along with the material board.
A Presentation to the client is a form of communication to show that you value the client's project and helps gain their confidence. The content and structure are essential in a presentation like an introduction, main structure, and the conclusion. It is also vital to pitch in correctly, so it does not become a deal breaker. At times the designs are signed off straight away, but at times further adaptation is required, and it is worth having those adjustments done.
3. Stage Three:
It is time to Implement the designs in detail. Working drawings, detail drawings are prepared to form tender quotation for the contractors.
Designing takes in a lot of time and effort to specific every minute details of the project in drawings through elevations, detail drawings, etc. Samples of the materials and finishes are collected for references and all these later forms as a bible while executing the project.
Tenders and Quotations are prepared along with the above-collected details to get quotes from 2/3 or as many contractors. Post which the estimates are run through the client for the final selection. Mostly the contract is formed between the client and the contractor rather than the designer and the contractor.
Simultaneously, the complete drawing set is submitted to various local authorized government entities for the Permissions and Approvals for any interior work. To check if any external extensions or proposed changes are permitted.
4. Stage Four:
A designer project manages the site in Coordination with a project manager. Project management is a whole new chapter which we will discuss in our future articles. A designer can do it by being updated on the development of the site, having regular meetings on site with the client and various contractors and consultants, try to resolve any problem that arises on site; proper communication is the key. This stage helps a designer in understanding the various works and actual details of it on site.
A designer also needs to take care of all the bought-out items of furniture’s and furnishing along with proper installation as per the final estimate approved.
Stage Five:
Site completion and Handover, just before the final handover a designer needs to check the site thoroughly for any snags, so it can be rectified. It does impress the client that everything is well taken care of as committed.
A final docket of all the drawings, final invoices, warranties, authority approvals, essential contact numbers is given to the client which adds to the professionalism of the overall project.
A qualified designer will carefully measure the success of the project through the client’s reaction.
So, do you think you have it in you to be a qualified interior designer and understand the know-how of the industry?
Rеасh out to us on social media or in the соmmеntѕ below and let us know what you think.
