Top 7 Designer Mistakes
Mistake #1. Ineffective communication with the client
Weak defense of your ideas
This is the biggest mistake and the most significant gap for interior designers.
When studying on courses, a lot of attention is always paid to design, and almost nothing to negotiations with the customer.
Although if you communicate well and can sell any idea, even if you are an average designer, then there will be fewer problems. If, on the contrary, you are a brilliant designer, but you don't know how to communicate, then it will be much more difficult for you to sell your services.
And problems will arise not only at the stage of signing the contract.
While working on a design project, you present and defend your ideas to the customer, communicate with builders and suppliers. And at every stage without communication skills, difficulties will await you.
Rarely in touch
It is recommended to constantly keep in touch with the customer so that he is calm. If you suddenly disappear, then many customers may be seriously worried!
Be in touch and let the initiative in communication come from you.
This is the biggest mistake and the most significant gap for interior designers.
When studying on courses, a lot of attention is always paid to design, and almost nothing to negotiations with the customer.
Although if you communicate well and can sell any idea, even if you are an average designer, then there will be fewer problems. If, on the contrary, you are a brilliant designer, but you don't know how to communicate, then it will be much more difficult for you to sell your services.
And problems will arise not only at the stage of signing the contract.
While working on a design project, you present and defend your ideas to the customer, communicate with builders and suppliers. And at every stage without communication skills, difficulties will await you.
Rarely in touch
It is recommended to constantly keep in touch with the customer so that he is calm. If you suddenly disappear, then many customers may be seriously worried!
Be in touch and let the initiative in communication come from you.
You can not call the client - write in messengers. But don't drop it!
Mistake #2. Unreal project
Anything you come up with will most likely be implemented. Real people will live in the apartment. This is serious.
Everything that you come up with must be 100% realizable in life. If this cannot be done, it is unacceptable to give the project to the client.
Work out every detail! The approach "I came up with it, and the builders will somehow embody it" will inevitably lead to failure. Perhaps this approach is acceptable at the university. There you are given a task - a "virtual" project, but no one is going to implement it. Therefore, you can adjust the numbers - they will not build anyway. In reality, everything is different.
You have to take responsibility for every detail. "I came up with it, and it can definitely be implemented. I'm 100% sure!"
Everything that you come up with must be 100% realizable in life. If this cannot be done, it is unacceptable to give the project to the client.
Work out every detail! The approach "I came up with it, and the builders will somehow embody it" will inevitably lead to failure. Perhaps this approach is acceptable at the university. There you are given a task - a "virtual" project, but no one is going to implement it. Therefore, you can adjust the numbers - they will not build anyway. In reality, everything is different.
You have to take responsibility for every detail. "I came up with it, and it can definitely be implemented. I'm 100% sure!"
Mistake #3. Incorrect layout
Space is not used
Make the most of your space. The layout is considered unfinished if the apartment had a giant corridor, and you left it untouched.
All niches, corridors and other "gifts" from the developer must either be removed or used functionally.
The location of the premises is not thought out
A developer, when building a house, does not think about the location of the premises. It may turn out that the living room will be in the farthest corner from the entrance. This is wrong, and it is worth considering moving it closer.
Inattention
If mistakes are made at the stage of layouts, the whole project can "float". This is a critical step.
The client wants a lot
It also happens that the customer indicated a lot of "wishlists" in the terms of reference, and the designer does not know how to implement them all. He shows the customer the result, with the words: "well, I'm not a magician"!
This is unacceptable! If you have not taken into account everything according to the questionnaire, then the work has not been done. You have to "break your head", but fit everything that the client needs.
If "the office does not fit," then make a working area in the living room and highlight it with a color or flooring structure.
Make the most of your space. The layout is considered unfinished if the apartment had a giant corridor, and you left it untouched.
All niches, corridors and other "gifts" from the developer must either be removed or used functionally.
The location of the premises is not thought out
A developer, when building a house, does not think about the location of the premises. It may turn out that the living room will be in the farthest corner from the entrance. This is wrong, and it is worth considering moving it closer.
Inattention
If mistakes are made at the stage of layouts, the whole project can "float". This is a critical step.
The client wants a lot
It also happens that the customer indicated a lot of "wishlists" in the terms of reference, and the designer does not know how to implement them all. He shows the customer the result, with the words: "well, I'm not a magician"!
This is unacceptable! If you have not taken into account everything according to the questionnaire, then the work has not been done. You have to "break your head", but fit everything that the client needs.
If "the office does not fit," then make a working area in the living room and highlight it with a color or flooring structure.
Mistake #4. Don't take budget into account
If you have not taken into account the client's budget, then your design is useless. Because the client won't buy it anyway, won't install it and won't live in it.
Offer up-to-date options and always know the estimated budget in advance. Getting into it is your responsibility.
Offer up-to-date options and always know the estimated budget in advance. Getting into it is your responsibility.
Mistake #5. 3D-Renderings without details
When you have made a 3D visualization, it is important to look at it not from the point of view of functionality, but from the point of view of habitability.
Before presenting the project to the customer, decorate the "raw" picture with household items: put a stack of towels in the bathroom, put a plate of fruit on the kitchen table, and a vase of flowers on the chest of drawers.
It is difficult for a client to imagine himself in a "raw" picture. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the photorealism of the visualization itself, it is important to "breathe life into it."
Before presenting the project to the customer, decorate the "raw" picture with household items: put a stack of towels in the bathroom, put a plate of fruit on the kitchen table, and a vase of flowers on the chest of drawers.
It is difficult for a client to imagine himself in a "raw" picture. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the photorealism of the visualization itself, it is important to "breathe life into it."
Mistake #6. Brief construction drawings
When you create working drawings, make them as detailed as possible. So that anyone can understand what you mean and what you want to do.
Write explanations, always indicate the dimensions and decoding of symbols.
Don't forget to indicate that "there will be a chandelier here," even if it seems obvious. Because it may be obvious to you, but not to the builder. "These designers can hang 2 chandeliers! How do I know?!" he would say, and he would be right.
Write explanations, always indicate the dimensions and decoding of symbols.
Don't forget to indicate that "there will be a chandelier here," even if it seems obvious. Because it may be obvious to you, but not to the builder. "These designers can hang 2 chandeliers! How do I know?!" he would say, and he would be right.
Mistake #7. Lack of control over purchases
Lack of control over customer purchases
During the selection and purchase of furniture and materials, control the customer so that he does not buy too much. The designer must ensure that only what is needed for the project, suitable in size, color and texture, is purchased.
After all, the customer, when he enters the salon, instantly turns into a child. Everything is so beautiful and stylish there that he wants to buy everything at once. And if you overlook it, then in 10 minutes the client will come running and say, "I found the chandeliers! That's it, I want these!"
It does not matter that this chandelier is 3 times larger and does not fit into the design style at all.
Lack of control over the offers of salon representatives
Sometimes managers in salons impose what they need to sell, and not what you need with the client according to the project. Control this and do not settle for buying unnecessary items. Take only what you have planned!
During the selection and purchase of furniture and materials, control the customer so that he does not buy too much. The designer must ensure that only what is needed for the project, suitable in size, color and texture, is purchased.
After all, the customer, when he enters the salon, instantly turns into a child. Everything is so beautiful and stylish there that he wants to buy everything at once. And if you overlook it, then in 10 minutes the client will come running and say, "I found the chandeliers! That's it, I want these!"
It does not matter that this chandelier is 3 times larger and does not fit into the design style at all.
Lack of control over the offers of salon representatives
Sometimes managers in salons impose what they need to sell, and not what you need with the client according to the project. Control this and do not settle for buying unnecessary items. Take only what you have planned!
