(What are the frequently asked questions asked by a lot of interior design students to me about interior design practice???
Read on, These are regarding personal homes, business owners, magazines and students, etc. I hope these answers will clarify a lot of doubts about who are or are not related to the Design profession.)
Hi, I am Prashant Kulshreshtha. I am a design director at Ogling Inches Design Architects. I have been practising design since 2009. We work on different kinds of project requirements and scales.
I have been a juror to various college design exams and presenter of our projects at various forums. With a lack of knowledge, school or college students have questions every time I meet them.
I remember when I was a student myself I had no one to guide me regarding this profession. How much does an interior design earn? Is it an easy course? what all need to be read or learn to practice? etc etc.
Here I have tried to answer all of the frequently asked questions by a school student who is thinking to join the course, a college student who has already joined but is not clear about the future, and a degree holder, who doesn’t know how to approach a company or to start his practice.
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As an interior design practice
1. What are your biggest Interior Design problems in the Profession?
Re: There are tons of problems we face while we practice.
The most challenging thing I face in Interior design practice is Time management.
It’s very difficult to handle time when you are working over some projects but at the same time when you design, meet current clients, email replies, meeting future clients, check accounts and analytics, follow up with contractors and sub-consultants.
It is the most challenging thing that Interior designers face. Often there’s too much to do and not enough time.
How I solve It?
I try to plan everything in advance to keep everything on time. Making to-do a list a day before and then tick mark the done task while I keep completing the work one by one.
I Love Evernote for this. It’s a cool App. It helps me to take notes, quick sketch, record audio messages while I drive for a site visit.
In Addition to Evernote, I use google calendar to mark my days and appointments. My mind and Evernote is always filled up with varied things to do, I try to use Google calendar as it sinks all my tasks in one place.
Being on time for every scheduled meet is also Important for time management, as your clients may not like delay in their work. So you need to be Always on time and don’t take unnecessary leaves.
2. Can a commerce student do interior design practice?
Re: Of course, one can! If you have the drive for it then your stream doesn’t really matter.
Besides, being a commerce student can help you to understand the firm’s monetary requirements rationally & in-depth. Matching a client’s requirement and allocated budget is one tough in the designing field which can be handled well if you have a commerce background. After all, running a design business is also about turning what seems a weakness into your strength.
3. What are some budgeted interior design tips?
Re: In case you are on a tight budget, try to keep things minimal. Choose your material palette wisely, avoid adding too many colours to space.
Soft colours for 60% of the walls and one bold accent wall will do the trick. Refurnishing can also be a great idea but not necessarily for all your furniture.
4. Who are some of the best interior designers in the world?
Re: ‘Jean-Louis Deniot‘, based in Paris has been featured in ELLE Decor and AD a number of times and recognized worldwide for his eclectic and refined style.
‘Philippe Stark‘ an Internationally acclaimed French creator takes versatility to a whole new level. His work can be seen in European and American Museums. His interest in furniture design is also very well established. Some of his well-known designs are Flos gun lamp, juicy Salif citrus squeeze, and Louis ghost chair.
5. What are the best books about interior design practice?
Re: ‘Elements of Style’ by Erin Gates is a must-have book for all Interior design enthusiasts. Its unique and practical decorating ideas show us how designing a home can be an outlet of personal expression and self-discovery.
You can buy it from Amazon here.
‘The business of design’ by Keith Garnet; Former consultant at Gensler brings in the basics of managing and running a design firm in his book. With creative illustrations and real-life experiences, this book is divergent and reveals the tools necessary to create and run a thriving design business in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace. This too I bought it from Amazon.
6. Is interior design a bit hard?
Re: Let us be honest, Interior Design is hard even if it’s your passion.
This field is not just about creating stunning spaces but it’s more about managing time, delegating tasks, setting up meetings meeting looming deadlines. Interior designers often end up working in tight turnaround. This is where their management and organizational skills are put to test along with technical expertise.
7. How do we design offices with industrial interior design?
Re: The uncomplicated part with the Industrial scheme is that you don’t need to focus on making the area neat or perfectly symmetrical in every aspect.
This design scheme promotes raw textures such as exposed brick walls, Open ceiling layouts, and some really bold furniture. You can also go vintage by using your old re-purposed furniture or light fixtures but avoid combining unnecessary things.
8. Why do people want to get a decorated individual home or apartment?
Re: Your house is basically the reflection of your own personality & liking.
Everyone wants to make a good impression on visitors, it also adds up to the value of your house. A nicely decorated house plays a major role in deciding your mood and brings positivity to the space around you.
9. What is the most important factor that decides the beauty of a room?
Re: The main factor that decides the beauty of a room is its ‘layout’.
A great color palette with exquisite materials will fail to create an appealing look if the furniture placement is poor & unbalanced.
Different rooms have different requirements ex. if the room is small, One should focus on getting the maximum floor visibility, try painting the walls with light colors, add mirrors & use sheer curtains to create an illusion of a bigger space.
Conclusion :
Read what I saying here, YES! That’s what you wish to hear from your clients once you start your OWN Practice.
Don’t worry too much about jumping in, Just Jump in the sea of Design, you will quickly learn to swim.