Why Should You Hire a Designer?
Why Should You Hire a Designer?
We know, we know.. you don’t want an outsider. And what more, to pay an outsider? NO WAY HOSAY.
Steve Jobs famously said that external consultants were the worst because they did not own their client’s problems. In addition, the external consultants are not around to troubleshoot after implementation when more problems surface (and trust me, more problems will! That’s work, eh?).
But wait, consider a couple of these points why you should hire a designer (of any type! Not just interior designers per se):
An inquisitive outsider
A good designer should not have biases. While building a brief to understand you and the space at hand, good designers respect all stakeholders and users of the space. Designers should ask fundamental questions that you might’ve glossed over
They also ask hard questions that you don’t dare to ask... or venture to answer
Of course, an empathetic designer should skillfully weave these questions into the process so that you do not feel threatened by these honest, yet crucial questions.
A genuine relationship between designer and client is accelerated by the designer engineering a safe space with a structured inquiry process. This is paramount for clients to trust designers and project managers with their problems.
Not just a soundboard, but a technical expert
Sure, sometimes, a good designer might sound like your therapist. They ask similar questions like ‘how often will you experience that problem’, or ‘how does this design make you feel’, or ‘what are some positive changes you’d like to see in this space’, or ‘on a scale from 0-10 how content are you with this material’... but designers are more than that.
Designers are trained to use creativity to solve practical problems. They have gone through stacks of projects and have seen similar problems time and time again. You may want to lean on that expertise to solve some of your spatial problems. Some of these solutions might carry other life hacks that can optimise your desired lifestyle.
Depending on how the interior design company is set up, designers who haven’t seen it all should have access to an abundant resource within his/her team. The project and its clients should get a lift through team effort - input from project managers, project directors, technical directors, and even a weekly design critique session would help the designer have a better perspective.
Give your money to a taste-maker
Throwing together random furniture from the internet and Ikea is fun and accessible! But it does not make everyone a professional stylist. Compare a thoughtfully designed product next to something that was, well... not.
We dare say that well designed spaces and products are taken for granted. They blend nicely into our environment, feel natural, perhaps even adds to the experience. Everything. Just. Fits.
Inversely, design-less products and interiors get more attention and a bad rep. They are uncomfortable, laughable, they stick out like sore thumbs, and sometimes, can even make one sick in the tummy.
Some fun guy’s idea of a fungi club chair.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0E8FsB5L5/
A good designer doesn’t just produce ergonomic products, or interiors that ‘work’. Good designers have innate aesthetic intelligence that when given the chance to perform, will be able to conjure up spaces that are plenty delightful and immensely enjoyable.
Illustrations by Maeve
Nicholas Hu
This family man thinks about when his mental allergy to tofu will finally come to an end. He manages a company, therefore he forgets easily, so writing helps.