As a commercial interior designer, you have to balance your own creative vision with the needs and preferences of your clients. How do you adapt your style to suit different types of projects, industries, and budgets? In this article, we'll share some tips and strategies to help you achieve this goal.
The first step to adapting your style is to understand your client's brand identity, values, and goals. What is their mission, vision, and culture? How do they want to communicate with their customers, employees, and partners? What are their unique selling points and differentiators? By asking these questions, you can get a clear picture of what your client wants to achieve and how they want to be perceived through their interior design.
As an Interior Designer I always enjoyed tuning into the customers taste and needs. One way I would draw ones out was to give them a selection of good design magazines and ask them to tear out anything that attracted them. Not to worry about continuity or if the picture was exactly what they wanted but only if they were attracted to it, leave the interpretation up to me. It was always very revealing and successful in interpretating their taste. The pictures tell you what they may not be able to express. Also figuring out what the client really likes prevents you, the designer, from making your ever project look like "oh, Anchor Designs did this project". No it should look like your clients have really good taste, their taste not yours!
Something I've always done it take the time to see how the current situation is functioning . Ask the front line people for their input. What would be helpful to them during the course of performing their work. What is troubling or awkward currently. Go to the source and work from the inside out. Pretty much anything can be made to look attractive but if it falls down in the performance of ergonomics and design then it falls apart. There's a lot of good replies here and I agree that tailoring the esthetics to have product and/or service resonance in the space is very important. At the end of the day, if your bumping into the furniture then that final bill you send the client, is just another bruise.
The next step is to research the market and trends that are relevant to your client's industry, niche, and target audience. What are the current and emerging styles, colors, materials, and features that are popular and effective in their sector? How can you incorporate them into your design without compromising your client's brand identity or budget? How can you create a design that stands out from the competition and attracts the right customers?
The third step is to collaborate and communicate with your client throughout the design process. This means listening to their feedback, suggestions, and concerns, and explaining your design choices and rationale. It also means involving them in key decisions, such as choosing the layout, furniture, lighting, and accessories. By working together, you can create a design that meets your client's expectations and reflects their style.
I have found that it helps to get my ego and history out of the room and ask a ton of questions about them and their expectations.
The fourth step is to be flexible and creative when adapting your style. This means being open to new ideas, challenges, and opportunities, and finding solutions that work for your client's specific needs and constraints. It also means being able to adjust your design according to changing circumstances, such as delays, changes in scope, or unforeseen issues. By being flexible and creative, you can deliver a design that is functional, attractive, and adaptable.
The fifth step is to showcase your portfolio of previous projects that demonstrate your ability to adapt your style. This means highlighting the diversity, quality, and impact of your work, and showing how you have met the needs and goals of different clients. It also means showcasing your testimonials, awards, and recognitions, and showing how you have built trust and reputation in the industry. By showcasing your portfolio, you can attract new clients and showcase your value.
I've always preferred to reject a singular design style or personal framework when approaching new projects. The excitement for me comes through articulating a bespoke and inventive vision for each client by exploring their distinct identities, curiosities and aspirations and filtering them through my lens of experience, intuition and inspiration. This way, each environment is unique in its genesis, fine-tuned to the subtleties of each client's program while still exemplifying the hallmarks of quality, luxury and authenticity.
The sixth step is to keep learning and improving your skills and knowledge as a commercial interior designer. This means staying updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the field, and seeking feedback and advice from peers, mentors, and experts. It also means taking courses, workshops, and certifications to enhance your qualifications and credentials. By keeping learning and improving, you can expand your style, improve your performance, and grow your career.