Originally working independently as a designer for around 15 years, my need for a structured and documented process manual wasn’t as great as it is today, approx 11 years later. MSID has grown along with the team, and the need to create a design process and document it for my designers quickly became necessary. Having a streamlined process in place (and in writing) ensures that everybody, designers and clients, know exactly what will happen, when it will happen and how it will happen, explaining why it will happen like that along the way.
The design process isn’t just for the interior design studio, it is created around the client. Having a clear order to follow, it’s almost like there is a boundary, but a good one. Our objective is to always achieve a streamlined, positive experience for both us and the clients; we want to prevent disappointment and negative surprise to the best of our ability. Let me explain how I’ve created our design processes.
How our design process started
Spending many years working one-on-one with clients, as I still do now but at the time without the support of a large team,(I always had one assistant working on projects with me, today we are 4 in the studio as well as an Admin support team who work remotely.) My direct experience provided invaluable insight and learnings to the most efficient and effective way to execute high-end interior design.
Interior design is incredibly creative, but with so many different elements to consider, it needs to be organized creativity. When working on complex interior design projects simultaneously, within a team of four, it would be impossible to effectively manage one’s time without adhering to cleverly perfected processes. This takes the pressure off me, those that work at MSID and also takes the pressure off our clients.
Ultimate transparency
After our first consultation, if the client decides to proceed, our contract includes our design process, so we are transparent with how we work from the beginning. This allows everybody to understand what the design process is, and how to follow it; there are no gray areas. I’ll give you a few examples of how this works day to day.
Buying your own furniture
One of our processes is around clients purchasing furniture for example. Once a client begins working with us, they can no longer source or purchase any furniture independently. We don’t want to take the excitement out of their project, that’s why we take a very concise brief in our first consultation and encourage the client to show us images of what resonates with them and what they don’t like as well, as this forms the foundation of the designs for the project. We then ask the clients to be patient and wait for the presentation where we present the completed designs and FF&E for their approval. When a client breaks this process, it can create a whole host of problems. “You’ll find a spot” really doesn’t work, read more about our love of sourcing (and why it’s an important part of the design process here).
Importance of payment processes
A significant part of an interior design project is organising payments. From the initial consultation, designing, procuring FF&E, to payment of our tradesmen and suppliers, there are many factors to consider. Our process has been designed to take the pain out of payments. Having the finances of the project in place with expert processes will always ultimately save time and avoid unnecessary delays. Our contract clearly states the process of payments for each stage of the project.
A good brief, a solid presentation
When something happens at work (or in life), good or bad, I learn from it and then consider how I would do it differently next time. My design process evolved as a result of lived experience, and the help of a business coach to help me make it black and white, clear and easy for anyone to read. We even have our process in hard copy at the studio for the team to reference.
The foundation of the design process is the first consultation. During this time I gather everything that I need to form a strong, accurate brief ensuring I fully understand what my client wants to achieve with the space. The next step is for us to create a design presentation for the client, allowing them to envision their dream home coming to life.
As much as this may appear straightforward, our refined process ensures that we can present the client not only with our design but all of the real-time costs for the project. In our experience, we generally hit the mark the first time in terms of design (maybe a tweak here and there), and our clients are ready to proceed with payments and for the process to begin immediately. We are not doubling up on unnecessary time spent going back and forth, as the process already accounts for everything it needs to.
Security through boundaries
After presenting to a client, I have gained trust and confidence; the design process creates that. As a young child needs boundaries to feel safe and secure, so do clients. The more I fine-tuned my process, the more rigid it became, the more success that I have had with it. Because our clients feel held, that trust makes the entire process flow effortlessly and enjoyably, with an outcome that exceeds all expectations.
If you think that you would like to work with Marylou Sobel on your next interior design project then please call the studio on (02) 9360 5881 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you.
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