Professional Practice

in Interior Design

Lecture 1, Week 3
Monday, 20.9.2021

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 Session’s Outline

01 02
BUILDING A CONTRACTS
RELATIONSHIP WITH
CLIENTS

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 Building A Relationship with Clients .01
When the Client Needs an
Interior Designer?

•A simple remodeling of part of a home.​

•A new refreshing look to a
business location.​
•To repair damage due to other factors
such as weather, misuse, etc.​
•To execute a complete design of
a business at a new location.​
•Or it could be many other
reasons, needs, and wants considered by
the client.​
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 Building A Relationship with Clients .01
How to have constructive
relationship with clients?​

•Provide positive experience ​

•Don’t let problems sour a relationship,
reputation keeps improving​
•Maintain good communication​
•Do not make excuses when problems
occur​
•Resolve the  problem
with  professionalism​
•Deliver more than you promise​
•Never promise what you can’t deliver​
•Position yourself as an expert​ 4
 Building A Relationship with Clients .01

Understanding your client​

•Buyer demographics (characteristics) ​

•The buyer decision- making process​
•Creating customer loyalty​
•Managing customer expectations​
•Bringing value to clients through design​
•Negotiation ​
•Confidentiality​
•Good impressions​

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 Building A Relationship with Clients .01

Good Impression

•Know what your “bottom line” is.​

•Know your goals and objectives.​
•Try to anticipate what the client wants.​
•Have facts and numbers list.​

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 Building A Relationship with Clients .01

Good Impressions ​

•Image and dress on the job​

•Communications​
•Business entertaining and travel​
•Body language ​

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 Contracts .02
Definition
• It is a mutual agreement between two or more
parties that something shall be done.
•“A contract is a legally enforceable promise.”

Conditions for a Contract

•The designer and the client must have a
signed, written agreement that, as a
minimum, clearly defines the services to
be provided and the fees to be paid. This
agreement should be entered into before
the designer commences work on a project.
•Licensed Interior Designer (LID):
is a person or entity that is registered,
licensed, or authorized to practice the
profession.
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 Contracts .02
Elements of Client-Designer Contract:

The basic elements that should be addressed in an agreement between an owner

and designer include:

The owner's objectives for the project

The designer’s scope of services and a description

of the drawings or other deliverables the designer
is to furnish

The fees to be paid for providing those services

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 Contracts: Types of Contracts- How to get the .02
Interior Design Implemented

(a) The Basic Contract (b) The Advanced Contract

In this type of contract we offer the This contract includes the visits as well, which
basic minimum requirement which means supervision of the design that you choose
includes: and wanted to implement:

1.Layout design 1.Furniture layout

2.Elevation 2.Structure + working drawings
3.Furniture layout 3.Selection of materials (tiles, lights, color
4.Structure + working drawings scheme, etc.)
4.Top Level Supervision
5.Layout design
6.Elevation

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 Contracts: Types of Contracts- How to get the .02
Interior Design Implemented
(c) The Final Contract
This type of contract holds everything from the previous two with
free consultations in the future as well:
1.Layout design
2.Elevation
3.Furniture layout
4.Structure + working drawings
5.Selection of materials (tiles, lights, color scheme, etc.)
6.Complete Supervision

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 02. Contracts: Steps in Preparing the Interior Design
Contract

• Include your name or business name, address, telephone number, and license number if it is
available.

• List all the works to be done or rater the scope of work. Let it be as detailed as possible. For
example, how much do interior designers charge? Is it a fixed fee or hourly payments? Mention
everything that you charge. Remember to state that you do not charge services like plumbing,
ventilation, or electrical services.

• Invoice: state clearly your design fees. Write how you will charge your clients whether it is by
hourly fees or fixed fees. Include your going rate, if it is hourly indicate that every time spent
on the site will be considered as part of design fees. The additional terms may include
answering client’s calls and emails, purchasing items, researching, modifying plans and
drawings.

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 02. Contracts: Steps in Preparing the Interior Design
Contract

• Specifications of all works must be included as they appear on the plan and 3D drawings. The
specifications can include color schemes, fabric choice, proposed lightings, furniture, furnishings, and
other interior design construction works.

• Detailed blueprints have to be attached to the interior design contract. The blueprints have to specify
that they are conceptual and that the client cannot use it for any other purpose.

• A clause indicating that the client can terminate the contract at any time should be included. However, it
should be clearly stated that the client will be responsible for all the outstanding fees and charges.

• Both the client and the designer should keep a copy of signed contract.

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 In class exercise
What is a purpose of a contract?
A. To create legal obligations to perform (or not perform) specific
duties described.
B. To provide a written version of everything you have discussed
or agreed upon.
C. To clearly describe roles and responsibilities
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

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 In class exercise
Before agreeing to work together, a client and designer/design
team meet to make sure the skills are available and services
needed are aligned. This meeting is essential.

A. Yes
B. No

A word of mouth agreement with a client is considered a

contract.
A. Yes
B. No
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Thank You

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 References

• (5) What is a contract? – YouTube

• Professional Practice for Interior Designers,6th edition, Christine M.

Piotrowski, FASID, IIDA

• https://www.careerprofiles.info/interior-designer-career.html

• https://smallbusiness.chron.com/working-environment-interior-designer-1
8768.html
• Phases of an interior design project | Coblonal

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