Designer Skills & Scope

Artistic Vision

Interior designers use their personal sense of style to develop a scope of aesthetically pleasing (and compliant) design layouts for commercial or residential environments. Like all creative skills this requires a blend of training and personal flair in addition to the legislative and compliance obligations. It is this personal or signature style that separates one designer from another. The ability to apply artistic vision with attention to compliance is essential. SBID require members to stay up to date with relevant legislation by accruing 24 CPD points per year.

Creative direction

Interior designers configure the internal space layout to provide improved;

• Safety to freely move around in without injury.
• Spatial performance to maximise the space.
• Visual enhancement through the selection and collation of compliant and fit-for-purpose products that enhance the wellbeing and performance of intended users.

Scope

Interior designers create a design scheme for client approval using colour and product selection. They then generate working drawings for the contractors’ functions such as electrical switches and sockets, heating plans and plumbing locations. Designers will provide the technical CAD product drawings and codes of recommended appliances for overlapping contractor skills such as Architects, engineers, plumbers and electricians, as well as other trade contractors such as a joiner or tiler. Designers would also generate tile layouts and flooring plans, as well as furniture scheme. Each decision in design impacts on the decision for tradesmen when they quote for their installations. Commissioned CAD drawings depend on terms and conditions with the designer.

Interpersonal skills

Interior designers must communicate their vision effectively to clients and other members of the design and build team. Their time, once specification and finishes schedules are agreed, is spent on ensuring their design interpretation is not amended by other skills without direct consultation so as to eliminate error of custom-fit orders. Throughout each project procurement, professional designers may attend the site with suppliers, installers and managers, to ensure collaboration with other designers, engineers and general building contractors are adhered with.

An internal interior designers diarised record of amendments and changes is advised as sub-contractors may not be directly engaged with the interior designer and without good management from the Project Manager disputes could arise.

Visualisation

Interior designers need a strong sense of proportion and visual awareness in order to understand how the pieces of a design will fit together in the environment. Computer generated images (CGI) are used to demonstrate to the client what the end result will look like.

Problem-solving skills

Interior designers must address challenges, such as construction delays or availability of materials, incorrectly delivered or damaged products, while keeping the project on time and within budget. Designers will also need to review the entire scheme for adverse effect whenever a change occurs through construction amendments. As such, changes can alter custom-fitted measurements provided to sub-contractors after design-freeze. Changes that occur after design-freeze may impact on schedules and cause both delays and incur additional costs so designers must review, amend and address such changes. When design-freeze is confirmed the designers ‘scheme’ is completed. A day rate attendance throughout procurement is advised to respond to additional services as they may arise during the project development if 'Design Only' was agreed.

Disputes

At present, almost entirely around the world, the interior design profession is unregulated. This means that when disputes arise between a designer and a client or the public, neither the designer or the public have the appropriate regulatory support that other recognised professions enjoy (such as Legal, Finance and Health). SBID assist the industry in helping its members deal with complaints and achieve effective dispute resolutions, providing SBID Designers a Professional Services Contract to help establish legal relationships.