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DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Whose Idea Was It, Anyway?
Sometimes you have to keep clients from taking things into their own hands.

by Sharon L. Anderson

CHALLENGE: I recently discovered my newest competition: the client! And it has been my biggest challenge ever.

I recently completed a design presentation for a client. I secured my usual consultation fee, the contract was signed for the first four hours of consultation, the presentation was given to the client, and everything seemed to be running smoothly. Then, I received a phone call from my client stating that she and her husband had some questions.
I set up an appointment, met with the clients and during our discussion I was informed the woman would be designing the window treatments herself.

Have I given this client too much information? Should I have not been so detailed on my design ideas and presentation? Please guide me in the right direction, as this is a large project.

SOLUTION:Today, consumers are savvy . . . some, very savvy. They do their homework, and they have access as never before to resources when it comes to creativity, pricing and materials for their projects. How should a designer curtail the problems this creates?

First, you were correct in securing a contract for consultation. At least you have been paid for your first four hours of creativity, although we all know that more hours have been put into the job at this point.

Next comes the presentation of an idea to a client. At times, this may be a matter of discretion. Somewhere in the agreement between the client and myself I will place a paragraph stating, in a positive fashion, that the client may not use my ideas and the resulting design as part of the project. I would present ideas to clients in a way that they would not be able to take with them, such as a sample board with numerous fabric samples and photograph ideas, including sketches. If the clients ask to keep these ideas, I then let them know I will create a board of ideas once the final contract is signed. We must insist that we own these ideas and the presentations of projects.

Once we have secured a commitment from the client agreeing with the design ideas, we then can arrange for another agreement that includes specific ideas about the individual design scheme including all of the necessary and detailed information as to materials, designs, ideas, installation, etc.

If I were to proceed through each step of the project and see that a client might be shopping me, I would proceed with caution as to what details I tell them about for his or her particular project. We may, at times, need to adjust our design process. If a client insists on keeping the presentation boards and will not sign a client agreement, that would be a red flag for me.

Each client is different, so how we proceed with a particular project varies, but it is of the utmost importance to have a clearly stated agreement with the client from the beginning.

An excellent book to read is The Business of Interior Design by Dennis Grant Murphy, ASID. I recommend the current edition and the previous edition, if you can find it. A great place to start your search is on the Internet. I have seen this book on Amazon.com, eBay, Barnes and Noble and other Web sites.

In conclusion, in today’s technology age with a vast amount of information at everyone’s fingertips, we must stay ahead of the savviest of clients.

Editor’s note: This is a continuing series of articles written by Sharon L. Anderson that will answer some of the many questions we receive at Draperies & Window Coverings as well as questions Anderson has encountered in her own business. If you have a question you would like Anderson to address, please send it to:

Design Solutions
c/o Draperies & Window Coverings
1724 E. Grand Ave.
Lindenhurst, IL 60046
Fax: (847) 356-9013
E-mail: SharonAnderson_1@msn.com