Interior Design in the Online Age

Hi Suki,

"When I use the word "undervalue" I mean that a client will begin to believe that her choosing specific items or a color scheme for a space is designing."

What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator? I think you hinted at that above...but would like to be certain.

I feel that realestate 2.0 will provide 'bundled' services where a buyer can get all of the above at one place.  I initially had started a project "loftyquest) specific for this purpose, but has been buried..and I'm about to dig it up! (start with re-registering the domain.) Where teams can be hired or mashup(ed) to turn a loft into something amazing and showcase-able.

Best,

James

Suki-

Please, do your next design WITH the internet.  Any flat surface can be a touch sensitive display.  A window scan look out on Maui one days and Mt Everest the next.  Evey object in the room can be sensitive to touch and movement, and the room can react.  Create a audio environment- use super direction l speakers so people can hear their own sound track. 

 Go all the way-

Lawrence Ricci
www.EmbeddedInsider.com

viboons,

Thanks for your interest and for your comments.  Engineers' are always welcome since we are both detail people...it's where the devil is, right?

I have become very reliant on CAD.  It's fun as well as useful in my profession.  I would have to admit that because I rely on computer generated drawings my hand-drafting has slowed down quite a bit.  However, I can do a quick sketch in front of a client or supplier just as easily and quickly on a hand-held as on a sketch pad...and I can store it for later reference.  I would love to be able to take accurate room dimensions (I use a laser tape measure now) and input that into my computer to automatically generate a floorplan.  Soon, right?

I email everything to clients and suppliers.  I reference phone calls in emails where sender and recipient both have more time to contmeplate the details of the past conversation or message.  I save these emails for my files for future reference which fills in empty spots in everyone's memory.  I just wish that contractors and builders for smaller projects would get onboard the Internet bus.  They usually rely on phone calls and faxes which makes for choppy communication.  I think they might like that!

Suki Dennison

phavanhna,

OMG, please, let there will always be a need for interior designers! Thinking about what stimulates this need and value, reminds me that I believe everyone has creativity, but not in the same arenas.  For instance, I have 2 friends who are highly successful graphic designers.  Neither one of them has any ability to envision colors, furnishings or even furniture placement in a space.  Amazing to me!  Once I can illustrate what I have in mind on paper or computer, they get it. It is okay with me if I remain a muse for good design. 

When I use the word "undervalue" I mean that a client will begin to believe that her choosing specific items or a color scheme for a space is designing.  What is most valuable from an interior designer is the concept, or vision, for a client's space and maintaining a focus throughout the process. This has more to do with understanding a client's needs and my creativity than picking out furnishings. You would be surprised at how many clients take full credit for the completed design.  I have gotten used to it.

When I use the word "undermine" I mean a client will take information on a particular item like a rug or piece of furniture and look for it elsewhere (usually online). She/he will try to negotiate my standard mark-up on my net as specified in our contract.  Globalization has opened up many new channels for all kinds of goods; a boon and curse. 

Thank you, again, for your interest.

Suki Dennison

Phavanhna-

Thanks for your replies.  I will address them singly.

I agree that this is a fabulous time for technology as a valuable aid to many industries and careers, especially my own. Using software geared for presentations in front of a client is the best! I use a custom closet supplier with a program that is fast, accurate and has my customized retail pricing. The client can really interact, we can make design decisions on-the-spot, and, usually, I can close the deal immediately.  CAD for other interiors is a bit more complicated, but I expect more great things from technology as time goes on. Using a hand-held device for initial measurements translated into room layout has my vote right now.

Suki Dennison

Hey Jwallace. I guess you were using Internet Explorer or Chrome as your browser, but if you were using Firefox, you wouldn't have that problem, cos Firefox would normally keep the texts in the form when you click the 'Back' button.

Re: online CAD on mobile devices. - yeah, maybe future mobile devices will be equipped with an interactive 3D hologram interface capability, where they can project 3D hologram of a CAD layout and users can move things with their hand (or maybe with their mind). This will require huge amount of battery energy but don't worry - the battery technology will be so advanced in the future that batteries are tiny, light and lasting for months, and self-rechargeable via the user's movements. Now, time for me to wake up!!!

Hey Viboons,

I said the same thing you said pretty much but my post didn't post and when I browsed back I was staring at a blank text/html editor..earlier.  Yep it was an excellent  post, and outlined some great features to consider/apply if you're working on a web app for a related service industry.

Phavanhna,

"you might be able to get the online CAD program on your iphone or handheld devices."

I know you meant it will be able to..in 5 years a mobile device/phone will be more powerful than my new laptop is today..so why not? Especially if projection displays will be avail by then.

The social web will absolutely ENHANCE the designer and the business process, may sift out the unwilling to transition HOWEVER will not replace the competitive and sought after designers.  

Not only things are driven more and more on Web 2.0. You will see that many web applications are moving toward handheld devices. In the near future, you might be able to get the online CAD program on your iphone or handheld devices.

Interesting and well written post!

I don't know much about interior design, but from reading your post I get the idea about how Web 2.0 has influenced the interior design profession, and I think this is another good example to support the utility of the Internet and its influences on any professional careers. You mentioned online CAD program, and as an engineer, I always welcome and want to see more Web-based engineering tools available and accessible. The Web certainly offers efficiencies, but like having cellphones, as we find ways to utilize the Internet to make life easier, we become more and more dependent on it to stay competitive, and we increasingly rely on the Internet for important business communication, and so the Web's becoming somewhat more critical and no longer just something nice to have.

Thank you for sharing the story. I am an MS IT student and found that this is the best time to be in the field of Information Technology. Despite the fact of the down turn of the economic and the disasters going on around the world, including the recent flooding in my country – Laos, the technologies do prove to be very important tools for us to use to get through these tough times.  

I think it does make sense where gas price is sky high rocking and people tend to have busy schedule; having the advantage of being able to review all the design online and share it with other people, it is very handy.

I do not think that the technology will be the cause of undermining the value of a designer. Instead, I think this is the change that will create a new business process which will help designers in their design process. All in all, I believe that we still need real designers in some sense, not only the machine. After all, the technology can not be progressed by itself.