What do interior designers do” The reply depends on whom you ask. Most likely, the average individual conjures up an image akin to that of this playfully sardonic article from The New Yorker in which fickle deities argue about how to “design” Earth. Similarly, those who are drawn to the perceived glamour of the business think interior designers spend all of their time “shopping” and that it’s all about product. A great example of this misconception can be found in the Interiors & Sources article “A Little Perspective” by Suzan Globus, FASID. Globus paints an accurate picture of the design process and required skill sets required to effectively handle all that product: organization, communication, psychological insight, business acumen, a keen desire to keep learning, etc…

But we’re making progress. The designer’s reputation is improving because the value placed on design is growing. Boards of Directors all over the world have woken up to the fact that the public’s expectations are high, and in order to stand apart and carve out a profitable niche, they must embrace and present creativity in all aspects of their business. That’s where designers – interior, graphic, industrial, web – come in. As this Fast Company article explains: “Design and creativity have become imperatives for competing on a global stage in highly competitive markets.” And the attitude is trickling down to a neighborhood near you. So, whatever type of design you practice, seize the shift, define your process, carve out your own niche, and push the progress.

Laura McDonald Stewart, ASID / IIDA
Interior Designer / Founder – laura@plinthandchintz.com