Interior Design in Practice: Case Studies of Successful Business Models

Through real–world case studies, master the business of interior design practice Whether you hope to own your own company, grow your company, or rise high in the managerial ranks of a larger practice, you must have a tight grasp of business basics in order to succeed as an interior designer . Interior Design in Practice provides the vital business education an interior designer needs. It describes in detail how to plan and launch an interior design business, and how to grow that business towards success. Through real–world case studies, you′ll learn the essentials of building a design practice, including: Deciding how and when to use business planning, strategic planning, and financial planning to your benefit Techniques to build teams and motivate team members Ways to avoid costly mistakes Advice on branding and marketing your firm and yourself Methods to integrate new technology into your day–to–day practice, marketing, and networking Coauthored by a former ASID national president and an experienced design writer and editor, Interior Design in Practice assists interior designers with practical, from–the–field advice, along with enlightening case studies throughout the book. Both budding entrepreneurs and seasoned design practitioners will find this comprehensive, real–world guide a welcome stepping–stone to success.

Preface. Part I: Starting an Interior Design Business. Chapter 1: The Beginning. Why Do You Want to Have Your Own Business? Will You Make the Cut? Do You Have What It Takes? The ABCs of Planning. Business Planning vs. Strategic Planning: Johnson Consulting Services. Thinking Ahead: Peterson–Arce Design Group. Thinking Strategically: Carson Guest Interior Design Services Inc. Financial Planning. Sound Structure: Daroff Design Inc. + DDI Architects PC. Establishing Fees: Deciding What You Are Worth. Protecting Your Business: Insurance and Contracts. Preparing for Risk: Buying Insurance. Complete Contracts = Profitable Projects. Setting Up Shop. Location, Location, Location. Looking Back for Those Moving Forward. Advice in Hindsight: If I Were Starting a Firm Today. Chapter 2: Structure and Support. Building the Team. Finding Their Motivation: Rabaut Design Associates. Help Wanted: Finding Team Members. Getting Started: Studio 2030. Making the Cut. Tips for Avoiding Costly Hiring Mistakes. Going It Alone: Sole Practitioners. Flying Solo: Patterson House Design Group. In Process: Design Team Structure and Project Management. Process Makes Perfect: Soucie Horner Ltd. Step–by–Step: Chute Gerdeman Retail. Come Together: Working with Collaborators and Consultants. LEEDing the Way: Ecoworks Studio. Supply and Demand: Vendors and Suppliers. Love the One You′re With: Bullock Associates Design Consultants Inc. Love the One You’re With, Part Two: Renwall Interiors Limited. A Two–Way Street: Coopertech Signs & Graphics. Clients and Customers. Know Your Client. Constant Communication: Duffy Design Group. Keeping It Personal: Adesso Design Inc. Decoding the Design Process: Steven Miller Design Studio. Building Long–Term Relationships: SJvD Design. Chapter 3: Communications and Technology for a Modern Practice. Who Are You? Creating the Brand. What Is a Brand? A Decade of Design: JJ Falk Design LLC. Repositioning, Rebranding, Reinventing: Palladeo. To Market, To Market: Marketing and Public Relations. Being a Professional: Networking and Professional Organizations. Integrating Technology. The Wired Practice. The Communications Business: Domus Design Group. Log On. Going Global, Going Mobile: Retail Clarity Consulting. Using the Web to Market Your Firm: Resolve Digital. Marketing through the Web: Merlino Design Partnership Inc. Plugged In: Slifer Designs. Being a Professional: Ethics. Ethics in Business: The Designers Furniture Gallery. Being a Professional: Licensing and Certification. Part II: Sustaining and Growing Your Business. Chapter 4: Taking Your Business to the Next Level. Deciding When to Grow. Deciding How to Grow. On Her Own, but Not Alone: Mosaic Design Studio. Jumping Right In: Catlin Design Inc. A Deeper Look at More Complicated Means of Growth. Deciding to Franchise. Picking a Franchise. Evaluating a Franchise Package: Questions to Ask. A Franchise in Practice: Designs of the Interior. Let’s Make a Dealership. Finding the Right Mix: Elements IV Interiors. Ownership Transition: Contract Office Group. Residential Roots: Barbara Goodman Designs. A + B = C: Mergers and Acquisitions. Buying In: Larry Wilson Design Associates. Preparing for an Acquisition. A Successful Future: Sustaining Growth. Suite Success: Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates. Riding the Tide: Mancini Duffy. Open to the Possibilities: Wilson Associates. Parting Shot: A Sixty–Second Guide to Managing Growth over the Long Haul. Chapter 5: Transitioning from Small to Midsize and Large Firms. Sprint to the Start: Diane Boyer Interiors. Getting It Down on Paper. Team in Training. Hire and Seek: Creative Business Interiors. Personnel Management Issues: Looking Outside for Internal Help. Creating Policies and Guidelines. Bringing in Benefits. Monitoring Growth and Progress. Success in Seattle: EHS Design. Added Responsibility: Sechrist Design Associates Inc. Part III: The End Game. Chapter 6: Planning for the Future. Learning from Experience: KSA Interiors. Thinking Ahead. The Value of Planning. Next in Line: Succession Planning. An Action Plan for Succession. Setting Goals: Facilities Connection. Successful Succession: TRIO Design Group and David–Michael Design Inc. Conclusion. Appendix A: ASID Sample Interior Design Services Agreements. Appendix B: ASID Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

TERRI L. MAURER, FASID , a former national president of ASID, is a business consultant, commercial interior designer, author, speaker, and educator. Based in Akron, Ohio, she is the owner of Maurer Design Group and President of Maurer Consulting Group. KATIE WEEKS , the editor of eco–structure magazine, is an experienced design writer and editor. She is a former editor of Contract magazine and has served as a member of the editorial advisory board for ASID ICON magazine.

"Maurer and co–author Katie Weeks have created a must–have manual for anyone considering beginning an interior design practice. Running a successful practice requires more than talent and enthusiasm. The subsequent parts include starting and sustaining the business, and the sale or turnover when it′s time to retire. Several examples of actual business practice follow an overview that explains each topic area and how they apply to an interior design practice." ( San Francisco Book Review , May 25, 2010)