Interior Decorating:The process of Design

The Process of design

Design is the process of solving problems. Good interior design solutions have the power to make people feel positive in their surroundings. Table 1.1 outlines the steps taken by designers to solve problems and answer questions posed by a design project.

The Letter of Agreement

As protection for both parties, most designers prepare a letter of agreement outlining the responsibilities of the designer and the fi nancial obligation of the client to reimburse the designer for services rendered. The signed letter of agreement is a legal document; it avoids the waste of spending design time on researching, programming, and preparing conceptual designs in cases where the project never comes to fruition or the client selects a different designer. The letter also guarantees that the client will be supplied with whatever the designer agrees to provide for all or part of a project.

The Problem Statement

Initial identifi cation of the problem might begin with some kind of problem statement indicating the basic nature of the project—as a primary residence, vacation house, offi ce, clinic, retirement center, restaurant, hotel, or clothing store. Such a statement might also include the location of the project and even a specifi c address. The person or group commissioning the project could also be named in a design statement.

Research and Programming

A functional and successful design must solve problems. A clear understanding of the problems will lead to an effective design solution. The summary of goals, requirements, and restrictions associated with a design problem and its solution is known as the program. The process of programming is accomplished by gathering, compiling, analyzing, and verifying the information necessary to understand the problem and solve it. In contract design,the program is a formal written document; a program may be used formally or informally in residential design. There are times when the program for a project will be provided by those commissioning the design, but it will probably still be necessary to collect additional data to complete the program. When designers are responsible for the program, they will conduct research, surveys, interviews, and studies and compile inventories as part of the programming process. The following are typical factors that might be considered in research and programming.

In the picture above the need for new interior design here fulfi lls three categories: The kitchen needed refurbishing, the program changed in family demographics, and fashions changed. The result is a kitchen with updated and well-designed lighting, seating, unique plumbing fi xtures, and state-of-the-art appliances that will meet the family’s needs for many years to come. Design by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Co-designer: Sarah Michalowski;

Users

The research process begins with identifi cation of each of the users. The users, as the name implies, are those who will use the design directly or indirectly, from principal occupants to service people to guests and friends. In a residential design, a profi le may be developed for each of the principal residents who will live in the home. The profi le could include such things as age, sex, background, culture, values, temperament, personality, personal habits, need for privacy, style preferences, responses to color, and an inventory of possessions and furnishings that need to be accommodated. Profi les reveal household demographics, which is statistical information about numbers and kinds of residents. This would include traditional families with two parents, as well as nontraditional families such as those in combined households or single-parent households and special populations such as the elderly or handicapped. Household demographics can be determined through interviews of the principal users or by means of a questionnaire developed by the designer.

Lifestyle and Function

The profi le helps the designer understand the lifestyle of the principal users. Lifestyle is a term frequently used in residential design to describe part of the program for a home. It represents the constantly changing way a person or group of people live and how they use their time. It includes such considerations as whether they like to read, write, or use a computer; whether they have special hobbies such as sewing, crafts, or woodworking; or to what extent they enjoy and participate in sports. The way

people choose to entertain; how they prepare, serve, and eat meals; whether or not a grandparent lives with them; the way they use their leisure time; the type of musical instruments they play; the routine they use for dressing and their personal toilette; the amount and type of interaction they want with their children—all are examples of lifestyle considerations. As the composition of families or groups changes and as people grow older, interests, needs, and lifestyles also change. Consequently, fl exibility in planning for potential modifi cations is very important in order to meet changes without major upheaval.

Since lifestyles are in a constant state of fl ux as household demographics change, it is important to be aware of the effect such changes will have. For example, many families with small children may fi nd a playroom well suited to their needs. Tiny children can use the space for toys and for play. As children begin to bring friends into the home, the room will provide space for playing games with peers. As children become teenagers and young adults, the playroom can accommodate music and entertainment, and even parties and dancing. When the young adults leave home, the room may start the cycle all

over again with space for grandchildren. Another example of accommodating a changing lifestyle

is the evolution of a bedroom from nursery into child’s room and then into a teenager’s or young adult’s

room. When the young adult leaves home, the room could be used for hobbies, study, television, a home office, a guest room, or a combination of uses. The foresight to project changes in lifestyle is an important

asset in the programming process.

Many kinds of design solutions have come to be accepted as standard. However, the lifestyle of the users will often dictate solutions to design problems that go beyond standard. Individual needs should be assessed in terms of the kinds of functions a user envisions for a space, as well as the kinds of furnishings and equipment required. For example, questions one might ask in planning a kitchen space are:

• How many of the users will be cooking at once?

• What kinds of equipment will be needed?

• Will there be minimal or gourmet cooking?

• What kind of supplies must be accommodated?

• How should supplies be stored?

• What kind of dining, if any, should be planned?

In a bedroom we might ask:

• Do the users like to read in bed?

• Will the bedroom be used for studying?

• Is an area for seating desirable?

• Will there be television or other forms of electronic entertainment?

• What are the storage needs?

In living areas we might want to know:

• Is the space used by company, family, or both?

• Will there be a piano or other musical instruments?

• Will television and entertainment be included here?

• Should books and reading be part of the planning?

• Will conversation be an important function?

• Will the space be used to display art?

Determinations should be made regarding every space and its use. For example, a bedroom could accommodate study or sewing space as well as sleeping. The family room could be used for dining, television, and stereo, as well as conversation and games. The dining room or guest room could double as a library or hobby room. This kind of fl exibility is crucial because the cost of space is high, and infrequently used rooms need to be made more useful by planning for several functions. Every lifestyle will dictate different kinds of functions for each area; thorough inquiry will determine precisely what the functions are. With this exact data, planning can be effective and accurate, and lifestyle differences can be well accommodated.

In the picture above open shelves serve as a place to organize valued possessions, such as occasionally used tableware and serving pieces, cookbooks, and baskets. Design by Stephen Blatt Architects/photo

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