Open Letter to New/Aspiring Interior Designers

Dear New and Aspiring Interior Designers,

Those of us with a bit of experience want to help you out and give you a few tips. We are sick of seeing new designers taken advantage of, and we want you to enter the field with confidence and the sophistication and education that a designer needs to have the honor of using the title "designer".

The Interior Design Revolution is a large group of designers, so the opinion on education is a mixed bag. One thing we do all agree on, however, is that some level of training is needed before entering the field, be that in school then trained under a seasoned professional, or straight to the seasoned professional. Please, do not quit your job and decide to be an independent designer because you have an eye for design. There is so much more to it than that, and no information on the internet can prepare you for the reality of design.



Get ready to pay your dues. Yes, we know you learned a LOT in college... or maybe you have real-world experience in your personal projects. Again, it simply is not the same as working for a seasoned designer. Expect to draw elevations for the first year, or to do the finish selection the entire time as a "color picker" for an architecture firm. Enjoy what you learn from these experiences, and stretch yourself to look for ways to contribute the other value you have to offer so that the firm can see what you can do, but do not expect a lead design position or to handle a project on your own. Take it slow, there are a lot of little details to learn. We know you're excited- hold on to that excitement and don't let it go! Hold on to your passion and keep nudging your way in. Don't settle, but at the same time... respect that this is the time to learn.

Don't even think about trying to launch your business until you've reached the level at a firm where you have people under you. Trust us, you need that experience first.

Ready to go Solo?

Consider partnering with another designer. You will want vacations and you can learn from one another. Remember when partnering that it is a business relationship. A contract with an exit strategy is necessary, and one partner must have the majority so that difficult decisions may be made.

Research your business partners. I'm not talking about the partner we just mentioned. I'm talking about the industry partners- vendors, software, where you advertise, etc. Remember that everyone you choose to do business with is a reflection of you. Make sure their ethics align with yours. If they don't advertise or talk about their ethics, ask.

Know that 20% is not a trade discount, that's a perk. Retail is not how we shop for our clients unless we are simply directing them to retail. Real designer discounts can be found at showrooms that offer 40%+ in discounts. It sounds great when we're new, but we have to mark it up to cover our liability, be competitive, and still make a profit. Selling product is a part of retail and if you sell a product, you are a retailer. Work with furniture and accessory companies that sell exclusively to the trade and to brick & mortar. Most finish materials can be purchased retail, and depending on where you are and what approach your business takes, you may or may not even want to dabble in those. And, while we are on sales, know that sales IS a part of the game. Whether it's product or services. You are selling something.

Build a strong business foundation before opening the doors and landing that first client. An agreement, process, software, and a business plan should be ready to go BEFORE you land that first client. This foundation should not be developed by fishing for it online from designers in Facebook groups whom you know absolutely nothing about. Not only do you not know them and their expertise, they are not obligated to give out their years of expertise at no charge. Research the people you are purchasing contracts, etc. from and determine their experience level before deciding it is good enough to be your legal protection!

When working with clients, contractors, etc. get everything in writing. Everything. Follow up every meeting with an email that summarizes the meeting. Never assume both parties are on the same page.

Get out and meet your reps, attend CEU's, observe contractors and learn from them. It can't all be done from behind the screen. Remember that CEU's are not the equivalent of a college education, not all webinars are CEU's, and not all webinars are equal. Take this information with a grain of salt.

Know what it is you want to do and WHY. What moves you? 

Independent Contracting

Before you take on any jobs that require you to work as an independent contractor, remember a few things:

1. This is business ownership. You will have overhead and should charge accordingly. Do not accept the same hourly pay a full-time job would offer. Usually, doubling that expectation is reasonable or 1.5x at a minimum.
2. This is YOUR business. The firm that is employing you may not supply an office or materials. They also cannot tell you what hours to work or how to do your job. That is an employee relationship, not an independent contractor relationship. You make the rules for how you work, and a contract should absolutely be involved.

There are several chains that provide the "opportunity" to operate your own business essentially as a rep for their business. They will send you leads and you get a commission from the sale. They will also very often expect a lot of work from you for free. This is unacceptable.

• Never Work for Free (No free consultations).
• Commissions are not acceptable if it does not offer a reasonable base hourly pay.
• Flat fees for online design firms typically are not going to pay for the actual time put into it. How many revisions (AKA time you are not being compensated for).. not okay.

We are professionals. Interior Design is a career. Don't let anyone treat you as anything less than a career professional.

Follow us on Instagram, read our blog, follow us on Facebook. Whatever suits your fancy. Ask us questions- we are happy to answer.

We are here and want to help! Let's change this industry together!

Read ASID's response here.