Professional Practice for Interior Designers, 3rd Edition

by Christine M. Piotrowski

• ISBN13: 9780471384014
• ISBN10: 0471384011
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The tools needed to create and manage a thriving interior design practiceThis essential sourcebook provides all of the information needed to establish and manage a productive, profitable interior design firm. Filled with savvy business and career advice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition delivers updated and expanded coverage of the full range of legal, financial, management, marketing, administrative, and ethical issues faced by sole practitioners, firm principals, and managers.This comprehensive reference lays out clear, practical guidelines on how to structure a contract and prevent legal problems; work with other designers, allied professionals, clients, and vendors; and calculate fees that are both fair and profitable. Recommended reading for NCIDQ candidates, it offers easy-to-follow tips and instruction on how to: Write and implement a successful business plan Choose the right form of business to fit specific needs Institute strategic planning Develop effective promotional tools Manage finances and set up a computerized accounting system Manage employees and team members Establishing a comprehensive foundation for effective business practice, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Third Edition is the one-stop resource that no interior designer can afford to be without.

Author Biography

CHRISTINE M. PIOTROWSKI, ASID, IIDA, is the owner of Christine M. Piotrowski and Associates in Phoenix, Arizona, and a former professor of interior design at Northern Arizona State University in Flagstaff. She has more than 20 years of commercial and residential design experience.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
Part I An Introduction to the Profession of Interior Design	3	(48)
The Profession	5	(26)
Defining a Profession	6	(1)
History of the Profession	7	(7)
Divisions of the Profession	14	(1)
Educational Preparation	14	(3)
Professional Associations	17	(5)
NCIDQ Examination	22	(2)
Licensing and Title Acts	24	(2)
Continuing Education	26	(5)
Ethics	31	(12)
Ethics in the Business Environment	31	(3)
Professional Conduct	34	(6)
For Discussion	40	(3)
Personal Goal Setting	43	(8)
Goals	43	(1)
Risks in Goal Setting	44	(1)
A Personal Mission Statement	45	(1)
Setting Goals	46	(5)
Part II How to Establish an Interior Design Practice	51	(72)
Planning a New Interior Design Practice	53	(18)
What Is an Entrepreneur?	54	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Business Ownership	55	(1)
Starting a New Design Practice	56	(3)
Defining the Business	59	(2)
The Business Plan	61	(5)
Writing the Business Plan	66	(1)
Control and Evaluation	67	(4)
Advice and Counsel	71	(12)
Attorney	71	(1)
Accountant	72	(1)
Banker	73	(4)
Insurance Advisers	77	(2)
Technical Consultants	79	(1)
Sources of Information and Assistance	80	(3)
Business Formations	83	(14)
Sole Proprietorship	83	(3)
Partnership	86	(2)
Corporation	88	(3)
Limited Liability Company	91	(1)
S Corporation	92	(1)
Professional Corporations	93	(1)
Joint Venture	93	(4)
Legal Filings	97	(14)
Federal Forms	97	(4)
Estimated Taxes for the Self-Employed	101	(1)
State Forms	101	(2)
Local Forms	103	(1)
Specialized Filings	104	(1)
Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents	105	(6)
On Your Own	111	(12)
Working Alone	111	(2)
Business Location	113	(4)
Equipping the Office/Studio	117	(2)
Inventory Issues	119	(4)
Part III The Business of Interior Design	123	(84)
Business Organization and Management	125	(10)
Organization of the Interior Design Practice	125	(1)
The Stages of a Business	126	(2)
Organizational Structure Within the Office	128	(1)
Types of Business Organizations	129	(2)
Management	131	(1)
Functions of Management	132	(3)
The Planning Function	135	(12)
Importance of Planning	135	(2)
Kinds of Plans	137	(4)
Budgeting	141	(2)
Measuring Performance	143	(4)
Personnel Management	147	(22)
Job Classifications	147	(4)
Job Descriptions	151	(3)
The Performance Evaluation	154	(5)
The Employee Handbook	159	(4)
Compensation and Fringe Benefits	163	(6)
Legal Issues of Employment	169	(16)
Federal Laws Regulating Employment	170	(2)
The Agency Relationship	172	(2)
Employment at Will	174	(2)
Employment Contracts	176	(4)
Independent Contractors	180	(1)
Sexual Harassment	181	(4)
Legal Responsibilities	185	(12)
Criminal versus Tort Law	186	(1)
Negligence	186	(3)
Intentional Torts Against a Person	189	(1)
Intentional Torts Against Property	190	(1)
Codes Compliance	191	(2)
Plan Review Boards	193	(4)
Warranties and Product Liability	197	(10)
Warranties	197	(4)
Products Liability	201	(6)
Part IV Managing the Business's Finances	207	(132)
Financial Accounting	209	(22)
Accounting Methods: Accrual versus Cash Accounting	210	(1)
The Balance Sheet	211	(4)
The Income Statement	215	(4)
The Statement of Cash Flow	219	(1)
Accounting Records and Systems	220	(4)
Cash Management	224	(3)
Computer Applications	227	(4)
Financial Management	231	(12)
What Is Financial Management?	231	(1)
Financial Ratios and Percentages	232	(3)
Reporting Performance	235	(4)
Controlling Overhead	239	(4)
Determining Design Fees	243	(22)
The Billing Rate	243	(3)
Which, When, Why?	246	(2)
Methods for Setting Design Fees	248	(9)
Estimating Design Fees	257	(4)
Indirect Job Cost Factors	261	(4)
Preparing Design Contracts	265	(38)
Definition and Basic Elements of a Contract	265	(4)
Letter of Agreement or Contract?	269	(1)
Form of the Contract	269	(2)
Content Formalities	271	(1)
Developing the Design Contract	271	(3)
Interior Design Contracts: Content and Form	274	(24)
Performance	298	(2)
Termination by Agreement	300	(3)
Product Pricing Considerations	303	(20)
Pricing Terms	304	(2)
Discounts	306	(3)
Selling Prices	309	(2)
Deposits, Down Payments, and Retainers	311	(1)
Freight and FOB	312	(1)
Delivery and Installation Charges	313	(2)
Sales and Use Taxes	315	(1)
The Role of the Designer/Specifier	316	(3)
Federal Laws and Pricing Practices	319	(4)
The Sale of Goods and the Uniform Commercial Code	323	(16)
History	324	(1)
Definitions	324	(1)
The Sales Contract	325	(6)
Statute of Frauds	331	(1)
Title	331	(1)
Risk	332	(1)
Sales on Approval	333	(1)
The Seller's Rights and Obligations	333	(1)
The Buyer's Rights and Obligations	334	(5)
Part V Marketing and Business Development	339	(108)
Marketing Interior Design Services	341	(12)
Definitions	342	(1)
Target Marketing	342	(2)
Establishing a Niche	344	(1)
The Four Ps of Marketing	345	(1)
Marketing Analysis	346	(2)
The Marketing Plan	348	(5)
Promoting the Interior Design Practice	353	(18)
Public Relations	354	(1)
Publicity	354	(1)
Basic Promotional Tools	355	(8)
Referrals	363	(1)
Networking	364	(2)
Competitions	366	(5)
Advanced Promotional Tools	371	(24)
Publication	371	(6)
Direct Mail	377	(1)
Speaking at Seminars and Meetings	378	(1)
Premiums	379	(1)
Multimedia Presentations	379	(1)
Internet Marketing	380	(4)
Proposals	384	(3)
Advertising	387	(8)
Selling Your Services	395	(14)
What Is Selling?	395	(1)
Selling Services versus Products	396	(1)
Building Client Relationships	397	(1)
The Selling Process	398	(5)
Selling Techniques	403	(6)
Design Presentations	409	(20)
Marketing Presentations	409	(4)
Proposal Presentations	413	(2)
Project Presentations	415	(3)
Overcoming Objections	418	(2)
Closing Techniques	420	(2)
Follow-up	422	(1)
Negotiating	422	(2)
Other Guidelines for Making Presentations	424	(5)
Personal Power	429	(18)
Image-Nonverbal Cues	429	(3)
Well Suited	432	(2)
Body Language	434	(2)
Business Etiquette	436	(11)
Part VI Project Management	447	(110)
Project Management Techniques	449	(28)
What Is Project Management?	449	(1)
Phases of an Interior Design Project	450	(7)
Working Relationships	457	(1)
Project Schedules	458	(4)
Project Budgeting	462	(1)
Time Records	463	(4)
Time Management	467	(3)
Project Files or Job Books	470	(4)
Value Engineering	474	(3)
Working with Trade Sources	477	(12)
Manufacturers	477	(1)
Sales Representatives (or Reps)	478	(1)
Market Centers, Marts, and Showrooms	479	(2)
Local Showrooms	481	(1)
Retail Specialty Shops	481	(1)
Manufacturer's Dealers	481	(1)
Tradespeople and Craftspeople	482	(1)
Construction Contractors	482	(1)
Selecting Trade Sources	483	(2)
Technology and Trade Sources	485	(4)
Contract Documents and Specifications	489	(30)
Contract Documents	489	(3)
Specifications	492	(8)
Competitive Bidding	500	(13)
Modifications	513	(3)
Submittals	516	(3)
Contract Administration	519	(24)
Construction and Procurement Administration	519	(3)
Order Processing	522	(16)
Shipping and Freight	538	(2)
Expediting	540	(3)
Contract Administration: Delivery and Project Closeout	543	(14)
Delivery and Installation	543	(4)
Project Closeout	547	(3)
Postoccupancy and Follow-up	550	(7)
Part VII Careers	557	(60)
Career Options	559	(18)
Career Decisions	559	(2)
Residential Interior Design	561	(1)
Commercial Interior Design	562	(3)
Common Employment Options	565	(4)
Alternative Career Options	569	(4)
Preparing for Specialization in a Career	573	(4)
Getting the Next---or First---Job	577	(40)
Portfolios	577	(6)
Resumes	583	(9)
The Job Search	592	(3)
The Cover Letter	595	(5)
How Employers Review Resumes and Cover Letters	600	(2)
Interviews	602	(6)
Follow-up	608	(2)
The First Job	610	(2)
Making a Career Change	612	(5)
Glossary	617	(20)
Appendix	637	(6)
Index	643