Professional Practice for Interior Designers, 5th Edition

by Christine Piotrowski

• ISBN13: 9781118090794
• ISBN10: 1118090799
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Cloth
• Copyright: 2013-08-26
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This updated edition of the most comprehensive business guide for designers covers the interior design profession in a clear and well-organized style. From establishing a practice to managing a project, the reader progresses through all aspects of the business, whether in a small or large firm. The new edition includes additional information on ethics, as well as a companion website containing sample forms and other resources. This book is recommended by the NCIDQ as preparation for their professional registration examination.

Author Biography

CHRISTINE M. PIOTROWSKI, FASID, IIDA, currently based in Phoenix, Arizona, provides consulting services to interior designers on business practices. She is a former professor of interior design at Northern Arizona University and has more than twenty-five years of commercial and residential design experience. She has won the ASID/Polsky Prize twice and received honorable mention once. Her books include Becoming an Interior Designer, Designing Commercial Interiors, and Problem Solving and Critical Thinking for Designers.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Interior Design as a Profession

Why Study Professional Practice?

Defining the Profession

What is a Profession?

Professional Responsibility in a Changing World

Historical Overview

Interior Design Divisions

Interior Design Value

The Business of Interior Design

Terms

What Would You Do?

2. Professional Advancement

Educational Preparation

Internships

Lifelong Learning

NCIDQ Examination

Licensing and Registration

Professional Associations

Social Responsibility

Terms

What Would You Do?

3. Ethics and Professional Conduct

Ethical Standards

Ethics in the Business Environment

Professional Conduct

Disciplinary Procedures

Terms

What Would You Do?

4. Legal Responsibilities

The Legal Environment of Interior Design Practice

Criminal Versus Tort Law

Negligence

Intentional Torts

Intellectual Property—Copyright

Code Compliance

Terms

What Would You Do?

5. Where Do Designers Work?

How Do Designers Work?

Global Design Work

Types of Work Environments

Expectations

Terms

What Would You Do?

6. Project Compensation and Design Fees

Calculating the Billing Rate

Which Compensation Method?

Estimating Design Fees

Indirect Job Costs

Methods for Setting Design Fees

Terms

What Would You Do

7. Preparing Design Contracts

Definition and Basic Elements of a Contract

Letter of Agreement or Contract?

Proposals Versus Contracts

Form of the Contract and the Statute of Frauds

Developing the Design Contract

Content Formalities

Interior Design Contracts: Content and Form

Performance and Breach

Termination by Agreement

Avoiding Contract Disputes

Terms

What Would You Do?

8. Product Pricing

Catalog Pricing

Pricing Terms

Discounts

Selling Prices

Deposits, Down Payments and Retainers

Freight and FOB

Delivery and Installation Charges

Sales and Use Taxes

Terms

What Would You Do?

9. The Selling of Goods: The Uniform Commercial Code and Warranties

Historic Overview of UCC

UCC Definitions

The Buyer’ Rights and Obligations

The Seller’s Rights and Obligations

Statute of Frauds

The Sales Contract

Electronic Agreements and Signatures

Sales on Approval

Title

Risk

Warranties and Product Liability

Terms

What Would You Do?

10. Trade Sources

Manufacturers

Sales Representatives

Marts, Showrooms, and Market Centers

Local Showrooms

Retail Specialty Stores

Manufacturer’s Dealers

Internet Sourcing

Tradespeople and Craftspeople

Construction Contractors

Selecting Trade Sources

Terms

What Would You Do?

11. The Project Management Process

What is Project Management?

The Role of Designer/Specifier

Bringing Value to Clients Through Design

Phases of an Interior Design Project

Project Delivery Methods

Stakeholders

Selecting Project Teams

Plan Review Boards

Project Schedules

Project Budgeting

Managing and Recording Your Time

Project Files or Job Books

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Value Engineering

Terms

What Would You Do?

12. Contract Documents and Specifications

Contract Documents

Specifications

Specifications Organization

Sustainable Product Specifications

Construction Agreement

Competitive Bidding

Modifications

Submittals

Terms

What Would You Do?

13. Contract Administration: Construction and Order Processing

Contract Administration: Construction

Contract Administration: Procurement and Order Processing

Shipping and Freight

Expediting

Terms

What Would You Do?

14. Contract Administration: Delivery and Project Closeout

Delivery and Installation

Project Closeout

Postoccupancy and Follow-Up

Terms

What Would You Do?

15. Creating and Managing an Interior Design Practice

Understanding Motivations and Risks of Business Ownership

Advantages and Disadvantages of Business Ownership

Functions of Management

Management Styles

Working Alone

The Stages of a Business

Buying an Existing Business

Terms

What Would You Do?

16. Advice and Counsel

Attorney

Accountant

Banker

Sources of Capital

Establishing Business Credit

Insurance

Technical Consultants

Sources of Information and Assistance

Terms

What Would You Do?

17. Preparing the Business Plan

The Business Plan

Start-up Costs

Setting up the Office

Terms

What Would You Do?

18. Business Formations

Sole Proprietorship

Partnerships

Limited Liability Company

Corporations

Joint Venture

Terms

What Would You Do?

19. Business Legal Filings and Licenses

Business Legal Filings

Licenses

Income Tax Basics

Terms

What Would You Do?

20. Strategic Planning: Designing the Future

The Importance of Planning

Strategic Planning Basics

Mission Statements

Business Analysis

Business Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics

Budgeting

Measuring Performance

Benchmarking

Terms

What Would You Do?

21. Money Management  

Accounting Methods: Accrual Versus Cash Accounting

Accounting Records and Systems

Basic Financial Reports: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows

Managing Your Finances

Controlling Overhead

Computer Applications for Accounting

Terms

What Would You Do?

22. Fundamentals of Marketing

Branding

Target Marketing

Establishing a Niche

The 4 P’s of Marketing

Marketing Analysis

Marketing Plan

Terms

What Would You Do?

23. Promotional Basics

Promotion

Public Relations

Publicity

Press Releases

Advertising

Internet and Social Media Marketing

Referrals

Networking

Terms

What Would You DO?

24. Promotional Tools and Methods

The Graphic Image and Stationery

Photo Portfolio

Brochures

Competitions

Direct Mail

Publication

Proposals as a Marketing Tool

Terms

What Would You Do?

25. Selling Strategies

What is Selling?

Selling Services Versus Products

The Buyer Decision-Making Process

Buyer Demographics

Building Client Relationships

Selling Techniques

Negotiating

The Selling Process

Terms

What Would You Do?

26. Design Presentations

Presentations

The Initial Client Interview

Project Presentations

Closing Techniques

Overcoming Objections

Follow-up

Additional Guidelines for Making Presentation

Good Impressions

Terms

What Would You Do?

27. Employee Management

The Agency Relationship

Job Classifications

Job Descriptions

Employment at Will

Employment Contracts

Independent Contractors

Compensation and Fringe Benefits

The Performance Evaluation

The Employee Handbook

Mentoring

Sexual Harassment

Federal Laws Regulating Employment

Terms

What Would You Do?

28. Goals and Career Options

A Personal Mission Statement

Personal and Professional Goals

Career Decisions

Design Career Specialties

Terms

What Would You Do?

29. The Job Search

The Search Is On

Resumes

Resume Format

The Cover Letter

Portfolios

Digital Job Search Strategies

Terms

What Would You Do?

30. On the Job

How Employers Review Resumes and Cover Letters

The Job Interview

Typical Interview Questions

Illegal Questions

Follow-up

Your First Job

On the Job Strategies

Making a Career Change

Terms

What Would You Do?

Appendix

Glossary

Resources

Index