Appointing an Interior Designer
The BIID is currently compiling a guide to appointing an interior designer which will be published shortly. In the meantime there are a few points to consider when appointing a designer to pave the way to a successful outcome.
The interior design process is a complex one involving knowledge of both the construction industry and the creative arts. Depending on the project, the designer will need to interpret your brief, identify potential problems, comply with any relevant regulations and monitor works on site as appropriate.
Talk to a number of designers before appointing the chosen practice. Look at their portfolio of previous projects and discuss how the designer works, their approach to design and how they charge for their work. You should be clear in your brief and open about the budget. The designer will help you formulate the brief and this will form the basis of the professional agreement between you.
You are about to make a financial and emotional commitment to the project and need to understand when and how fees are to be paid, what the designer will and will not do and what other consultants may be required to form part of the design team. You should ask your designer about their professional indemnity insurance, and what their terms and conditions are. Members of BIID are required to have a formal written agreement with their clients and to hold appropriate insurance. Members may have bespoke agreements, or can use the RIBA/BIID Form of Agreement, ID/05. Agreements are essential to setting out what the designer will do for you, the services agreed, when and how fee payments are to be made, and how disputes may be resolved.
There are no standard fee scales and the fees will reflect the experience of the designer, the amount of bespoke work the project requires, the location of the designer and the type of project being undertaken. Work to listed buildings and conservation work may attract higher fees and it is wise to allow for a contingency sum for unexpected problems which may not be apparent at the outset of a project. Fees may be calculated on an hourly basis, or as a percentage of the cost of the work, or as a lump sum. There will also be reimbursement of any out of pocket expenses necessary for the execution of the project such as travel costs, printing costs or charges for obtaining statutory approvals. There are three factors in the design project to consider: time, quality and cost - reducing any one of these elements may have a negative effect on the others.
As a client you should tell your designer who is authorised to make decisions or changes and this should be part of the Agreement. Will you appoint a named representative for the project or will it be yourself/member of staff/partner? Disputes can arise when others agree changes which have cost implications, and it is better to clarify this at the start of the project.
Your interior designer has knowledge, experience and specialist skills so it is important to listen to their advice and carefully consider what they are suggesting. There may be several solutions to a design project and some you may not have considered - keep an open mind and the result may exceed your expectations!