I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by an aspiring designer who is approaching interior design as a second career. She is currently attending design school but was getting frustrated by the slowness of the process, so her significant other offered to pay me for a two-hour consultation to give her some insight into this business. I love sharing my knowledge so decided to break her sessions down into two one-hour meetings. We had the first session last week.
She says that she’s always been able to see things that other people are not able to see like the way a cloud looks or some colors in nature. She has decided to move from a career in the IT industry to the creative one, moving from a rigid business into one that is very mercurial. She figures that it will help her to be organized and regimented in running the business side, but the creative side needs to allow her to loosen her belt. In discussions, she asked me a number of questions, including:
“Have I ever made mistakes in my design”. My answer? “No mistakes that were blatant, but details that I picked up once the job was over that I would certainly never do again – nothing te clients would see.” Of course, I have short-term memory issues, so there are probably some big boo-boos out there that I don’t remember.
The second question was “Am I sure when I design that something is right or not” Absolutely not – I go by my gut and have been lucky in that my gut has served me well so far!
She is afraid of making costly mistakes, which freezes her in taking action. I feel from my experience that what that means is insecurity about one’s opinion and that you have to trust yourself that when you do that you have the best chance of getting it right. She asked me “What is good taste”. Of course taste is in the eye of the beholder. There are a lot of people who love their porcelain doll collection and that is their great taste – even if it does not fall into mine. There is no global good taste criteria.
Then she said that she has to redo her apartment and she is frozen and unable to proceed. She said that she may see a beautiful chair and then design the room around that chair. My thought on that is that when you decorate that would work, but when designing, it won’t. Always start with a furniture plan. Don’t do it by sight, and not by chance. If you draw it up in scale you will get a better idea of what your design will be like.
It was interesting, she said I should be a sychiatrist and I saw in her a lot of the fears and insecurities that we all have. She wondered if this took many years for me to achieve, and, not to sound pompous but, I felt that security in what I was designing. That was the reality. Maybe it had to do with a great power of visualization that I have, a trust in my convictions, God knows that at that same stage of my life I had so many personal insecurities that paralized me, but in design I was clear as a bell. I think it had to do with trusting my instinct and not judging it against other people’s creativity, but against what sounds right to me.
For the second session I have asked her to take a plan, try different approaches to her space and do sketches about what the options are and to make different plans about what will work. We’ll discuss this when she next comes in. In that hour we will analyze why it is the right thing for her so it becomes her decision, not her decision based on mine. More to follow.
This started me thinking that there could be value for other designers to have some sort of get together in the same way. Would that be a group thing? Would that work better as a one-to-one session? Or would that be a mistake?
What do you think?
#1 by Beth on April 6, 2010 - 12:55 pm
Yes!! I’m in NC, & I would travel to come to one of your sessions. I think that would be invaluable!
#2 by Cindy on April 6, 2010 - 12:56 pm
Vincente, you are so cheeky! I think you should go with your gut. Seriously, being so new in this business, I am like a starving person, only it is insight and guidence that I am needing not food.
I would be happy with any kind of situation where your experiences could be part of an open discussion. I wonder do you feel more reliant on and in your design process because of as you have said before, your lack of formal training, in other words are you more in tune with what you think you want to see in a space. Do you think that rules and trying to follow can trip one up?
Thanks for sharing.
Cindy
#3 by Max T on April 6, 2010 - 2:31 pm
Very interesting article!
For me personally, as a designer who’s not professionally trained and like the lady in your article, someone who took up interior design as a second career years ago, confidence in my gut feelings came with experience and exposure.
I find also having a blog or facebook page helped developed my confidence tremendously. Maybe it’s partly vanity but having total strangers approve of my work allows me the strength to push myself further.
Oh, btw I think it’s good advice to start with brainstorming different layouts. It’s my method too and I live by it!
#4 by Sonya on April 6, 2010 - 4:05 pm
I think it’s a great idea. Having the option of both one-on-one sessions, and group discussions sounds ideal to me. Thank you for sharing this.
#5 by Tonya on April 6, 2010 - 4:28 pm
Hello, I am usually just a lurker on your blog, but I feeled compelled to comment on this topic. Yes, Yes, Yes, I think this is a great idea. I am another one that is contemplating a design career and am totally immersed in researching all options. I think your sessions would be valuable and I am genuinely interested. I will keep checking back to see if this is something you decide to go forward with.
#6 by Gary Nelling on April 6, 2010 - 4:48 pm
Vicente – You’ve done a great job of teaching through your blog-classroom, and I think hands-on must provide an even better experience and feedback loop. Small group sessions should be as effective as one-on-one provided there is space and time for individual attention. I enjoyed teaching drawing because it was something I did naturally, and I had to figure out how I did it before I could explain it. So I learned too.
And the therapy is significant. I think design professionals should be encouraged to find their own vision which will both motivate them and provide a framework for decisions. We all weigh risks and rewards. But you regret the things you didn’t try, not the things you tried and failed. And you don’t need to reach the finish line first to be happy. As I recall, the tortoise beat the hare anyway. I also think there is a yin-yang about emotions. The same brain cells and nerve endings that register joy and satisfaction also register pain and frustration. You don’t get the one if you won’t risk the other. – Gary
#7 by melissa on April 6, 2010 - 9:26 pm
I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE OF VICENTE’S FOLLOWERS THAT IS NOT A DESIGNER, (I HAVE ALWAYS DONE MY HOUSES SLOWELY AND LOVED THEM WHEN DONE AND ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD BE A DESIGNER) NOW, IN THE MIST OF DOING A SECOND HOUSE IN THE WEST, AND VICENTE HAS GIVEN MY GREAT ADVICE ON A DESIGN QUESTION…
FIRST QUESTION: HAVE YOU VICENTE EVER DONE ANY DESIGN TEACHING AND IF NOT THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO IT….
YOU WOULD HAVE A PACKED ROOM.. AND INTERNET TEACHING…
YOU DO HAVE A UNIQUE WAY OF TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE THING I THINK IS YOUR STRONGEST VALUE IS YOUR “GUT” WAY YOU DESIGN. THAT IS WHY OTHERS COME TO YOU.. IS YOU TEACHING PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF “KNOWING” OR “FEELING” A FOR SURE THING…. SO, MUCH STANDS IN THE WAY OF THAT… AS YOU HAVE SAID, THAT PART IN DESIGN IS LIKE BREATHING FOR YOU… YOU JUST HAVE IT…
SHARE IT LIKE A BEE SHARES IT’S HONEY…
REMEMBER WE ALL LIKE SWEET…. SMILE
#8 by Jennifer on April 6, 2010 - 10:35 pm
I think it’s a pity I’m 8000 miles away!
#9 by elizabeth on April 6, 2010 - 10:57 pm
Hi Vincent,
Love, love, love the idea! I too am making a career transition into ID and would love to be a part of an online group that supports newbies learning more about the business and the various interesting topics on working as an interior designer. Thanks for your lovely blog.
#10 by Mona Thompson on April 7, 2010 - 1:29 am
I have followed your blog every since I heard your interview on the Skirted Round Table. I’m a designer with a brand new blog in Little Rock Arkansas. My mentor and friend Tom Chandler , who is a wonderful designer here in Little Rock (I feel certain you would really appreciate his work) has done a design class for years. He is self-taught, not ASID and people literally line up to get in. It seems like everyone in the entire state of Arkansas must have taken Tom’s class at least once by now. I say that because many people do pay to go through again. I tell you all this to encourage you to do something with this. I would also vote for something online as well, so that I could take advantage of the opportunity.
#11 by Sally on April 7, 2010 - 3:22 am
I moved from a teaching career, to painting murals, to design school to owning my own design firm starting at 47! I took enough courses to gain confidence, but I’ve always just “known” what do to in a space. Because most designer are not really open to sharing info, I think I had to reinvent the wheel. What I would have given (and still would give!) to have had you as a mentor. Perhaps it’s my teaching background, but I don’t really understand the why there is so much animosity between designers. Thanks so much for being so generous with your experience. In a short few weeks, I’ve learned so much from your blog. I’d love a class!
#12 by Decor Arts Now on April 7, 2010 - 12:35 pm
Would attend in a heartbeat. Lynn
#13 by Polly on April 8, 2010 - 7:54 pm
You are such an inspiration-reading your blog has been such a delight, and it is so encouraging to know that we all face similar challenges across the globe. You have the most generous spirit and your insights are very uplifting especially during the tough times when there are endless problems on a project! I have learnt so much – thank you! I am looking forward to seeing you at Rooms On View in South Africa!
#14 by Caroline Yu on April 10, 2010 - 6:18 am
Vincente,
You are truly a generous spirit. I would welcome any opportunity to learn from you and would travel from the west coast to do so. Thank you so much for sharing all that you know!
#15 by Christine Schwalm Design on April 13, 2010 - 9:59 pm
I think collaboration is definitely a great idea. It really is the best way to learn and grow. It’s very easy when you work alone to get stuck in ruts or make mistakes. Designers are so afraid of competition but really, if it’s an honest exchange of ideas, it’s healthy.
And I totally agree about the floor plan! If it doesn’t work, it really doesn’t matter what it looks like. Form always follows function for me.
#16 by Vancouver flowers on April 22, 2010 - 7:07 pm
The rooms are very industrial and modern, and still a bit charming. It’s not easy pulling off a personality with such furniture steeling you to tough and rigid aesthetic standards.
#17 by LInda on April 27, 2010 - 2:49 pm
My opinion is that this person should go to work for an established designer and learn by doing – it is really the best way to get some confidence.
#18 by Renata Gross on April 27, 2010 - 8:12 pm
OH MY!
Vicent, I TOTALLY believe that is a GREAT idea! I would definitely like to be one of your “students”! I’ve been a admirer of you as a designer and entrepreneur since I was in school… and always want meet you ( Well, I did meet you once), and learn from you. When I finished school I sent my resume to you because I wanted SO BAD to be your intern… Now I’ve been trying to run my own small business and I’ve been learning greatfully! But more than ever I need a mentor. And of course, I would LOVE to have you as the ONE.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge here!
Renata
#19 by Lauren on April 30, 2010 - 1:32 am
Count me in too! I’ve followed your work and have your books. Design is a second career for me and I’m just getting started without completing formal training. Like your client, i feel design school is too slow and foundation-y which I think I have and want to get to the next levels. I have lots of passion and vision but also aware of how much i don’t know. I’m not a “fake it ’til you make it” type of person – just too honest for that. To gain experience under the wing of an established designer, i would be very particular about who i would want to work with – looking for a certain caliber that matches my vision. So i am jumping at your idea.