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Parsons Info Session


Yesterday I had a group of students come from Parson with their lecturer and fellow interior designer, Kitty Hawks and I showed them how I present a job. We used a job that I just presented three weeks ago, from beginning to end and I probably should have done some refreshing on all the elements of the presentation, but I think they got the point. We discussed how to answer clients’ questions, what instructions you give a client at the beginning – here’s a pad, write down your questions and we’ll discuss them at the end – and I showed them the renderings, materials and the pace that I follow in presenting a job. I think it was a valuable session for these students, who lapped up the information and kept the questions coming. What a great idea of Kitty’s, and fun for me to get to share important information with those just learning the ropes.

This entry was posted on April 23, 2010, 3:20 pm and is filed under Interior Design Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  1. #1 by Karena on April 23, 2010 - 4:04 pm

    Vicente, I love that you are sharing your information and processes. The true test of a genuine, successful person. Everyone needs some mentoring and sponsorship!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  2. #2 by picture of elegance on April 23, 2010 - 4:48 pm

    As I mentioned once before , you are a wonderful role model…

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  3. #3 by melissa on April 23, 2010 - 5:26 pm

    IT’S GREAT TO BE A TEACHER AND TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT ALSO….

    XXOO
    MELISSA

    P.S I AM NOT A DECORATOR BUT IF I WAS A DESIGN STUDENT YOU WOULD BE THE ONE I WOULD WANT TO “HOLD COURT WITH”

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  4. #4 by Gary Nelling on April 23, 2010 - 5:46 pm

    Vicente – You have a generous spirit. Thank you for helping the Parsons students. I’m sure we could all learn a lot from a session like that. I know I would, since I’ve been getting some continuing education right here. If you wouldn’t mind sharing the details of your presentations, I’m sure we all would benefit. – Gary

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  5. #5 by todd haley on April 23, 2010 - 10:32 pm

    vicente – i would love to know how you present to a client – i always hand them the fabrics and material where possible (if possible after i have handed them a glass of wine) so the client can feel the fabrics “hand” – and i sketch a lot on the plans for an alternate in case a concept is met with less enthusiasm than i presented it with – angelo donghia always said he “sold” his jobs based on the renderings he presented to a client

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  6. #6 by Renata Gross on April 24, 2010 - 1:40 am

    Oh… I would love to be a student (in this case) again…! I am so sure that was a very informative and special class! Lucky students from Parsons! If you have another one like that please I would love to be invited : )
    I learned so much from your interview at the blog Skirted Round Table.

    Gary, here is a great link/podcast that you can learn from Vicente good stuff:
    http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2009/08/vicente-wolf-joins-us-at-table.html

    Have a great weekend all!
    Xo,
    Renata

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  7. #7 by Tina Steele Lindsey on April 24, 2010 - 3:09 am

    I am a huge fan of renderings. I’ve seen so many and they are, from the simpliest to the most complex, an art form. I adore them.
    Have ever posted a rendering on your blog?

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  8. #8 by Tina Steele Lindsey on April 24, 2010 - 12:57 pm

    I ask simply because I’d love to see one of yours if you did. Thank you.

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  9. #9 by Gary Nelling on April 24, 2010 - 1:57 pm

    Renata – Thank you for the link. I have been reading Vicente’s blog backward as well as forward, but may not have reached that post. BTW, my hat’s off to all of you who have websites or blogs that paint such interesting portraits of yourselves. I really enjoyed the information and images of Hudson Furniture. Selecting just the right piece of wood for a piece of furniture is as important as the details that follow. I own a custom-made Martin acoustic guitar made of Hawaiian Koa wood that has an amber color and tight burl, which I enjoy as a visual and tactile object almost as much as I enjoy playing it.

    The pictorial on dark walls was particularly timely for me. I just bought an old wood block print and painting from a professor of mine who recently had a show of new drawings, paintings and lithographs mostly on white paper or paperboard and exhibited on white walls. He commented that he had been so tempted to paint a wall or two in charcoal gray to bring them into relief, and I mentioned that several rooms of black and white photography at SF MOMA were painted deep gray for the same reason! – Gary

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  10. #10 by Gary Nelling on April 24, 2010 - 2:09 pm

    Tina – There is a pencil rendering of a bedroom design on March 2, 2010 and another of a living room, sample board and photo of the final project perhaps 8-12 months back. Just keep clicking on ‘Older Entries’ at the bottom left of each page and it will take you back through them. Maybe there’s a quicker way, but I’m not aware of it! – Gary

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  11. #11 by michelle on April 26, 2010 - 5:47 pm

    I too would love to see renderings of your work!

    It’s always nice when a designer “gives back” to the design community…good for you for being so giving of your time!!

    Looking forward to the book…I can feel your excitement :)

    Best,
    Michelle

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  12. #12 by Vanessa on April 26, 2010 - 9:52 pm

    Wish we had this when I was at design school. I’m sure it would have been beneficial. Six years in and I’m still learning lots.

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  13. #13 by Christine Schwalm on April 30, 2010 - 3:28 pm

    Designers are kind of like lawyers (stick with me on this for a second) in that our education doesn’t have the practical elements of DOING the job. Lawyers don’t get courtroom training and we don’t get enough information on how to pitch projects to clients. Little things like how to read personality type, how to pace a presentation, when to talk about money (early and often!)–all the little things that set the right expectations up front and create a good working relationship. Kudos to you Vincente for taking the time to help teach this critical skill to new designers!

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