Vicente Wolf Blog

Name: Randi
City: sugar land
State: tx
Country: u.s.

Comment:
This might sound off the wall, but… in your beautiful book, Learning to See, page 92 shows an 18th century French table with an oak storage cube under it at the side of a bed. Could you envision a much longer table in a family room to act as the stand for a flat screen tv with a wider chest or 2 chests underneath it to house the video components? Or the Tv could be on the wall above it. I love that look, but the room needs to be very utilitarian. Thanks for any input. Randi

Vicente Responds:
Randi, I think that what you’re seeing in that bedroom is a concept. One that can be translated into any space. The important thing is a balance of scale and a very exuberant traditional table with a very straight line contemporary piece. You need the ying and yang to make that statement. Whether it is an old Jacobean table with a very modern cube or a very slick modern table with something traditional tucked underneath it. it’s up to you how you want the elements to read in the space. Let me know what your choice is!

Name: Mark Roberts
City: Cedar Rapids
State: Ia
Country: USA

Comment:
Vicente,
I’m a designer from the Midwest and have always admired your work. I know in the past your blog has addressed clients and your working relationship with them, and I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts on the following:

My father started our firm over 30 years ago, and we’ve being lucky to live in a community where we have always operated on an honest handshake. However, we realize that in today’s business world clients are more savvy and not always loyal. As much as I hate to admit it, we have been burned recently as clients enjoy seeing our ideas and proposals, but when it comes to purchasing products, they feel no obligation. What has been obvious to you and possibly many others is now clear and necessary for us as well: we need a contract.

Without revealing private information, could you please give some insight into how your client contracts are designed? What are the key points in them? How do ensure your time is not wasted and your talents not stolen without scaring the client away?

Finally, are you speaking in the Midwest sometime soon? I’ve seen you twice in Minneapolis and always enjoy hearing your insights on the profession.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Mark

Vicente Responds:

Mark, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in business. Having a contract is the thing that sets the rules of engagement. It tells the client what to expect from you and what you expect from them. Without those things you’re winging it and especially now, at a time when businesses are suffering, maintaining a professional front gives the client the security – and you the protection – that you both need. Talk to legal representative to formulate a contract. You want to tell them what you bill, what you expect from them. You need an out if they don’t pay you, you have to list the areas you’re working on, what your budget is, how you’re going to bill the deposit and how you’re going to bill the balance. Nobody should be out there working without a contract because they can turn around and screw you over and you won’t have a leg to stand on.

I’m impressed that you’ve seen me talk twice! We’re embarking on a book tour in October – I’ll be sure to post a list of places we’re stopping by up here so you can know when I’ll be near where you are.

Name: Alice B
City: phoenix
State: az
Country: usa

Comment:
Dear Vicente,
I greatly admire your work as a designer and as a mentor to emerging designers. The fact that you have this blog and are so willing to assist others and offer advice is truly gracious and very appreciated.

I recently branched away from the firm I had been working with for the past few years and have started my own business. All of the fabrics and furnishings are selected and I am just about ready to start placing orders for a specific job. Most of the showrooms/vendors require a 50% deposit to place the order. My question to you is this: What percentage of the total cost do you have your client pay you in advance of placing an order and making that deposit?

If I only invoice my client for that 50% deposit, what’s to say they will pay me the remaining 50% later? I can’t imagine my clients doing that, but I don’t want to run on good faith alone. I can’t afford to pay the 50% balance if a client does default, and I don’t want my reputation or credit tarnished because of that. Would you (and your readers) consider it normal or outrageous if a designer asked for a 100% payment from the client in advance? Is there a better percentage than 100% that you’d recommend using?

Many thanks,
Alice

Vicente Responds:

Alice, I bill 50% deposit on long lead items plus 50% of my commission. That’s payable prior to delivery. Items that are for immediate delivery I bill in full like fixtures, fabrics and things that are going to be immediately available. I don’t think that most people in general will default on the balance, but if you feel that the person you’re dealing with may (due to personality or finances) bill in full. I find that most persons don’t like to give up the full amount and then wait 10 weeks for an item. However, if you do manage to get the full price at the beginning, it’s up to you and your bookkeeping to not touch that money if you’re holding it until delivery.

Name: Cindy LeBlanc
City: Vermilion
State: OH
Country: US
Comment:

Vincente,
I am relatively new to the design field. I am always struggling with what is a reasonable amount of time to come up with a design plan. Sometimes, depending on the client, decisions are made very quickly.

My creative and conceptual time frame varies from client to client as well based on them and the space. I struggle with the idea, that if I were more seasoned it would take me less time, and is it reasonable or fair to charge my client for this learning curve time. I would really appreciate your thoughts about this.

Thank you
Cindy

Vicente Responds:

I think different people create at different speeds. Lucky for me I can do it very quickly, but one has always got to go with your gut and not questioning your decisions. I think that the more you think, the longer it takes. When I feel that I’ve come up with the right solution, I move onto the next thing. I think a lot of people don’t trust their gut and my experience has told me that the first charge is usually the right one. The fact is, clients usually make decisions very quickly so I design everything and present it all at once. To involve the client during the process of creativity is watering down your project and drawing out the process. Try to design the project completely and then present it to the client. You’ll see it go much faster. I know a lot of people who are very seasoned and still take a long time to design a project. And regarding the learning curve? I am still on one and I think anybody who is able to maintain their creativity at a high level will always learn. The day you die is the day you stop learning. It’s not the learning curve they’re paying for, it’s what you produce. If you’re charging by the hour it still takes you what it takes you to create. Try coming up with a flat fee that eliminates the question in your mind.

Name: Roberta Davis
City: Seattle
State: WA
Country: USA

Comment:
Hi, Vicente. I am an admirer of your work and an interior design student- starting at the “end” of my business career. I am reading your book “Learning to See” right now and I just wonder, if you didn’t go to school, how did you learn about furniture styles and history?

Vicente Responds:
Roberta, when you’re dyslexic you develop different ways of learning – in my case I had to for pure survival! Most of what I know about design I learnt from trusting my gut, by going to museums and keeping my eyes open and being aware of what is around me. And don’t discount the value in looking at countless design books and reading a lot. You just have to be a sponge.