Are you thinking about hiring an interior designer? Interior designers help you create a beautiful and functional space, whether it’s for your home or commercial property such as a restaurant, hotel, or office. As you start your search for the right person to make your vision a reality, you’ll want to make sure they have certain qualities to ensure they’ll live up to your expectations. Here are a few things an interior designer must have to be a good fit for your project.
Good Communication Skills & Empathy
The designer you hire needs to have excellent communication skills, or your design project could become a nightmare. Do they follow up with you in a timely fashion? Do they seem to communicate what they need to know from you? If they do, the logistics of your project are likely to move along smoothly.
When you speak with a professional designer, they should be able to answer your basic questions, but they should also be good at listening to you in order to understand your vision. Empathy is one of the most important factors in designing a space for someone else. If you don’t get a sense that the person you’re speaking to understands what you’re trying to convey, they’re probably not a good fit for your design needs.
A Portfolio That Speaks to Your Sense of Style
Every interior designer has a personal style that will shine through in their portfolio. Interior design, after all, is an art form. While every good designer will know the basic principles of design and will be able to adjust to their client’s unique tastes, finding a designer that showcases designs that fit your style can make the entire process a lot easier. It is much simpler to work with someone whose artistic style is in line with your vision.
Planning & Technical Skills
One of the most essential skills a designer needs is the ability to plan a space and visually represent the plan with drawings, computer-aided design (CAD) software, or models. They should also be able to read blueprints and understand building codes to ensure safety. It can be hard to determine whether someone has the necessary technical and planning skills before you’ve actually worked with them, but it doesn’t hurt to ask a few questions. You might want to ask how they like to present their design ideas to clients, or to describe their design process in order to get a sense of their design know-how. You should also ask about their credentials.
Education and Certification
The requirements for becoming an interior designer vary from state to state, but most states don’t require a license. Technically, anyone can claim to be an interior designer; but to be a certified interior designer in most states, you need to pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. To be eligible to take this exam, you need a certain combination of higher education and supervised design work hours. Those who have passed this exam are also eligible to be members of the American Society of Interior Designers, which is a good credential to look for. This membership means the designer has an interest in continuing their design education and adhering to high standards.
Achieve Your Vision with the Award-Winning Interior Designers at Nativa
Whether you need residential or commercial design services, Nativa can help you bring your vision to life. We are an American Society of Interior Designers Industry Partner with more than 20 years of experience creating the right interior look and feel for hundreds of clients. Contact us today to learn more about our custom-crafted furniture and professional interior designers.