Professionals in almost every field and venue have an implied responsibility – and opportunity -- to teach! The delivery of "professional services" is unique because simply by the act of doing what one does, teaching takes place.
Concerning professional design services, teaching – and learning – is happening throughout the entire process of an active project. That phenomenon is part of the valuable insurance the client receives. Learning about every aspect of your project detail is directly related to the maintenance and durability of your investment!
Every step of the way, your professional designer and team is presenting you with the pros and cons of the myriad choices and decisions that your desired vision presents. The learning process can be complex and intense when a design project is a first for the client. For a veteran of the process, there is the huge reality of how materials, techniques, mechanics, procedures and equipment have changed. What is available for your project is constantly evolving.
Regular, informative meetings with your team are essential to learning what will help you later, after the grand opening. Whether it's a business project or a residential vision you have in mind, there is a lot to consider and absorb. Your professional designer has many avenues of information available for you. Some are direct, personal and hands-on; others are external and available for you to access at your discretion.
Informative articles, such as this one, are available throughout print media. Your designer can direct you to several sources relevant to your specific project. Workshops and seminars are frequently offered in the general community, at educational institutions, and by private design firms.
However, one of the best ways to learn is through the personal power of your own inquiring mind: ask! There are two major patterns concerning client receptivity: The sponge who soaks up everything with interest, but passively; and the energized participator who has a dozen questions a day! Of course, we all learn in our own unique ways, but somewhere between those two lies the most productive learning pattern. Listen and absorb, and question often!
Learning about the subtleties of color and light can be surprising and fascinating. Understanding how those change in the presence of a variety of textures, greatly influences how you may make your choices. As with any specialty, the general population may not realize certain peculiarities concerning the interplay of one factor with another.
If they are not already doing the obvious, ask your professional design team to go that extra step and explain something a bit more. While it may be flattering for a professional to be taken at their word, if you are not clear on something, push further for more information and understanding. In the end, it will be appreciated and may prevent re-do or disappointment.
Teaching while doing goes hand in hand with specialized, focused knowledge. Knowledge shared paints a much wider swath for quality as well as economy in your design project. It is a two-way street: your designer is continually learning about the fine points of your vision; you are constantly learning about possibilities, availabilities and composition. The responsibility of teaching is one of the high points of professionalism.
Robert Boccabella, B.F.A. is principal and founder of Business Design Services and a certified interior designer in private practice for over 30 years. Boccabella provides Designing to Fit the Vision© in collaboration with writingservice@earthlink.net. To contact him call 707-263-7073; email him at rb@BusinessDesignServices.com or visit www.BusinessDesignServices.com or on Face Book and Instagram at Business Design Services.
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