Key Takeaways

• There are several tools and software solutions that are designed to ease an architect's job, but due to the fact that there is always something knew, it is challenging for architects to keep up
• Technology has simplified many parts of an architect's job, but the specification process has remained a struggle. Bringing a design to reality by finding the perfect materials, products and finishes involves long hours of looking through product catalogs and browsing online.
• There is a lot going on nowadays and interior designers need to keep up with the latest trends in design. However, at the same time they also need to maintain a timeless style. Striking a balance between these two is a key challenge for interior designers.
• Being a great designer is not enough; interior designers also need to have a digital presence in this day and age. An online presence is important because it increases their accessibility and reach to potential clients.

Introduction

ARCHITECTS

Keeping Up with Evolving Technologies

• There are several tools and software solutions that are designed to ease an architect's job, but due to the fact that there is always something knew, it is challenging for architects to keep up. These software updates also require powerful machines to run them, so architects must also have the newest hardware to stay productive and competitive. While it is hard to always be on the lookout, it is valuable for architects, so they need to stay informed.

• There has been a notable increase in the amount of architect mobile applications, including drawing, inspiration, playing, project management and measurement tools. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is now a primary part of the construction industry, and all architects will soon need to be well-versed in it.
• Digital adoption of product specification has become harder for architects due to CADs, sample procurement tools, BIMs, and project management tools from distributors, manufacturers and third parties who are either doing things differently or not at all. These tools are expected to be a burden to architects until the network effect of SaaS technologies created to aid them are established in the whole building materials ecosystem.

 

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Bridging the Generational Gap

• In architecture, there is a huge divide between Millennials and Baby Boomers. Principals and firm owners work based on practices that have been established over a long period, but these practices are not readily shared or easily parted with. Architects of different experience levels and ages need to work to learn from each other and bridge this gap.
• Baby boomers can offer their wealth of knowledge when it comes to designing for different clients and running firms, while millennials can bring in their fresh skills, especially those related to technology. Open communication can improve collaboration among teams.

• In a bid to maintain the quality of knowledge at their firms, mid-level architects are faced with two opposing sides: "an increasing loss of tribal knowledge from highly experienced senior architects and increasing naivety of entry-level architects to the operations of the architecture world". They need to get as much wisdom and experience as they can from retiring architects, but also train and manage the new ones.

Finding Great Materials to Match Great Designs

• Technology has simplified many parts of an architect's job, but the specification process has remained a struggle. Bringing a design to reality by finding the perfect materials, products and finishes involves long hours of looking through product catalogs and browsing online. Sometimes, they are not able to find the right information about technical product specifications on manufacturer websites.

• In this digital age, a delay in acquiring product information from manufacturers is no longer acceptable. Architects need to get manufacturers "to understand why they need to aggressively move forward with digitizing product specs and increasing delivery speeds of product samples."
• Architects also need to communicate to clients that good design depends on proper construction. They should stay in touch with clients, letting them know the materials they are considering and communicating the effect of poor construction on the final design, aesthetics and appeal. 

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Managing Client Expectations

 

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• Interior design goes hand in hand with people management. Besides finding the right partners within and outside their firms, interior designers also have to work closely with their clients. 
• Clients come with visions but lack the resources to execute them, or they may worry about costs and not have a specific design in mind. Others will be unreasonable about timelines or ask the interior designer to achieve contradictory ends. As a result, a big challenge for interior designers is managing their clients’ expectations.
• Interior designers should set boundaries, work within a specified budget, and always remember the timeline. They should also have proper plans and tools in place that enable them to achieve what they set out to do.

Time Management

• Interior designers need time management skills, and this is taught during their training. Time management helps them to prioritize projects accordingly, stick to their schedules and budget their hours effectively. This is the only way that they will be able to meet their ever imminent deadlines. 

• For most interior design firms, scheduling is a challenge because there is always so much to do and not enough time to do it. Interior designers always find themselves working under tight deadlines due to client demands, and this tests their organizational and time management skills. The creation of efficient processes and workflows can help in saving time and improving their work-life balance. 

Promoting Themselves Online

• Being a great designer is not enough; interior designers also need to have a digital presence in this day and age. An online presence is important because it increases their accessibility and reach to potential clients.
• A website is a designer's first impression to prospective clients and is also a great way to grow one's following. A curated content blogs also helps prospective clients to know the designer better, and it establishes the designer as an expert in his or her field, thus adding to brand credibility.

• There are several outlets for self-promotion including Instagram and Pinterest, and interior designers can find it tricky to master these avenues. However, social media is a portfolio in the current era, and they need to ensure that their digital presence looks great.

Incorporating Trends while Maintaining Timeless Styles

• There is a lot going on nowadays and interior designers need to keep up with the latest trends in design. However, at the same time they also need to maintain a timeless style. Striking a balance between these two is a key challenge for interior designers.
• Interior designers need to introduce modern designs in a tasteful way while also sticking to timeless styles, such that clients appreciate the modern trends while also recognizing the fact that the design will not go out of style after a short period.

• One of the top creative skills that interior designers need to master is keeping up with trends and knowing how to introduce them tastefully.

Research Strategy