Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1333960
28 e design process Understanding the space Understanding building structures Organising the space e human interface Sustainable design Communicating design Understanding the project e client Client profi le Clients can be anyone from anywhere. A client might just as easily be a company or organisation as an individual. However, as clients, they all have a common need for the services of an interior designer, though the level of understanding of these needs is likely to vary greatly between them. For some, the decision to engage a professional designer will have been arrived at a er a careful appraisal of their circumstances. For others it will be a vague idea that there is likely to be someone (the designer) who can provide be er answers to their problem than they would be able to do themselves. Some clients may believe that aesthetics are the main issue and the practical side of their needs may not have featured in their decision to call in the designer at all. For others, practicalities may be the prime consideration, with decorative concerns a secondary issue. It is for these reasons, and many others, that the designer needs to be able to communicate on many levels with lots of diff erent personality types. From the forthright to the timid, clients need to be understood, treated with respect and made to understand that they are a key element of the design process. Because you will o en be trying to connect with a client on an emotional level, establishing a good rapport is a must. In fact, it is sometimes a more important part of building a good client / designer relationship than being able to provide an extensive curriculum vitae. e client profi le is an a empt to understand be er who the client is and how they live or work. It is a general overview and while in itself it may not relate directly to the brief that the client has given, it will provide insights that will help you as you develop your design. In a residential project, the client profi le can help you to understand how the space might be used on a daily basis from fi rst thing in the morning until last thing at night, and it may also give some clues as to style preferences of the client. An understanding of the daily routine can be one of the most vital parts of producing a design that works for the client. For commercial projects, understanding the work practices of the organisation that will ultimately occupy the space is essential. is is another opportunity to look closely at the status quo and determine if the existing work pa erns make best use of the space. You may fi nd that they do, or you may be able to challenge these and propose new and be er ways of working. Commercial clients o en employ designers not just to create comfortable working environments, but as 'agents of change' when they know that a new direction will benefi t their organisation.