This is a photo of Bishop, a Great, great dane. He said to me one day after several minutes of soothing music and quiet thought in his best Scooby doo voice "Daddy, I think we should build a great big entertainment center, paint it all black, buy a white TV and put a red collar around the whole thing. That would be really cool"
We all have an opinion, often unspoken with likes and dislikes. I believe the results are the important thing as the client has to live with them. I first sit with the interested party to find out what they are trying to achieve. If they have photos of rooms they like, built-up moulding or bits and pieces of particular furniture they find appealing, we discuss ways to integrate those elements of design into their project. It is nice to see where they live and where the creation will go, just to get a feel for that space. Loaded with input and the limitations as to size, the process begins.
Several freehand renderings are presented to the client. The discussion begins and the different options are pointed out. Remember, these visual concepts are based on my understanding of the information I carried away from our earlier discussions. Our goal now is to establish the look by combining the decided upon options into one package that serves the expressed desires of the interested party. In this set of three drawing I seem to remember there being about 18 options. This ended up being the entertainment center pictured "brass on white, the pride of South Rice".
If necessary I will draw a larger rendering to incorporate all the decided upon options. This example shows a striking resemblance to the finished work of art.
Details can be worked out as we go, even though it is wise to establish the client's personal aesthetic preferrences early.
I am most pleased when the client gets what they want. It seems only fair that I express my opinion in terms that present the way certain design elements effect the piece. The client needs to make the decisions without stress or pressure. We walk through the design process moving ever closer to desired results.
A price range is discussed as there are different variables with each unique piece.
"Tucker" a great dane has his eye on the progress and wants us to get to the point where the client is pleased with the drawing. At that time the price range is narrowed and a proposal is made. If accepted we begin the real task, figuring out how to make the finished piece look like the picture I just finished drawing. It is a grand and wonderful challenge.