Korver’s Korner

It alarms me amuses me and of course at times angers me when I think about design integrity or at times the lack of it. I came to South Africa 13 years ago to start up a business I could be proud of – and subsequently I am, but I do wonder why it is that the client is willing to compromise quality by negotiating on the interior designers’ fee and thus loosing out at the end of the deal.
 
Interior Design is a profession which requires knowledge and expertise; good taste, shopping and bargaining are not the requirements in order to be an Interior Designer. There is an eye – yes – but there is beside the obvious aesthetics – space planning (including functionality) and (most importantly in corporate business) health and safety to consider, as well as knowing your materials, your design, long term benefits and much, much more. There are things to know and things to learn and this is why the client pays an Interior Designer - to help them with what they do not know.

So it is that there are some Interior Designers that are getting by, not by insisting that their fee reflects the value of their expertise and the quality and standard of their service offered – because of course one must make a living – but instead they settle on a 2% or 3% fee and I wonder and I ask, if you are willing to forfeit your standard and deserved fee and rather find it elsewhere, are you confident in your work, your merit – is it not in effect selling out on the talent that you may have?

Then there is the old ubiquitous club – “The Old Boys Network” where pricing is discussed and it becomes a matter of what can YOU offer ME and then we will see where business goes. Design integrity becomes defunct in this club. The client is oblivious to this and the “designer” instead of doing their job is leading them into the throes of a clique and the best solution for the client is not offered.

Whose fault is this?

The client really should realize that if you want a designer with talents and the studies and knowledge, then paying a fee of 2% or 3% is not viable – they need to acknowledge reputable Interior Designers’ expertise and be willing to pay for the quality of service which they no doubt want to receive. By offering a fraction of a reasonable going rate the Interior Designer thus elects to give the preference to the supplier offering the largest discount. The designer really should be more confident with their ability, more assertive with clients and the supplier really should be stronger and swim through the murk of the “Old Boys”, we should say no to these request of “I will throw business your way BUT you will give me this…”

My back is fine I do not need you to scratch it, but thank you very much!

There needs to be a Designer Code of Conduct as with Architects, the client can go to reputable Interior Designers, it will help all. It will help the client, interior designers and suppliers resulting in an open, transparent and ethical environment enabling in the long run a winning situation for the whole industry.