Every interior design project is different. Or at least I think it should be. Personalised and adjusted to clients’ needs and desires, to create a space made-to-measure. But what actually is an interior design project? What does it consist of? All the abstract aspects like composition, imagination ecc., aside - each project should consist of certain elements that help make it come to life through the design process.
Below is my personal list of the elements I propose in my services when working with individual clients.
INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT ELEMENTS:
1. LAYOUT
Layout is basically a flat 2D drawing of the space viewed ‘from above’, with measurements, to present the suggested disposition of the space with all the furnishing. The layout drawing helps both the client and the designer to understand how the space will be used and how it will function. I usually prepare 2-3 variants, from which the client choses one that will later be developed in detail. It’s also quite common to mix two or more different versions to create the best one.
2. MOODBOARD
rugsociety.eu on Pinterest
You’ve probably heard this, in my opinion, nicely sounding word. But if you don’t really know what a moodboard is - it’s a visual board that represents examples of interior solutions proposed for the project. Moodboards can be more abstract and show colors, materials, technical solutions, and the general style that you want to implement in a project. But it can also present the actual choice of furniture proposed for a certain space, arranged more or less to simulate the interior. Thanks to moodboards, the client already has a better idea of what to expect later on. It helps to determine the basis needed for the next step.
3. 3D VISUALISATIONS
This project element is probably self explanatory as it means images generated using specialised software that depict the designed interiors in a photorealistic character (oof, that sounded a bit too professional…). You’ve probably seen lots of them on various social media (and on my website). They show materials, colors, furniture and general solutions used in the project. Visualisations are really helpful. When the designer is skilled enough, they can look like photos. This way the clients can easily imagine how their space will look like.
4. EXECUTIVE DRAWINGS
part of an electricity scheme
Even though they are not as ‘pretty’ as renderings and you probably won’t see them on interior designers’ social media accounts, they are by far the most important part of each interior design project. They are flat 2D drawings that clarify all the ideas and decisions made in previous steps. They combine all the information necessary for a construction company to execute a renovation according to the project. Among those drawings, there usually are electricity and plumbing schemes, drawings of ceilings, floors, general disposition of walls and their finishing or detailed drawings of custom furniture. You can realise a project without 3d visualisations but it would be hard to do it without executive drawings. They make lives of both interior designers and contractors much simpler.
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5. PRODUCT LIST
light fixtures list
Otherwise called specification, a product list is a list of all the elements used in the project. From furniture to finishing materials, to lighting ecc. – it’s a kind of a shopping list that helps collect/buy all the things necessary to execute the project.
6. OUTLINE FOR COST ESTIMATE
It’s a generalised list of all the works – from demolition, to tiling, to painting ecc. It might sound complicated but thanks to that list it’s much easier to keep up with the works during construction and to talk with contractors about their quotations. Depending on a designer, it can be more or less detailed but it should be based on all the decisions made during the whole interior design process.
I’m curious to know what your process look like. Do you use those interior design project elements?
If you'd like to know more or are interested in working with me, please feel free to contact me on contact@aleksandranorman.com or use the contact form here.
