Invest in the Process
This summer I took on a big house project and found myself on the receiving end of a design project. I'm used to being the one who aims to impress and excite my clients — but this time I got to be in the client seat and, WOW, was it fun!
For the last four years, I've had a truly pathetic set up in my bedroom—a small, dark closet, and two dressers plopped next to each other. Not only was the set-up uninspiring, but it wasn't even functional. It was incredibly unorganized and hard to see what I owned, clothes shoved into drawers or even piled on top of the dressers.
I had a few different ideas of what I wanted, cloudy visions of what could work. But I'm an expert graphic designer, not an interior designer, and my knowledge on how to approach this project was extremely limited. To do this project right, I needed professional help. I could have DIY-ed it and it would have been fine. But I didn't want fine—I wanted thoughtful, functional, refined. After hemming and hawing, I finally decided to dive in and hire a local design team — investing in that team was the best decision I could have made. Here's why:
I'm in love with the result. The team I hired was able to take my ideas and turn them into something truly remarkable. My new closet system has elements I never would have considered—from new lighting to elegant hardware—and the result is not only stunning, but exponentially more functional than my previous setup.
Big projects are stressful. Life has been throwing me several curve balls lately, add in living in construction and it can be downright exhausting. This project was bigger than I realized and, as with all house projects, unknowns popped up. Construction took about a month from start to finish and was disruptive—sleeping in my basement, dust everywhere, contractors coming and going—all necessary to get the job done, but certainly not enjoyable. Having professionals who managed the process, scheduled work, and focused on the details made living in transition less painful and let me attend to other aspects of my life.
I learned along the way. Like all design projects, I still had to be very involved in the process. By working with professionals, my understanding of what is possible has expanded and I now have more resources in my toolbox. Whether I decide to do a small DIY project or hire designers for another dream project, I have gained so much knowledge on how to go about it.
Quality and value are investments worth making. It can be hard to commit to a big cost—but when that money is put in the right place, it's an investment not an expense. Not only did I invest in an idea and vision that would improve my own day-to-day and increase my property value, but I also invested in the right players to get the job done. My only regret—not doing this sooner!
Are you ready to invest in the design process?
While I’m guessing your work duties don’t include selecting light fixtures or worrying about dust around your home—they might include a creative challenge that requires an expert graphic designer to take the reins, allowing you to put your energy into other work responsibilities. Are you looking for the same ease in process, collaboration, and impressive results for your next event branding or marketing design project? If so, let's chat! Sitting in the client seat with an expert creative partner is a great place to be, and it's never too early to discuss a project.