You're facing conflicting design preferences. How do you navigate between your client and the project team?

We love working directly with the clients to understand their business model, how they operate, and the functionality of flow that is required to reach success.. and then we help push them out of their comfort zone by creating a visually stimulating packet/ then environment that touches on their needs, while creating the "wow" factor. Open communication with client and great details help achieve these goals.

> Establish open dialogue with both parties, understanding their priorities and concerns. > Facilitate a joint brainstorming session to explore potential solutions and compromises. > Use visuals, mockups, or prototypes to demonstrate feasibility and impact of different design options.

As professionals - our chief responsibility is discovery- understanding exactly what a client needs and may need in the future. If this job is done thoroughly - there is less likely to be a design conflict. Experience tells me that most clients prefer to be guided and although there maybe 6 ways to design something, if the info has been gathered correctly, only one design should be offered and driven. Have confidence in your design. If you have done your due diligence.

The true essence of design, regardless of the desired style, is its ability to solve the problems your client faces. While understanding the client's needs is crucial, it's equally important to help them prioritize these problems based on their significance. We can't solve every issue through design alone, but this approach helps set realistic expectations, especially when it comes to budgeting and other project parameters.

When facing conflicting design preferences, I prioritize understanding both the client’s vision and the project team’s practical concerns. I facilitate open communication, encouraging both sides to express their viewpoints. My goal is to find common ground by identifying shared goals and suggesting creative solutions that balance aesthetics with practicality. I emphasize the project’s overall objectives—design concept, budget, and timeline—to guide the decision-making process. By maintaining a collaborative approach and documenting agreed-upon solutions, I ensure that the final design meets the expectations of both the client and the team.

Many a problem cannot be solved without communication. Create moments of constructive discussions that will allow the clients voice to be heard and allow you as the expert to share your views. As creatives this should be done not just professionally but in a uniquely creative environment.

I would start these meetings with a reminder of shared vision and purpose. I would encourage both the clients and the project team to remember the shared excitement felt at the start of the venture. Often as large projects progress and as time passes, people forget the passion and creativity they began with.

As mentioned earlier, prioritizing goals is key to managing client expectations effectively. We once worked on a project with rather ambitious goals: creating an experience center, training facility, and showroom, all in one. During the briefing, we had to break down the requirements from must-haves to nice-to-haves. This step was crucial, especially given the client's tight budget. By prioritizing, we were able to allocate funds wisely, delivering innovative solutions in areas like crowd control, appointment scheduling, and high-quality furniture and finishes. The project was a resounding success, offering users a functional space with an exceptional design.

The role of the interior designer is to ultimately create a human experience with safety, user equality, and client roi in mind. The key to achieving a successful design is to listen to the needs of the client, communicate your design vision based on these needs, and implement your design objectives. Guiding your client through design decisions and establishing trust with you, will contribute to a smoother project process. Design vision can conflict with client vision. Navigating this through detailed communication, questions, and discussion will bring resolve. At the end of the day, the client needs outweigh the designer preferences and this must be considered when creating the best solutions for the space.

It is imperative to establish a shared goal early on. If all parties involved have a clear vision of the future, collaboration becomes far easier as everyone is united in purpose. Concessions will be made more willingly and conflicts will be minimized.Ideally this goal should be tied closely to the brand behind the project.

I have found that the most successful projects are those that have were a balanced blend of different ideas and voices. Sometimes the best ideas and solutions come from the most unlikely sources so ensure all participants have a voice.