Design for entertainment

Recently I had an interesting opportunity that relatively few interior designers can boast of: I was invited to audition for a design/decor show that will air on one of the lifestyle television channels. Being such a variation from my expertise, at first I dismissed the idea without further thought. Weeks later however, I ended up at the audition.

We were 15 at the audition that day. Although there were a couple of carpenters present, the focus was on the production company finding a designer and a design assistant. You would think that the designers would have had things in common. The truth is that from youngest to oldest there was an approximate age difference of 25 years; educational backgrounds ranged from none to Masters degrees; experience ranged from none to 20 years; interests, hobbies, design beliefs and more were as contrasting as black and white.

Seeing that I am not writing that Idealspace Design will be taking the back seat while I design on a television show for an indefinite time period, the position was obviously not given to me. Initially I felt odd because there was no sense of disappointment on my part. The truth is, there are two questions that I had to ask myself: 1) Would I do anything different at the audition if I were to have it to do over? and 2) Did I do my best? The answer to both questions is "no".

The question isn't whether I possess both the skills and charisma to have been able to not only succeed at such a role, but to thrive in it. So what happened? It became an issue of values and compromises that were too great. When the director emphasized that entertainment value was the number one priority and design only ranked at number four on the priority list, I knew that this was not the opportunity for me. As a professional designer, design itself has to be my top priority; I can be entertaining in the conception and execution of my designs, I can be entertaining in my interactions with others involved on any project, but I cannot be an entertainer first and a designer second.

Design almost exclusively for entertainment value can never be good design, can never be realistic, and can never live up to my standards of professionalism. My television is often on HGTV and this experience doesn't change my opinions of the shows and designers I respect, but it reinforces that not all design shows are created equal, and certainly not everyone has the same respect or understanding for the profession that is interior design.

Seminar series: Planning the Ideal Kitchen

One of the benefits that attracted me to moving Idealspace Design out of my home last year was the benefit of being able to hold seminars and workshops from a proper office - something I certainly could not do from my home office. After ten months, this coming Saturday (March 8th) will finally see the first seminar held: Planning the Ideal Kitchen. Additional times/dates will be scheduled too.

Planning the Ideal Kitchen isn't your typical free one-hour seminar covering only the most basic of design principals and a lot about current trends and fads; the focus is on function and practicality. Topics ranging from layout to lighting and even to hardware will be discussed leaving attendees with a whole new way of looking at the planning of their kitchen. Many homeowners face the same concerns when planning a kitchen renovation, and I designed this seminar specifically to address those repeated concerns, then elaborated until I had enough material compiled to offer a well-rounded and informative seminar. Of course the benefits of the hands-on involvement of an interior designer can't be replaced by a 1-hour seminar, but homeowners will gain confidence in their understanding of the considerations of a kitchen redesign project.

I am planning similar seminars for the planning of washrooms and home-offices as well to take place over the upcoming months. Although the preparation time is significant and the seminars are being offered for free, there is no better way for an interior designer to interact with homeowners in groups. Just as the designer can provide invaluable advice and information to clients, the clients can provide equally invaluable feedback to the designer.