Coordination with Various Partners

Partnership is one of the most versatile terms in our language!  It can indicate anything from a formally documented legal business structure, all the way to quaint observations of Wolves and Whooping Cranes in nature that “partner” for life!  In our Interior Design context, there are all kinds of partnerships that occur just because of the nature of the work.
 
The first and most obvious, of course, starts with yourself and the Interior design expert you select to make your project vision come true.  Whatever you want to call your formal agreement – a Contract, a Memo of Clarification, a Job Order, etc.  – you will be working as informal partners in all stages of the plan.  Every aspect of your project that requires specific skill, specific materials, certifiable services, professional services, appropriate equipment manufacturers plus other necessities such as dependable communication, documentation and transportation, all amount to “secondary partnerships” for getting the job done.
 
However, as anyone who has ever been in any kind of a “partnership” knows – it can get tricky!    ​

It’s important to respect and acknowledge all the “partnerships” that make your Interior Design project successful!

Some of the most delicate of partnerships in Residential Interior design projects exist when household spouses, companions, actual partners and other family members all claim a personal responsibility (possibly even the right) to participate in choices and decisions!   Most of the time, your professional Interior designer and team know how to interchange their two hats: Facilitator and sometimes Referee!     If and when it gets confrontational, if tastes and preferences collide, when disagreements arise over colors, materials and themes – trust that your Interior designer could probably write a book about any of those conflicts and their solutions!
 
Commercial Interior design projects also have partnership constructs, both formal and informal.  Actual business partners can run their mutual business without a hitch, yet be at crosshairs when it comes to their Vision of their business Interior.   With a clear understanding of the tastes and preferences of all parties, your professional Interior designer knows how to combine individual preferences compatibly.  It can be surprising to watch the magic happen, bring folks into agreement and complete a project that pleases all concerned!
 
Sometimes, in any Interior design project of any kind, there can be input from “wannabe” partners, from “the sidelines.”    When there is criticism that sort of oozes into the process from individuals who are not actually participating, but who are part of the venue, the business or the home, diplomacy is definitely required!   Sometimes the criticism comes from employees, staff and associates.  Sometimes it’s a spouse who has been left out – or at least feels left out.  Those very personal partnerships are very important and should not be overlooked when it comes to project decisions.
 
Your professional Interior designer is very familiar with the importance of acknowledging all the “partnerships” that exist, or develop and must be respected throughout an Interior design project.   Whether the input is casual or very personal, the success of the project needs to include that respect.  When the Interior project is yours, give thought to those who may not be project functionaries, but who want (or should) be given consideration.