Chapter 1 The Value of Interior Design 15 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ■ Access design products, custom materials, reputable contractors, and craftspeople. Professional interior designers have a network of quality resources for the client to access beyond the Internet and local retail stores. It is diffi cult to locate design products and reputable craftspeople to produce and install the design their clients prefer. The interior designer can offer references to ensure the client is pleased with the fi nal result. ■ Manage and coordinate work, contractors, and job details. Part of the interior designer’s education and training involves project management. You learn how to schedule, coordinate, and facilitate the fi nal design installation into a facility. Shortening the downtime for your client’s business can save real dollars. ■ Enhance spaces that invite repeat business. Many commercial interiors, if designed well, create an engaging atmosphere that invites people to visit the space again and again—bringing additional business to the owner. For example, a fun, community ice cream shop—designed well— may invite individuals to return again and again as a family tradition. Good design offers improved health, safety, privacy, security, productivity, profi tability, employee and customer satisfaction, and sustainability. National Value The downturn in the U.S. economy in 2008 was in part due to the overbuilding and overinfl ating of residential and commercial real estate—designed spaces and places. Many investors never thought such real estate would lose value. This led to a global real estate bubble resulting in a tremendous amount of vacant space. Another value of interior design involves rethinking possible uses for space the initial purpose of which no longer has market demand. The use of interior designers in residential design and renovation projects clearly links to the economic conditions of the time. When the economy is good, more people are likely to use interior design services. Commercial real estate projects requiring interior design professionals, however, often occur regardless of current economic conditions. For example, the budget allocations for the building of a school or a remodeling project typically happen over a period of Figure 1-7 Reusing existing items that a client already owns is one way interior designers show they understand the importance of a client’s possessions. What is one memory piece you own that you would want an interior designer to work into a new design for your room? Why? Photographer: Kimberly Gavin/Andrea Schumacher Interiors RM Ruwart Design/Rosalie M. Ruwart, ASID