Why Talking About Process Matters for Our Profession
The Beautiful Truth of Interior Design: Beyond the Instagram Worthy Finish. As interior designers, we understand how easily the public can assume our work involves merely selecting fabrics, arranging furniture, and styling a few accessories. Social media reinforces this perception. A scroll through Instagram is filled with polished “after” shots that hide the months of strategy, problem-solving, and collaboration that brought those spaces to life.
For us, the process is the work. Without it, there would be no photo-ready moment. Which is why it’s time we, as a design community, talk more openly about the behind-the-scenes realities. Doing so not only educates clients but also reinforces the value of what we contribute as professionals.
The Foundations Clients Rarely See
Research and Concept Development
The early stages of design are where the bulk of the work begins. We’re not simply pulling images from Pinterest, we’re researching suppliers, testing finishes, reviewing architectural drawings, and ensuring concepts align with both a client’s vision and the technical realities of a space.
From Vision to Documentation
It’s in the transition from “big ideas” to working documents that the complexity of our role becomes evident. Floor plans, RCPs (reflected ceiling plans), millwork shop drawings, and elevations are the tools that make sure a vision is executed as intended. These technical documents become the language we use to communicate with trades and specialists, ensuring alignment across dozens of moving parts.
The Realities of Execution
Conducting the Orchestra
Execution is never a solo act. Designers often act as conductors of an orchestra, bringing together a diverse team of professionals, including electricians, plumbers, millworkers, audio-visual integrators, and more. Each trade speaks a slightly different “language,” and it’s our responsibility to translate design intent into actionable details for each one.
What Happens When
We all know the reality: delays, supply chain issues, and hidden construction surprises are not the exception, but the rule. Furniture arrives in the wrong finish, tile is suddenly discontinued, or a structural beam forces an adjustment. These challenges are invisible to clients until something goes wrong, which is why our ability to pivot without compromising the design intent is so crucial.
The Invisible Role: Protecting Design Intent
Designers are guardians of the vision. We’re constantly making micro-decisions to keep projects aligned, even when conditions change. Sometimes that means sourcing a new material that mimics a discontinued one, or working with trades to adjust a detail so it maintains both functionality and beauty.
These interventions are rarely visible, but it is here that the real value of our expertise shines. They are also what separate a cohesive, professionally executed project from one that looks haphazard or incomplete.
Why Transparency Elevates The Interior Design Profession
Educating Clients, Elevating Value
When we discuss the process concept development, technical documentation, coordination, and adjustments openly, clients gain a clearer understanding of the complexity involved. This not only sets more realistic expectations, but it also reinforces why hiring a designer is an investment in both time and money saved.
Sharing the Journey Within Our Industry
Transparency isn’t just for clients; it benefits us as peers, too. Sharing the challenges, wins, and lessons learned helps elevate the collective knowledge of the industry, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders. When we demystify the process for one another, we also strengthen our ability to communicate its value externally.
Embracing the Full Design Journey
Interior design is both creative and technical, as well as artistic and deeply logistical. Instagram captures the beauty, but it rarely captures the hustle, the coordination, or the dozens of design decisions that happen behind closed doors.
By bringing process into the conversation, whether with clients, collaborators, or even through platforms like this community, we’re not only protecting the integrity of our profession but also helping others see the true scope of what we do.
It’s time to show that interior design is more than just pretty pictures. It’s an intricate journey of creativity, technical knowledge, collaboration, and problem-solving. And when we tell that story more openly, we elevate not just our own work, but the entire industry.
This blog was written by Sharon Sherman, a member of the IDC board and a contributing supporter.
Client Communication and Boundaries
