"What a waste of money"

This post on Hacker news really defines for me why I need to take a break from design, especially corporate design.  Many the comments in here are exactly what clients and end users think.  Yes, there are a few comments rebuking the concept that good design is expensive but most focus on the perceived "wasted" resources-money as well as energy-going into space design.  To be fair, Interior Design is essentially a luxury service, icing on the basic need of shelter.  Yes, there are lots of studies done on improving productivity, morale and decreasing employee attrition.  However, no one seems to care about that when it really gets down to brass tacks.  All that matters is money.  And sometimes, it's not even the actual amount of money you spend.  I have had more than one client that was concerned about "optics"  They spent MORE money to make it look like they spent less so employees wouldn't think that the company valued how their space looks over how much an employee was paid.  So, they spent the same amount of money building a life-sucking dilbert-ville instead of a space that the employees might like with access to views and sunlight; control over the lighting in their space; better common areas where people can get to know their co-workers and feel connected to them.  I have had clients tell me that red paint "looked expensive"  Are you kidding me?  Paint costs the same, no matter what color it is!!!  The business of Interior Design is stupidly demanding, given what it is.  Partially because Interior Designers do not get paid nearly enough for the the ridiculous amount of hours and energy put forth in an effort to please your client and create a design that you are happy to have your name on.  Just to define this a little more, since everyone thinks they are not paid enough.  The minimum work week is 45 hours.  Even then, you can't get everything done that needs to be done.  There is always more-one more drawing to do, one more design iteration, one more hour on that detail...it's never done.  In my twelve years of working in the industry, I have been treated for TMJ and panic attacks, and been admitted to the hospital twice with life-threatening asthma attacks because I was too busy to take my medicine.  Yes, all of that is my fault, not the industry's fault, as I am ultimately responsible for my own health.  However, none of my friends in other industries report similar issues.   The other issue I have with this industry is value.  We do not value ourselves.  We give away our services for far less fee than other professional services. THEN we perform extra services without asking for more money.  Just dumb.  If we don't value ourselves, how can we expect people who are uninformed about what we do to value us?
I suppose my real question is, is there a way to change the perceptions of the general public, so they think that Interior Design is something worth spending money to hire a professional?  Do we charge more, don't back down on those fees and embrace the luxury nature of our services?  By charging more than we do, does this make people want it because they can't have it?  I would love to hear thoughts on this-both from people in the industry and not in the industry.

Photo credits: from my portfolio. SRAM Offices, Chicago, Illinois by RTKL Associates. Photo by Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing.  This project was one of the few exceptions to the above.  The client was very involved in the creation of the space, even in the development of custom furniture for the space, and really appreciated what we as interior designers could bring to the table.  I think mainly because they were designers themselves and "got it."

Just wait till next year!

Being an Auburn fan...


Is starting to feel like being a Cubs fan.
War Eagle.
Go Cubs.

Because there is never enough white meat or rolls...

Happy Thanksgiving leftovers, everyone! (Even if you have to make more leftovers)

Mr. Drysdale will see you now, Mr. Clampett.

I am now officially taking (at least) a year off to take care of Jackson.  In honor of that I am re-posting one of my favorite emails I have ever gotten from a co-worker.  Jeffrey, you rock.  I hope they let you out of the sandbox soon.

From: Jeffrey Warren
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 12:34 AM
To: Katie Bowman
Subject: RE: our awesome building

http://www.som.com/common/modules/gallery/dsp_image_gallery.cfm/inland_steel_building?galleryCategoryID=503999&ImageIndex=5

Mr. Drysdale will see you now, Mr. Clampett.

Jeffrey

post script...

This photo is in the Inland Steel Building, where my office was located when I worked for HOK in Chicago. (They have since relocated to CNA Center) When I transferred to the San Francisco office, I was surprised to be in essentially the same building at One Bush Street, same architect, built about the same time, same shaped floor plate, but not as shiny.

Not so On Demand

OK...here goes my first bitching post.
What is with this phrase "on demand" that cable channels like to throw around?  On demand means when I think of something I want to watch and it has previously aired on your channel, I should be able to go to your "on-demand" website and watch it.   YouTube can handle this-I demand to watch every Weird Al Yankovic video ever made!-but HBO, with a show that they produce? Noooo.
I'm almost ashamed to admit this but feel I have to in order to tell my sad sad tale.  OK, here goes.  *sighs*  I'm trying to watch Season two of True Blood.  As a southerner, I am deeply offended by  the bad accents on this show.  I mean they are horrific.  And when I say "horrific" I mean North and South miniseries-oh, my stars, that Orry Main is a handsome devil!-horrific.  The only one who had a close to authentic accent was Rene and we find out in the last episode of season one that his accent was fake!  I mean, I've heard a few real acadians (in ADDITION to Justin Wilson) and his accent was pretty damn good.  I digress...
Anyway, I couldn't get Season One from HBO ON Fucking Demand.  I kind of get that-it's out on DVD and they are trying to run a business.  So I order it from Netflix.  It's five disks so it takes me nearly 2 months to get through Season 1, one disk at a time.  After finishing episode 12 yesterday and dropping that little red envelope in the mail, I go to HBO On-Fucking-Demand to pick up where I left off, at the beginning of season Two.  Not AVAILABLE on HBO On Fucking Demand!!!  Why!?  Completely asinine!  HBO, I subscribe to all your bullshit channels through Dish Network.  WTF?  I paid my money, I want some on demand action. And just to rub salt in the wound, they are starting to re-run season one in the coming weeks, after I just dropped the last DVD from Netflix in the mail.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to get these free online (preferably on a Mac, as we have a Mac mini hooked up to the TV) without downloading some sketchy software.  Oh, Pirate Bay, where were you when I needed you?  What? Tied up in Court?  Oh, that's too bad.  Now my tale doesn't seem so sad.  Never mind.