Lenita,
I would echo Birger's advice that you not consider that you are moving "down" to a client's level. "Over" or, more likely, "up" seem like more accurate descriptions of the direction.
On Jul 31, 2014, at 2:46 AM, Lenita Psychogios <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Throughout my course of study it became
> known to me that we get tied up in speaking our design lingo to
> non-designers who potentially have no idea what were talking about.
It may be too easy to just say "Stop doing that." Talk to people like they're people.
> they had designers
> fly over to present to them a new design concept, which contained
> beautifully executed CAD drawings and a wonderfully crafted speech telling
> them what they needed, all the while this individual was clueless with all
> the details of what they were being offered.
Which makes me believe that either the wrong people were sent for the presentation or, more likely, the designers really didn't know what they were doing from the start. If they were thinking of it from the standpoint of the people using it, they'd be able to articulate it from the standpoint of the people using it.
> What aids in the clients decision making process.
I'm guessing that the presentation mentioned above was an indication that the designers got some sort of brief, put together a "design solution," then presented it. If the designers had been making questions and answers real (through prototyping or demonstrations of some sort) and involving the clients and the people who would be using the work in a discussion, it is more likely that the design solution would be worthwhile, it would be less likely that people would feel confused and alienated by the presentation of the design, and it would be more likely that there would already be a degree of "buy in" from the various stakeholders.
> How can we better the relationship between client and designer.
Remember that they hired you for a reason. Remember that they are the ones who have to live with what you do.
> And finally, can designers step away from using design principals to
> articulate concepts.
I teach graphic design rather than interior design but one of the things I stress is explaining design work in functional ways. "This is this visual hierarchy because people need to understand x first." "This is this color because it connects it with this other thing which connects them both to this idea. . . "
You don't have to think purely functionally while you are in the act of designing but stop every once in a while to dissect how things work then make sure you speak functionally and in terms of their needs and goals. That will make you assure that your design work is what it should be and will also have the benefit of putting you in a better social position for getting your work done. If you communicate that your choices are arbitrary or based completely on standards that they don't have reason to care about, they will have no reason to trust you or your choices.
Gunnar
Gunnar Swanson
East Carolina University
graphic design program
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/soad/graphic/index.cfm
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Gunnar Swanson Design Office
1901 East 6th Street
Greenville NC 27858
USA
http://www.gunnarswanson.com
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+1 252 258-7006
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