Debuting the "Some Thoughts" series with the one and only, Carl Dellatore. Learn how school isn't for everyone, how pivoting is part of the process and how real experience is invaluable. Check out details on High Point Market and the Paris Decor Tour as well.
Read MoreWe are thrilled to announce the latest enhancement to our website - the addition of "Design Viewpoint." This newly designed area provides a comprehensive resource hub for design professionals, offering a diverse range of content to educate, inspire, and entertain.
Read MoreHeart - Home and - Great Design
When it comes to creating a real sense of “home” for a client, it’s important to figure out exactly what that is. For Alex Kaehler, Owner and Principal Designer at Alexandra Kaehler Designs, it’s all about getting quite personal with her clients.
Promoting your firm, design style, and accomplishments in this industry can take a lot of work, but in many cases, you don’t necessarily have to do it alone. There are thousands, if not millions, of PR agents all across the country, and many of them specialize in specific niches to serve clients' needs. We interviewed Blitzer & Company this month who happen to be specialists in interior design.
Read MoreCaroline Gidiere Recipient of the 360 Design Excellence Award
From attorney to interior designer and tastemaker.
Find out why we celebrate her style!
For the Love of Design and Art
“ MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PLEASE MY CLIENTS IN A WAY THAT SURPRISES AND DELIGHTS. ”
— BRIGETTE ROMANEK
DSA insure: Meeting Your Insurance Needs
“We have a whole risk management team that is staffed with lawyers, risk managers and claims adjusters who do risk management,” says Victor D’Angelo, COO of VillaNOVA. “This means we create tools like service agreements and subcontractor agreements specifically for interior designers to keep them out of trouble and to make sure that they don’t get into situations where claims arise.”
HIGH POINT MARKET
During each High Point Market—both in the spring and during the fall—a select group of designers from across the United States are picked to share their “Style Spotters Picks” for the most recent market.
Do You Really Love What You Do?
“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”
Networking and Owning a Business Go Hand in Hand
Designer Society of America recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Hoey, speaker, networking expert, and author of “Build Your Dream Network.”
Amanda Arcone admits it’s quite terrifying starting your own business, but she’s hopeful her previous experience in corporate America and recent launch of a new podcast—Designing Your Business—will help not only boost her confidence in a new venture but also support colleagues in the interior design industry.
Read MoreInterior Designer - Betsy Brown shares her insightful experience and keys to success!
"The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what's in or what's out. This is not an easy job."
Albert Hadley
Biophilic Design
Many designers are practicing this with or without realizing it!
Are you?
Protecting Your Interior Design Business
There’s no need to work tirelessly on building your business and completing a project successfully without wanting to protect that investment.
Finding the Right Photographer - Insights from Jane Dagmi
Lilly Pulitzer once said, "Despite the forecast, live like it's spring." And while these words may seem so simple and might not leave much to the imagination, the late entrepreneur, fashion designer and American socialite had it right.
Read MoreCoutheillas, who was born and raised in Paris, and has worked in design for a little over a decade now, has been on our radar since he first joined DSA. He continues to impress us with his accomplishments and design skills, as well as his forward-thinking concept of branding combined with marketing for high-end residential developers is just brilliant.
Read MoreDo you know whose signature represents the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel sign?
If you guessed Paul Revere Williams, architect to the stars, then you’re correct! Mr. Williams was also the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and worked on more than 3,000 professional projects during his 60-year career.
We are excited to start off the New Year by sharing a compelling interview with you. We recently had the pleasure of speaking to design historian, educator, writer, and influencer Daniella Ohad, Ph.D., to learn more about her passion for design history, dive into a series of lectures she’s been hosting, and ask if she believes whether there is more than one way for a designer to achieve success in our industry.
Read More‘Tis the Season to Be Jolly!
This is our special time of year! It’s when designers get to play with the elements that make our favorite spaces sparkle and shine in the celebrations that encompass the holiday season.
This month’s article, featuring a New York native turned Southerner, who shares that her dreams came true when she became a designer. Follow Tula’s inspirational journey.
Read MoreJean Liu's Passion for Art
Meet: THE LEGENDS
Who are the world’s most influential interior designers, those who have achieved unparalleled success, who radiate exquisite taste, and have come to define the quintessential interior of the 21st century? In the new virtual series ‘Interior Designers: The Legends’ you will meet them.
As designers gear up for the season of pumpkin-spiced lattes, candles, creams, and more, we’d like to remind you about the opportunity to join your fellow designers both virtually and in person! You’ll learn insightful information on how to navigate the changes in our industry and the future of interior design. We have lined up an incredible list of events for you to experience.
Read MoreGreetings Design Community!
In this month’s newsletter, we'll dive into some of the reasons why the shipping crisis is happening, a new casting call for interior designers, and an opportunity to spend time with Design Legends!
for more...
The winner for 2021 is Heather Garrett
Heather created her successful 360 business model by incorporating real estate, design, and build projects under one umbrella. Turnkey Design, read more
High Point Market Bounces Back
High Point may be a small town, but its influence in the furniture industry is mighty. It is the Furniture Capital of the World, after all. That’s why it’s fitting that it was High Point that welcomed visitors to an almost normal Market in early June.
Typically held in April, this year’s spring Market was delayed for two months..
Welcome, Spring!
Global Design Leader Christopher Peacock shares his journey with us!
5 Tips for Creating a Standout Interior Design Website
High Point Market around the corner June 5-9
With persistence and education, we as an industry can grow and make more thoughtful decisions to protect Mother Earth.
Read MoreKelly Wearstler is a rock star.
High Point Market Registration is Open.
After a year of uncertainties, long shipping times, and constant readjusting, it’s time for designers to unleash their creativity!
Material Bank, the revolutionary company founded by media mogul Adam Sandow, brought an end to all that. Sandow and his team spent two years studying design industry pain points from both the designer and manufacturer perspectives, then built a targeted and scalable solution: the world’s largest material library.
Read MoreInstagram’s New Algorithm
Make it Work For You in 2021
It may seem like you can’t keep up with all the changes on social media platforms these days. And indeed, it’s becoming harder and harder to reach audiences without paying for sponsored ads. There are, however, ways to make algorithms work for you. Knowledge is power, so the better you understand how Instagram’s algorithms work, the more you can tailor your content to maximize engagement.
Announcing Our First DSA Design 360 Award Winners!
DSA recently launched a contest where we requested headshots and links to online designer profiles. We sorted through all of the contestants and explored what the most successful designers were doing differently.
Partnerships Abound at High Point Market
High Point Market is a wrap for 2020, and we have to say: the city and Market Authority did a fantastic job during these strange and unusual times!
Visitors were required to undergo daily health screenings before entering showrooms, and the grounds were set up for social distancing. Many showrooms
The design industry is full of resilient, creative people who insist on succeeding no matter what. And that resilience is evident in the results of the recent Steelyard survey: “Impact of COVID and How We Do Business Going Forward”.
Q&A with Breegan Jane
As the fog of quarantine lifts, kids return to school and businesses reopen, we face yet another major shift. No doubt we’ll continue to face challenges and need to stay adaptable throughout the fall and winter months, but for now, it is back to somewhat of a routine for much of the country.
Read MoreA Detroit native, Young attended the acclaimed Cranbrook School, a private prep school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in English from Smith College and a law degree from Fordham University. But it was during an interior design internship that Huh discovered her true calling. She followed her instincts and founded her New York City-based design firm in 2007.
Read MoreIt may be hard to see it right now, but there is a bright side to all this. First, the pandemic has brought out the good in people on a fundamental, human-to-human level. Our design community has shared more about their personal and professional experiences that I have witnessed in decades.
Q&A With Mark D. Sikes
In all challenges, there is opportunity—for growth, learning and serving others. Here, we’ve put together a few tips for navigating this challenging time.
Read MoreDSA Newsletter
Welcome, Spring!
Spring 2020—which officially begins on March 19—is almost here.
With the change of seasons comes a lighter, more playful mood that can be seen everywhere from nature to fashion to interior design. Animals emerge from their winter hibernations, flower bulbs push through packed winter ground, and dark tones give way to lighter fabrics and textures.
Staying Connected - Social Media
Speaking of connecting, this month’s newsletter explores ways in which designers can use social media to stay connected to clients—past and potential—all year long. The vast majority of American adults use some form of social media, so it is a prime avenue to interact with customers and other industry professionals.
We all enjoy the creative side of design, but it’s equally important to attend to the practical matters that keep the wheels of business turning. Here, we explore three ways to set yourself up for success in 2020.
Read MoreDesigner Lisa Fine found success by jumping in and taking chances but also learning from every mistake. Her textile designs are iconic, and she continues to draw inspiration from travels around the world. Lisa recently took some time from her hectic schedule to chat with our editor, KK Snyder, about her recently-released first book, Near & Far - Interiors I Love, so we could share her insight with our members. Enjoy!
We turned to High Point Market’s Brand Ambassador, Deb Barrett, for a first-person report on market trends this year.
Deb first notes a lot of nature-inspired looks, silhouettes, textures and materials. “Definitely a softer, rounder, organic block, curved sofas, not a lot of straight lines,” says the noted trend strategist and design and market intelligence consultant.
What’s Happening at the High Point Market this weekend?
Click here for invitations.
-FOMO-
Not able to attend? Don't be left out. Find out how and where to connect to be part to the current market experience.
Knowledge is power and coping skills are fantastic tools!
We recently came across an informative article that's just too good not to share with you!
Written by Haley Chouinard for Business of Home, this article explores the topic of dealing with rude clients, something that, unfortunately, we're all likely to experience at some point in our design career.
Kravet Design Grad Program
We’re pleased to announce that through a recent collaboration between Designer Society of America and Kravet Inc., DSA students enrolled in either the RIDQC or the RIDE certification programs are now eligible to apply for the Kravet Design Grad Program.
Message from Deb Barrett High Point Market
As promised, here are the details for the VIP Experience 2.0 for Fall Market.
What’s new in the VIP Experience 2.0
In Living Color
Because color is often at the core of interior design projects, color palettes are an essential tool for all of us. There’s a handy new device that will enable you to accurately match a particular color or design a palette to your client’s liking―and it fits right in the palm of your hand.
CATERING TO DESIGNERS
“Designers have come to us for years not only for our quality but because of what we call the ‘workroom mentality,’ We collaborate with designers to customize our product to fit their needs more than any other manufacturer,” he says, noting that the term “custom” is used loosely in the industry, even for simply changing the fabric or the finish.
Welcome to High Point!
Held every spring and fall, High Point Market wholeheartedly welcomes interior designers to attend, says Ashley D. Grigg, director of marketing and communications for High Point Market Authority, pointing out that there is no fee for registration.
“Market has changed so much over the last 15 years or so to become much more designer-friendly,” she says. “We’ve worked hard to ensure that buyers and designers coming have an incredible experience surrounding product, networking and education. If you’ve never been, or you haven’t been recently, you definitely should join us either April 6-10 or October 19-23!”
Hello February !!!
January was a wonderful opportunity to set new goals for the coming year. "New Year - New You".... we think that you are already fabulous! Focused on your continued success, we love sharing secrets and tips for prosperity and growth.
We’ve discovered that you can set sustainable expectations for your clients and yourself and keep everyone happy – even yourself! While no two clients are alike, all successful client relationships begin with great communication.
Spreading the Joy
Holiday Design Services - Adding layers of service to your business
In the Spotlight
“Publicity for your design business”
Events for 2019
Fall Newsletter 2018
Introducing
Celebrating Your Excellence - DSA Professional REWARDS Program
“Interior designers who engage in developing their professional skills provide more value to their clients, increase revenues and are held up as examples of excellence in the industry.”
DesignerInc is a ground breaking new website created specifically for the interior design community. Using its easy to navigate platform, designers can efficiently source to-the trade furniture and decor. DesignerInc is the only comprehensive trade-only marketplace on the internet, and to date boasts almost 10,000 registered designers, and more than 1,000 manufacturers, with both numbers growing daily.
Read MoreSummer Interior Design 2018
Interior Designers
Do YOU have a "Signature" Style
Interior Design Trend Report
It is all about “The Experience” of a space.
Exotic, Bohemian, Luxury…these are just some of the words used to describe the influence felt at market this spring. We are seeing a shift towards Maximalism, a reaction to the Scandinavian- minimalism that has inspired us for years.
High Point Market April 14-18 2018
Do You Need a Business Coach?
Is it still a Good Idea to Shop With Clients?
HGTV
Interior Designers wanted by HGTV
to have their own TV series
HGTV is currently casting for Interior Designers
that work with flippers / rehabbers / DIYers...
To audition, email us ASAP
a pic of yourself & 3 properties with before/after pics. Deadline
to apply is 3/23/18. To audition, email us your info at Casting@FJproductions.com
We’re counting down the days…
… until we’re off on our next design adventure! Each filled with unparalleled education, including amazing design expeditions, craft & techniques, treasure-hunting and much more.
You’re likely familiar with the global luxury lifestyle brand AERIN, which includes fashion accessories and a beauty line in addition to home decor and lighting. But do you know the rest of the story behind its founder and creative director, Aerin Lauder, and her many dimensions in the design world?
Read MoreSaving Time/ Working Smarter
Today there are a number of products on the market, such as project management software, created specifically for interior designers, that can make our lives so much easier. Community and business management tools can be lifesavers, not to mention reducing the expense of having bookkeepers and assistants in many cases. And because they’re created by interior designers, these offerings hit the mark in terms of specific industry needs.
Amazing Opportunity! A Complementary Tour of Las Vegas Winter Market, January 27-30, 2018. Essentially everything is included with the exception of transportation to/ from Market.
Do you qualify for this opportunity?
To Qualify: You would have to have not ever attended LVMKT or
not attended in 3 markets.
Winners will be notified by December 1st.
2018 Market and VIP Tours!
There are many reasons for interior designers of all experience levels to attend these events – networking and relationship building, design ideas and inspiration, and the opportunity to explore products hands-on. Just being in the most famous furniture city in the world is inspiration enough for many.
Red Cross Hurricane Harvey and Irma
Of course, like all of you, we here at DSA have the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma on our minds and in our hearts. If you’re able, please consider making a donation to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org for disaster relief. Our thoughts and prayers are with you! https://www.redcross.org/donate/
We hope you’ve settled in to the summer routine by now, whether that means juggling the kids and work or scheduling more down time to enjoy friends and family. Around here, we focused as always on being your support system as you work to further establish yourself in the design industry. But we do take time out for some fun!
Read MoreCheck out the growing list of events under the Resources tab on the Designer Society of America website.
Read MoreIn the modern design office, smartphone apps are being used as both actual tools and virtual tools—from tape measures to drafting aids. Here is a sampling of some of the top app picks from industry leaders.
Read MoreBefore you know it spring will be here, beckoning us to shake off our cozy winter wardrobes and press forward with a fresh outlook and a new mindset. More than any other time of the year, spring offers that special “reset” we all need to re-energize our bodies and renew our minds and spirits.
Read MoreDesign Wise – A Chat with Vern Yip
Atlanta interior designer Vern Yip gained popularity via a number of television shows, including Trading Spaces, Deserving Design, HGTV Design Star and, most recently, Urban Oasis.
What if your houseplant could charge your smartphone?
That is what the creators of Bioo hope to achieve with their new product, which does just that. CEO Pablo Vidarte and his team have set out to develop a plant that can provide enough power to keep your phone going throughout the day.
The freshness of a new, un-scribbled calendar. The clean lines of household furniture, freed from December's tinsel, trash and clutter. The sweet silence of a second cup of coffee after the children mount the school bus. The delicious feeling of energy to spare, energy released, but not expended, by December's holiday frenzy.
Read MoreWe’re excited about the approaching holidays and are eager to gather with family and friends to celebrate all we have to be thankful for this year and every year. For some of us, this time of year gets especially busy with work as often clients decide to stop procrastinating and move forward with an interior design project or two before opening their home to holiday guests.
Read MoreWe know you're feeling it and so are we. While the summer months - and the high temps that go along with them - can be draining, we all know that relief is just around the corner. Come on fall!
Read MoreAs kids, we all lived for summer vacation - the last day of school followed by family vacations and long days spent swimming, riding bikes and enjoying the outdoors with our friends. As adults, we can still appreciate the summer and the often slower pace of business that it brings. It's a great opportunity to recharge our batteries and take some time to appreciate the little things. Summer can also be a busier time for adults, especially with little ones under foot and begging to be entertained.
Green design is as hot a topic as ever. Often we can influence - or just assist - our clients in making green decisions during new construction or renovations. One trending topic is the design of "green roofs" or energy-efficient vegetated roof systems. Once installed, they often last longer than conventional roofs.
Read MoreHard to believe, but it's that time of year...again! Whether your business slows this time of year or picks up speed, remember to take some time for yourself. We all get so busy trying to mark everything off our holiday to-do lists that we often forget to slow down and enjoy all that is going on around us. Check out our article featuring 10 tried and true steps for enjoying a relaxing holiday season.
Read MoreCooler temperatures and a kick in our step, fall is fast approaching. Time to shake the beach sand out of our shoes and prepare for the soft brush of cashmere sweaters. Interior design starts to take an upward swing with clients focusing on family visits and the holidays to come. Let's bring in the season with a slow gentle stroll.
Read MoreYour new feng shui design skills will add confidence and generate additional revenue streams. This program is ideal for the professional looking to enhance their business and lives. The program will provide the tools to enhance and support a new career in the Interior Design markets of both residential or commercial interiors. Realtors will also benefit by introducing the Home Staging tips to their clients.
Read MoreUnless you are really new to the industry, you have likely run into the term "LEED" or "LEED Certified." LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, provides third-party verification of green buildings. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the program enables buildings to earn LEED points based on impact, both human and environmental. The overall goal is to create spaces that are both healthier for the people living in them and more sustainable for the environment. Being familiar with the basics of green design enables you to help clients navigate the tricky regulations.
Read MoreThis time of year is filled with cheer as a wide variety of festive holidays are celebrated here and around the world. It's a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends, to cherish the memories of holidays past and to pay tribute to those loved ones no longer here to celebrate with us.
Read MoreExpand your reach by making your website accessible to mobile phones, social networks and everywhere else on the web. Expand your reach by publishing your website to mobile phones, Facebook, and the web. Edit in one place, and publish everywhere. Connect to social media from your new website. Post your designs on Pinterest with one click! Connect directly to Houzz! The possibilities are endless.
Read MoreFeeding America food bank members help provide low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 46.5 million people in America each year, including nearly 12 million children and 7 million seniors.
Read MoreAs we celebrate our 15th anniversary at Designer Society of America, we hope you still celebrate each and every milestone in your interior design career as well. When schedules get tight and clients get cranky, it can be easy to forget why we got into this line of work in the first place.
Read MoreMeredith Melling's duplex loft in NoHo features the polished decorating of Ariel Ashe - lots of neutrals with some standout pieces like a tufted royal-blue velvet sofa and a burl-wood-and-chrome dining table - set against its bleached wood floors and gutsy exposed beams and columns. Tying it all together is an invisible, but palpable, element: a sandalwood, vanilla and pepper fragrance, designed especially for Ms. Melling and her apartment, wafting from a sleek metal machine the size of a tablet hidden behind the blue sofa.
Read MoreThe temperatures continue to rise as we enter the summer season. As everyone gears up for summer vacation, you might see a decline in the amount of business you're doing. Take advantage of any slow days of summer to get reorganized and primed for the busier months.
Read MoreHow important are Continuing Education Units (CEUs)? DSA has not forced them upon you and made them a requirement for membership in the past, so does this mean that they are meaningless?
As a professional who markets services to the public, you want to be in the KNOW and well-versed on the current market trends as well as consumer safety and health regulations.
Your website can keep you relevant in today's market or leave you out of the results altogether. Responsive web design is the way websites will be built for the decade to come. They are built to "respond" to the ever changing canvas of mobile phones and tablets. The web has evolved past the desktop with the sale of mobile devices at 1 billion and is expected to double by 2015. That's a market not to be ignored.
Read MoreI always enjoy styling and staging houses in our beautiful neighborhood of Queens Harbour. One of the problems I run into frequently is overgrown shrubs and outdated plant selections. Newer varieties perform better and don't take over the visual space that we call Curb Appeal.
Read MoreDo you have some extra time this summer? Would you like to include a nationally recognized certification for residential interior design in your repertoire? Use this summer to increase your marketability - don't put it off any longer! We've made our program even more user-friendly and full of useful information for currently practicing designers.
Read MoreMost interior designers scramble from one project to the next, with full days and busy schedules. For that reason, having a mobile office of some sort is crucial for so many of us. To use our time to its fullest advantage, we need to be able to complete work-related tasks as easily and efficiently as possible.
Read MoreHigh Point market is upon us once again. The gorgeous hues of autumn leaves and the crisp air this time of year make it the perfect time to visit North Carolina for one of the country's premier markets. Fall dates for market are October 13-18 and retail home furnishings buyers will flock to High Point for the event.
Read MoreThere are several standards affecting paint and they are not equal; they focus on different things. To various degrees, they focus on physical paint properties, how the paint contributes to smog, and how the paint affects human health.
Read MoreWe want to extend our congratulations to Lubomir A. Sloboda, a Certified Residential Interior Design graduate in the Designer Society of America's design course, who recently placed second in the Student Category of the prestigious 13th Annual Northwest Design Awards competition at the Seattle Design Center.
Read MoreIf you're like me, you look forward to a fresh start at the first of the year. Setting goals for the next 12 months can be exciting and a perfect opportunity to assess where you're going and how you're going to get there. But don't overwhelm yourself by setting the bar so high that it's impossible to reach. If you can dream it, you can make it happen!
Read MoreHello, fellow designers! Can you feel the brisk air moving about? Do you smell chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Well… it's that time of year again. Fall and winter holiday season is among us and, ready or not, it's time to start planning parties, family meals, career moves, and changes for 2012. We at the Designer Society of America would like you to know that we are there for you during this time by offering new incentives for current members and for their design friends.
Read MoreFinally, there is someone out there who has dedicated the past decade towards discovering ways to help you face and conquer the challenges that today's interior design industry faces. Design Society of America wants to be your resource for a social network between interior designers, vendors and clients.
Join us now and you will receive an additional 6 months free!
Studio Projects is a tool that allows you to publish orders for your vendors to view anywhere, anytime. Your vendors can interactively select to view any order - current or past - you have placed with them, view detailed information about the item and order, and send messages to you about the current status.
Read MoreMaking sustainable choices requires looking beyond price. This is where the "triple bottom line" enters the picture: price, environmental impact, social equity.
Read MoreHappy New Year! We've been working like mad behind the scenes to bring you a 2011 full of opportunities to network and gain valuable knowledge about the interior design industry. As a result, we're offering a full schedule of tele-seminars and webinars throughout the year, all designed specifically for our members, who can participate in
two free of charge!
A busy summer is over and fall is finally in the air. In honor of the new season, Designer Society of America is offering an entire year’s membership free! It’s true - we are actually giving you two years for the price of one! Now, when you join for the low annual price of $195, you will get an entire extra year free. But the value doesn’t end there. You will enjoy these full membership benefits for two years...
Read MoreIf you are new to “green building” and want to learn a little on the cheap, there are many options. United States Green Building Council (USGBC) offers a variety of webinars that you can view from your home or office. Some are live and must be watched on a specific time and date, but many are available on demand.
Read MoreLast month we shared with you some information about Studio WebWare and all the benefits their Studio Designer software program offers to interior designers. This month we'll address the ease with which designers can use the program on the go via Blackberry, iPhone and Droid.
Read MoreWhile we may love the colors we select for a client, it may not always be correct for what she/he perceives. If there is opposition, what do you do next?
Read MoreLast month I gave a brief overview of the book "Environmentally Responsible Design," a reference book to help provide a foundation for understanding sustainable interior design. This month I'm recommending "Women in Green," a compilation of conversations with women involved in sustainable design.
Read MoreHi - You may or may not know this, but I was allied ASID for 15 plus years. During that time, I was too busy as a working designer to take the time to be grandfathered in as a professional ASID, and was told that it would really not affect my practice. I have decided to share my story with all of you in an effort to help more interior designers better understand the affects of the Practice and Title Acts. I did not realize their true meaning until I too had been fined.
Read MoreEven when it isn't Valentine's Day, we should all feel the love in a home when we enter. It's important to be able to express your clients' soul in their surroundings when you create a design for them. As designers, we should think of ourselves as instruments for bringing harmony in design, while not stifling the clients' spirit by infusing too much of our own.
Read MoreHappy New Year! Don't you just love a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate? This year can be whatever you want it to be, so set your goals and go for it! One idea might be to learn something new to offer your clients - Feng Shui ReDesign.
Read MoreYep, it's here again -we're right in the middle of yet another holiday season! While I hope everyone has lots of clients keeping them busy, I also hope you find time to sit back and take in all the festivities of the season with family and friends. This is also a great time of year to look back over the past 12 months and analyze your business. How can you make things even better in 2010?
Read MoreHow about an opportunity to network with other interior design professionals? Could your business benefit from shared ideas and resources found among like minds? This could be your chance!
Read MoreYour Designer Society of America was well represented at World Market in Las Vegas last month, as I spent several days networking with industry professionals, all working together for the greater good. In addition, I attended numerous seminars to see what others across the nation are working on and what priorities are set for the coming year.
Read MoreWhether you are a small business owner or are thinking about starting a small business, everyone in the country is impacted by America's small business economy. Small businesses continue to be the heartbeat of America, representing 99.7 percent of all employer firms and generating 60 to 80 percent of new jobs over the past decade, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Read MoreWhen meeting a new client for the first time, your portfolio can make or break a deal, depending on how you use it to sell yourself and your design talents. Be sure your entire portfolio reflects your style and abilities, providing potential clients with a clear idea of the level of professional interior design services you are capable of providing.
Read MoreWhile we have all heard these things in the past, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of a busy design business and forget some of the basics, such as professional ethics and standards. As practicing designers, we should always behave in a way that is ethical and professional.
Read MoreWelcome! If you are reading this, you are evidently one of many new members who have recently joined this exciting networking opportunity. We want DSA to become your number one "go to" resource for all your design professional needs. Our organization is a fantastic opportunity to communicate with like minds and industry professionals from across the country.
Read More