Building Design’s Post

**Balancing Overbuilding with Practicality: Lessons Learned** 🛠️🛏️ There’s absolutely nothing wrong with overbuilding something. In fact, often overbuilding can be a good thing. It makes things stronger, sturdier, and longer-lasting. However, there are certain cases where overbuilding can cause problems down the road. Take, for instance, a personal project of mine: I built my son a bed. It was a nice, cool-looking, well-overbuilt bed, which was great. I didn’t have to worry about it collapsing, and I knew it would last a lifetime. However, I did not consider that he would outgrow the bed. So here I am today, undoing what I did when I built the bed, thinking to myself, "Why the heck did I put so many screws, fasteners, and supports into this thing?" Here I am taking twice as long to disassemble this bed than if I had just made it to achieve the goal I was setting, instead of meeting the standards of the Fort Knox physical security team. 🤦♂️🔧 **Here’s the lesson:** When creating new things, whether it's a piece of furniture, a software solution, or a business process, it’s essential to balance robustness with practical future needs. Overbuilding can lead to longevity and durability, but it can also lead to unnecessary complexity and difficulty in making future adjustments. **Key Takeaways:** 1. **Assess Future Needs**: Consider how the needs might change over time and design with flexibility in mind. 🔄 2. **Simplify When Possible**: Sometimes, meeting the immediate goal efficiently is better than exceeding requirements unnecessarily. ✔️ 3. **Plan for Adjustments**: Make your design easy to modify or disassemble if future changes are anticipated. 🛠️ Just something to think about when creating new things. How do you balance durability with flexibility in your projects? #ProjectManagement #DesignThinking #ContinuousImprovement #LessonsLearned #ProfessionalDevelopment #Innovation #Flexibility #Engineering #Construction #SmartDesign #ServiceNow

Is focus always good? I'm sure you saw all those articles about how to stay in the flow, focus on a task, create an environment not to be distracted, etc. Reading them, you can assume that being focused is good. But what if you are too focused? There are some advantages of having the ability to focus on something for a long time, but there are also serious drawbacks. The main threat of strong focus is that you can't see the bigger picture. Simply because it's out of your focus, so you couldn't even mention it, you can also focus on a specific cluster of solutions and entirely miss all other options. I have a lot of experience with over-focused work, so here are a few tools I use to escape the focus trap: - Always recheck if there are other options - If it looks like there aren't other options, come up with at least two (because there always are) - Pre-plan time for a birds-eye view (such a schedule can become a safety catch) - Ask for a second opinion #design #work #productivity

If you’re young and thinking of becoming an architect, don’t. Well, unless you’re prepared for the following: 8% of your life spent getting qualified.  15% of your life thinking today’s gonna be the day where your boss lets you lead a project. 20% of your life wondering why Steve, who’s been here a year less than you, is getting paid 5k more.  12% of your life having secret meetings with recruiters.  23% of your life on the phone to the planning office.  5% of your life watching your beautiful designs disintegrate due to D&B.  17% of your life dreaming of becoming a Design Manager, or PM, or, in fact, anything that’s not an architect. A dinner lady, who cares, anything. ANYTHING!! Fingers crossed that all adds up to 100%. Oh, what about sleep? Erm, what about it? And, to further encourage you that this is definitely the career your tutors and the internet tells you it is, I thought I’d draw the typical timeline of an architect’s life. 

Balancing Multiple Projects and Maximising Productivity ⚖️ As an interior designer, managing multiple projects simultaneously can be both exhilarating and challenging. Here is what I do: 1. Prioritise and Plan 🗓️ - I establish clear priorities and create detailed project plans. This helps in allocating time and resources effectively, ensuring timely progress on all fronts. 2. Delegate Wisely 🤝 - I delegate tasks based on individual strengths in my team. This not only distributes the workload but also empowers team members and fosters a collaborative environment. 3. Time Management ⏰ - I allocate specific time blocks for different tasks and avoid multitasking. Focused work periods can significantly enhance productivity and the quality of output. #InteriorDesign #ProjectManagement #ProductivityTips #TimeManagement #Teamwork #Prioritization #DesignProjects #CreativeProcess #WorkEfficiency #DesignLeadership

This is How I Saved Lakhs and Hours with One Simple Idea! Read on As an interior designer, my days revolve around creativity, client meetings and endless to- do lists. Inspiration can strike at any moment, but juggling projects, deadlines, and ever-changing requests can sometimes turn my day into a nightmare. I always keep saying that the key to a smoother workflow and maximizing your creative potential lies in this powerful tool – Systems It may sound boring and dull. But these are the reasons why systems are a secret weapon for me! 1. Streamlined Client Communication I always want a scenario where project specifics are immediately transparent. With a defined onboarding system, you can ensure clients understand your process, communication channels, and decision-making protocols. This sets expectations upfront, saving you time and frustration down the line. 2. Project Management Powerhouse Create a project management system tailored to your needs. Whether it's a digital tool or a classic planner, having a central place for project details, timelines, and tasks helps you stay organized and meet deadlines. 3. Effortless Design Workflow Quit redoing everything from scratch for each project! Establish a design process system, starting from client meetings to final presentations. Templates for mood boards, design proposals, and client questionnaires streamline your workflow and maintain consistency across projects. 4. Boost Your Creativity When your mental space is cluttered with mundane tasks, creativity suffers. Systems free up your mind by automating repetitive processes. This clarity allows you to focus on what you do best – crafting stunning, innovative designs. 5. Grow your business As your clientele expands, reliable systems are crucial for upholding quality and productivity. Scalable systems enable you to handle new projects smoothly while keeping client satisfaction intact. Agree? What are your thoughts on this? Let’s talk I am Salman, an interior designer and I am here to help you #architects #interiordesign #tips #systems

New design projects are exciting! But how do you ensure they come to life in the given timeline? Here’s a step-by-step guide 👇🏼 1️⃣ Craft Realistic Timelines: Break down your process into manageable steps and assign time estimates to each. While working track your progress, noting actual completion times for future reference. This proactive approach will ensure better planning and execution with each project iteration. 2️⃣ Utilise the Right Tools: Equip yourself with an effective interior design project management tool. You can choose from tools such as Gather, Plaky, Design Manager, Quire, Indema.co and more. From conceptualisation to final execution, a good tool will help you streamline your workflow, keeping you on track and in control every step of the way. 3️⃣ Maintain Clear Communication: Cultivate an environment of open dialogue with clients. With every feedback, make sure that your ongoing project aligns with the client’s vision and budgetary constraints. 4️⃣ Reflect and Refine: As the project draws to a close, take a moment to review and identify areas for improvement. This will help you refine your process for future projects. Follow these time-tested strategies to complete your design projects always on time! ✨🏡  #designsuccess #timemanagement #creativeexcellence

Recently I shared a post explaining an easy method to remember the 7 principles of Universal Design (linked in the comments if you missed it!) but what are the principles and what do they mean for architects, designers, and business leaders, exactly? Here's a breakdown: 1. Equitable Use: Design useful for people with diverse abilities. Example: Automatic doors benefit everyone, from parents with strollers to individuals using wheelchairs. 2. Flexibility in Use: Design accommodating various preferences and abilities. Example: Adjustable height desks suit users of different heights and those who prefer to stand. 3. Simple and Intuitive Use: Easy to understand, regardless of experience or cognitive abilities. Example: Clearly labelled recycling bins with images and text for easy waste sorting. 4. Perceptible Information: Design communicates necessary information effectively. Example: Using both visual and audible alerts for emergency notifications in public buildings. 5. Tolerance for Error: Design minimizes hazards and adverse consequences of accidents. Example: 'Undo' buttons in software applications, allowing users to correct mistakes easily. 6. Low Physical Effort: Can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimal fatigue. Example: Lever handles on doors instead of round knobs, easier for everyone to operate. 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space provided for approach, reach, and use. Example: Wide corridors and doorways that accommodate wheelchairs, also benefiting those carrying large items. For architects and designers, these principles serve as a guide to creating spaces and products that are inherently accessible and user-friendly for the widest possible audience. For business leaders, embracing these principles can lead to increased customer satisfaction, broader market appeal, and potentially reduced liability - all while fostering a more inclusive environment. It's also important to remember Universal Design isn't about creating "special" features - it's about designing a world that works better for everyone. How have you seen these principles applied in your work or daily life? Which principle do you think is most often overlooked?

In Stage 2 of the design process, we conduct initial test fits of the chosen building or buildings. This involves exploring various layout options to optimise functionality and flow. Collaborating closely with you, we tailor the layouts to meet your specific needs and operational goals. We also consider factors like circulation patterns and regulatory standards to ensure compliance. This phase sets the foundation for a seamless transition from concept to construction, creating a workspace that fosters innovation and collaboration. We start to evaluate the initial budget of the project in this stage. This provides an overview of the project's scale, ensuring alignment between design aspirations and financial resources. By considering budgetary constraints early on, we can make informed decisions and maintain project feasibility throughout its lifecycle. #TestFits #SpacePlanning #Collaboration #Functionality #RegulatoryStandards

During our design meetings, we focus on understanding your vision, evaluating your outdoor space's potential, and creating clear checkpoints for each phase. These are moments for you to pause, evaluate, and plan without leaving your yard half-finished. Here's what you can expect when you schedule a design consultation: • Vision Alignment: We start by agreeing on a vision for your project, guiding all future steps. • Budget Planning: We discuss budget to set realistic expectations for each phase, ensuring optimal resource use. • Strategic Phasing: Identifying project break points helps us plan functional landscapes step by step. • Flexibility: The plan is adaptable to changes, such as new trends, lifestyle shifts, or budget updates. Want to explore this approach further? Contact us to schedule a consultation and plan your outdoor project phases together.

Start, Stop, Keep: More corporate jargon? Do you have a friend group where every time you meet, you take turns in talking about everything—family, life, career? I do. My partner Anna and I have another couple that we love to spend time with. We're equally invested in each other’s lives. We catch up and deep dive into all topics, and in this case - career. Both of them come from larger organisations, so they bring corporatisms that I’m not typically exposed to. I might be late to the party but my latest learning is "Start, Stop, Keep." ·      Start: What new actions should we begin? ·      Stop: What practices or habits are holding us back and should be stopped? ·      Keep: What is successful - either strategies or behaviours that we should continue doing? In practise I have found this a great tool for reflection, growth and communication. I have also found use in thinking of this as a design process. In design, we constantly iterate, refining our work to better meet user needs. We start new creative solutions, stop outdated practices that no longer serve us, and keep the core elements that bring value. When applying "Start, Stop, Keep" to your design projects, consider this: ·      Start: Introducing innovative materials or sustainable practices to your design/fitout projects. ·      Stop: Eliminating inefficient workflows by using creative design thinking, or hiring someone fabulous like Spaceworks Interior Architecture. ·      Keep: Space that foster productivity, community and connection. If you want to start stop keep in your next design project, reach out. Lizzi@spaceworks.co.nz or 021392999 Ever tried corporate jargon bingo in your office.... #interiordesign #corporatejargon #workplaceinteriors #designer #Startstopkeep #spaceworks_nz