5 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Commercial Interior Design Firm

The 5 Questions you Should Ask Commercial Interior Designers

Finding the right commercial interior design team can feel like hiring a new employee of your own, and it is most definitely just as important. Does their design vision align with what you and your company want? Are you both on the same page? What services do they offer?

Just like hiring an employee, you want to ensure the commercial interior design team you hire is the right fit for your business. Whether you own a quiet dentist’s office, a coffee shop franchise or a bustling restaurant downtown, designers should be working to improve your business first and foremost.

Below are five questions you should ask while interviewing commercial interior designers to determine if they’re the right fit.

 

How does the commercial interior design team/firm decide which projects are best for them?

This is the designer equivalent of asking a potential employee: “why do you think this role is right for you?”

A commercial interior designer who evaluates your business and project will share their priorities with you. This will illustrate how they handle projects, their services, communication style, personality, design strategy, and other elements. The commercial interior design process can take a few months, or even a year depending on the project, so it’s important that the experience is smooth for everyone involved.

 

Does the commercial interior design firm have experience in your industry?

Asking what a design team’s existing and past clients were will give you insight into what industries they serve. An experienced commercial interior design team can mention a number of projects off-hand, procure a list and even link you to their past projects or client testimonials.

While interviewing design firms, ensure you review each portfolio carefully. This is like the commercial interior designer’s resume. Previous experience will give you and other decision-makers a clearer sense of what they do and their results.

Don’t hesitate to view projects that are similar to your business. For example, at Janks Design Group, our past projects include businesses such as bars, restaurants, new condo developments, dentistry, homes, ice cream parlours and more!

 

What was a past mistake they made with a project? How did they handle it and what were the takeaways?

You’ve likely heard or asked this question before in an interview. Working with a commercial interior designer requires trust and the ability to problem solve on the spot. It’s important to learn what the design team has learned from previous mistakes and what their response is if something goes awry.

Commercial interior designers may have preventative measures in place to mitigate past issues. For instance, a team could have close connections to reliable contractors and tradespeople and provide immediate solutions without charge if anything doesn’t go according to plan.

 

What is their approach to Project Management?

An experienced commercial interior design team should have a systematic approach for your type of business. Breaking down each phase of the project should be communicated to you early on to avoid confusion and surprises.

Phase one should include a strategy, plan, timeframe and accurate cost analysis. Expenses should be negotiated before unexpected expenses arise for the client. Ask if the quote outlines any logistics outside of interior design. Costs like additional consultants, changes during construction, permit fees and more should be discussed prior to signing off on a commercial interior design project.

We ensure to share our process openly with our clients at Janks Design Group.

 

Are they Communicative and Responsive to you? Do they prefer client involvement?

Good communication is never underrated, especially while working with a commercial interior design company. Working with a design firm is more than selecting paint colours and materials, it’s a two-way conversation about your company’s vision, branding, culture, values and goals. It shouldn’t surprise you that these building blocks of your company influence your interior design.

Having a contact who’s accessible to your firm and who comfortably addresses problems will help you achieve your design goals. At JDG, we communicate using presentations, 3D models, detailed floorplans, specification packages, material boards and more. This allows our clients to review the design before any construction so we can make any changes if necessary. It is MUCH easier (and less expensive) to make a change early in the design phase, rather than amidst construction.

If you’re looking for a commercial interior design team for your business, then don’t forget to reach out to us and see if we’re the right design company for you!

 

Post Covid: The Food & Beverage Industry

On March 18th, the Government of BC announced their intent to provide vaccines to every resident of BC by the end of this year. With that timeline in mind, it is cautiously safe to say that we are nearing the end of the pandemic or at least control of it. The past fourteen months have been challenging for everyone – especially those in the food and beverage industry. Over the past year, the food and beverage industry has developed innovative strategies and practices that have allowed them to sustain their business. In fact, many of these new practices will continue post-pandemic to ensure a safer environment for restaurant staff and guests and to rebuild our confidence in our dining practices prior to the pandemic.

 

Embracing and Adapting to the “New Normal”

Individuals looking to order food from a restaurant or fast-food establishment are now given multiple options of how they can order and receive their meal. They can customize their meal just as they would during a dine-in experience and can even select a specific time as to when they would like to pick up or have their meal delivered. Although this technology is not new, it has become the go-to method of eating out during this pandemic. Many customers are looking for a contactless dining experience, and the food and beverage industry has successfully adapted to suit this demand. A few restaurants have even implemented walk-up windows that eliminate the need to enter an indoor environment to order. The most popular adaptation born from the pandemic is the parklet patios, which have given many restaurants a fighting chance by allowing outdoor seating. These are just some of the methods that the food and beverage industry has used to survive and embrace the impacts of COVID19. It seems that many of these services and practices will carry on long-term to allow flexibility and comfort for all customers.

 

Honesty & Communication is Key

Many successful food and beverage businesses have created a clear and honest dialog with their guests about their safety and how they are implementing new procedures to improve the cleanliness and contact-free experience within their establishment. Ideally, this information and compassion will also align with the brand guidelines of the business and be carried through all aspects of the business. The tone and voice used to communicate new procedures is a key element of genuine brand authenticity. Businesses are also implementing contact tracing methodologies to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Details like this truly matter to guests, as it reflects the investment being made in pursuit of taking care of their safety and needs. Nurturing this trust develops a deeper emotional connection between a business and their guests, which is very valuable during such a physically distanced time.

 

Flexible Design

The COVID19 pandemic has taught us many valuable lessons, but one of the most significant is the importance of being flexible – in all realms of life. When is comes to the food and beverage industry, a flexible design is essential for following COVID19 protocols. Eateries with adaptable interior layouts have definitely managed better than others during this time. Adaptive elements such as furniture, partitions, signage, queue management, etc. have allowed operators to reconfigure their space accordingly while adhering to health guidelines and protocols. Though health restrictions can change overnight, keeping the space pleasant and organized is key. Clear brand-focused signage can also enhance the overall experience and mitigate the focus from the restrictions.

 

Material Selection

Products that are easy to clean will be thoughtfully considered more than ever. Nonporous materials like porcelain, quartz, granite, Corian, or laminate countertops could become more popular. The importance of clean air has also become a huge element of design consideration. Low-emitting materials will take precedence over off-gas materials, and the efficiency of air supply systems will be increased to keep up with the higher expectations and standards of air quality.

 

Change is the Only Constant…

Sir Norman Foster once quoted, ‘Change is the only constant’, and the pandemic has certainly reaffirmed that. During these unprecedented times, we have learned to consistently adapt to new challenges. While COVID19 has brought an abundance of changes, many of these changes are to improve the experience and confidence for both business owners and customers in the long-term.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused a great deal of economic loss to many industries but in particular to this one. Many restaurants and other food and beverage establishments have been forced to close – either temporarily or permanently. However, continued support from our communities, and the development of new ways to connect and support one’s local restaurants and eateries is ultimately the biggest accomplishment. The fact remains that the pandemic has significantly changed our way of living, and although we are not going back to “normal” we are moving forward to a new normal in the best way possible.

 

Featured Photo by: Christine Pienaar Photography

 

 

 

 


 

Sources:

BC Government – Covid19 Immunization Plan

Forbes – What Will Restaurants Look Like After Covid?

McKinsey & Company – How Restaurants Can Thrive in the Next Normal

Bergmeyer – Trending 

FSR Magazine – What the Restaurant of the Future Will Look Like After COVID19

I+S – Hospitality Spaces in the Covid Era Ehandbook

 

Local designers and artists we love!

Janks Design Group works with some amazing local artists and industrial designers that help us to create our commercial designs. We are excited to share them with you and why we continually work with these skilled professionals that custom design amazing products.

PROPELLOR

Located in East Vancouver is a multi-disciplinary design studio called Propellor. Four talented and creative designers have collaborated on many custom lighting, furniture, sculptures and exhibitions. All products are designed with high functionality and built to last using a variety of sustainable natural materials and forms. JDG has used a bamboo pendant light at SMAK Healthy Fast Food on Granville Street and a LED Light Sculpture will soon be on showcase Earnest Ice Cream in North Vancouver.

www.propellor.ca

SHIPWAY Living Design

Romney of Shipway Living Design creates designer furniture and home décor from locally sourced sustainable materials. Most pieces are made of Douglas Fir from a managed forest on Cortes Island and all glues and finishes used are eco-friendly. His strong environmental commitment, well-being for the client and support to local small economies makes for one great product! This summer you’ll be able to test out his furniture at Earnest Ice Cream in North Vancouver.

www.shipway.ca

BY NATURE DESIGN

The best way to bring the outdoors in is By Nature Design. The company was started by two Frenchman with a passion for horticulture and innovative design. Their range of living and preserved plants and moss will work in any environment. Whether your space has light or not there is a green application for you. Their products lend to be low maintenance, creative applications and designs that could integrate company branding and are beneficial for your environmental well-being. You can see a variety of products we have installed at Rocky Mountain Flatbread, SMAK Healthy Fast Food, Earnest Ice Cream in North Vancouver and Blenz at Central City.

www.bynaturedesign.ca

DREAM WALL DESIGNS

Emma has many creative talents but since moving to Port Moody in 2005 she started her own mural business. She has hand painted many large and small scaled residential and commercial interiors throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Her vast techniques and easy going attitude provide a smooth process to create that unique design to enhance your space. JDG has been working with Emma for several years on projects such as Nando’s, Nosh and Earnest Ice Cream.

www.dreamwalldesigns.ca

LAUREN MORRIS

Lauren is originally from Cape Town, South Africa. There she first studied graphic design, then moved to study the fine arts in Washington D.C. and Vancouver at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Now she paints in mediums of pencil, charcoal and acrylic paint which she teaches as well.  Her paintings have been showcased in many shows and exhibits around the city including the popular East Side Culture Crawl. To see here painting style, visit Lauren’s website to see her completed works or work with her to commission a piece to your specific space. JDG was very happy with her work for Nando’s Flame Grilled Chicken and Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria locations.

www.lmdesignsstudio.com

DISTINCT INTERIORS

Concrete has been a very popular material for residential or commercial interiors in the past few years. Randy Orr who is a certified master craftsman in the application of plastering techniques, handcrafts ultra-thin concrete overlays. These can be applied to most interior and exterior substrates and are lightweight, non-combustible, water proof, mold resistant. With his finishing and detail skills, he can produce a variety of authentic textures and match to any paint colour. Some of his projects include walls and columns, fireplaces, counter tops and signage but the possibilities are endless.

www.distinctinteriors.net