the art of a good question
Recently I had the good fortune to meet a potential client who had all the right questions. I was thrilled...at last I meet a person, who. although might not have the answers, knows how to find them. This led me to consider the years of being in business as a designr and the few good questions that come my way.
What is an appropriate question,is very subjective. Some people need very few answers, and others need you to read their minds. How could we judge what questions get to the heart of the matter? My advise is: give it a try, so you'll get the most from your initial consultation.
"How much money is it going to cost?" is a good question but only after the criteria of what space, and the quality of the work proposed is laid out. Occasionally I will pull figures from the air (experience helps) because people feel better when I do. In actuality nothing can truly be estimated until the plans are drawn....so as an initial question...it is usually unanswerable.
"What can you do for $50,000.?, is a better question, because it clarifies in my mind, as your designer, what you would like to spend. Sometimes this is not in relation to the desires you might have in construction and design needs. It really doesn't matter. It is my job to tell you what you can, or can't have, for this amount of money. I can start somewhere.
"Can you show us what you've done before so that we can have an idea of what you can do?" There are two questions wrapped into this one, and for this reason I am careful to answer both. First can I show a client what I've done? Of course, although if you browse my portfolio on line at your leisure, this might be more time efficient for the both of us. Then, after you see something you like, you may want to ask me about it. What I can do for you, you most probably won't find, because it will be very individual and quite unique than anything I've designed before. Just as you see from my portfolio, various completed projects have little in common. So will yours be different than any other.
"How will you find out my particular taste?" is a very good question and seldom asked. I believe one of the reasons for this is that we have, in this country especially, a habit of following a certain style trend. We wait to see the magazines, the catalogs and the showrooms before we will state what we like. In the course of a lifetime you will probably be exposed to many styles. It is up to your designer to find out your particular colors, and textures, your preferrances for what you've liked before, and where you are right now. This takes some time and is usually found in the things you already have. You might think your Swiss army watch, the interior of your car, or your flower shed won't say something about you....but they do.
It's always a good idea to write down your questions and tear out a clipping from a magazine here and there. Most of all, listen to your concerns no matter how they come to mind. Form good questions before you meet with me, or any other designer. These questions will help distinguish you, as the unique person you are.
No matter what the content, your questions will set the stage for your designer to know you better, and the path ahead will be defined better, because of them.
Carolyn
What is an appropriate question,is very subjective. Some people need very few answers, and others need you to read their minds. How could we judge what questions get to the heart of the matter? My advise is: give it a try, so you'll get the most from your initial consultation.
"How much money is it going to cost?" is a good question but only after the criteria of what space, and the quality of the work proposed is laid out. Occasionally I will pull figures from the air (experience helps) because people feel better when I do. In actuality nothing can truly be estimated until the plans are drawn....so as an initial question...it is usually unanswerable.
"What can you do for $50,000.?, is a better question, because it clarifies in my mind, as your designer, what you would like to spend. Sometimes this is not in relation to the desires you might have in construction and design needs. It really doesn't matter. It is my job to tell you what you can, or can't have, for this amount of money. I can start somewhere.
"Can you show us what you've done before so that we can have an idea of what you can do?" There are two questions wrapped into this one, and for this reason I am careful to answer both. First can I show a client what I've done? Of course, although if you browse my portfolio on line at your leisure, this might be more time efficient for the both of us. Then, after you see something you like, you may want to ask me about it. What I can do for you, you most probably won't find, because it will be very individual and quite unique than anything I've designed before. Just as you see from my portfolio, various completed projects have little in common. So will yours be different than any other.
"How will you find out my particular taste?" is a very good question and seldom asked. I believe one of the reasons for this is that we have, in this country especially, a habit of following a certain style trend. We wait to see the magazines, the catalogs and the showrooms before we will state what we like. In the course of a lifetime you will probably be exposed to many styles. It is up to your designer to find out your particular colors, and textures, your preferrances for what you've liked before, and where you are right now. This takes some time and is usually found in the things you already have. You might think your Swiss army watch, the interior of your car, or your flower shed won't say something about you....but they do.
It's always a good idea to write down your questions and tear out a clipping from a magazine here and there. Most of all, listen to your concerns no matter how they come to mind. Form good questions before you meet with me, or any other designer. These questions will help distinguish you, as the unique person you are.
No matter what the content, your questions will set the stage for your designer to know you better, and the path ahead will be defined better, because of them.
Carolyn
