How I Attained My Current Position as Jr. Designer for a Great Interior Design Firm

I Am A Degreed Interior Designer

This Picture Makes me Laugh*

I was hired last summer to be a Jr. Designer for a local Interior Design Firm, Debra May Himes and Associates. I, along with my colleague, were chosen to work as a team on our Interior Design Projects. We are both degreed Interior Designers. I have an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Interior Design and a third year certificate in Commercial Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Internships to Gain Experience in a Difficult Market

Besides being degreed, we had to have prior experience in the field of Interior Design. I graduated from my program in December of 2009. I found it extremely difficult to find work in my field due to the real estate crash that severely affected the Phoenix area. I learned that it was going to take great persistence if I was going to be able to actually work in my field. I decided to work internships, free if necessary, and look for opportunities to learn what I needed to know. My dear husband supports my dreams, emotionally and physically, so I was able to continue.

Internship #1 High End Furnishings

I knew I wanted to work in high end design, and so I looked for opportunities to learn and gain experience. I did my first internship at a high end furniture store called Robb and Stucky during my last semester of school. I was so green. I had never been in an Interior Design firm, and I was pretty clueless at the beginning about what was going on. Over time I learned to navigate the store and the system.

We had a huge Interior Design team upstairs, with about 20 Interior Designers. It was highly competitive, and if the designers didn't meet their quotas, they were out. It was also hugely political, and in my prior life, I had not had to navigate politics in the workplace This internship was when I first became aware of what a tough business this would be. Many people would have left with very bitter feelings, but I  loved it despite the flaws and wanted to continue.  The creativity, the beautiful furnishings and the quirkiness and style of many of the people I met were incredibly stimulating, and I wanted more.

Internship #2 High End Trade Showroom

Next, I interned in a high end To-the-Trade showroom. Not everyone is aware that certain furniture and accessory companies work only with professionals such as designers and architects. I wanted to learn the behind-the scenes of that environment. How do they work with design professionals? How does pricing work? I absolutely loved this showroom. Today it is still as gorgeous as ever with beautiful home furnishings and accessories. And yes, some things are slightly quirky here, too. This is a privately owned business, and the owner, Sylvia has a great eye, constantly on the look out for unusual pieces that stand out. She has style and flair. She is a great grandma, and proudly admits it, but you would NEVER guess it by looking at her.

 I became more aware that many of the businesses who sell to design professionals are family run businesses. Many of them, especially those based in Italy, have been around for a long time, and take great pride and care in what they do. They are passionate about their trades and offer beautiful products that are often unique to what can be found in a retail setting.

Internship #3 Small Interior Design Firm

My third and last internship was with an established Interior Designer. Her business was going through growing pains, and overall my experience there was very difficult. She did not have time to mentor me most of the time, but I did get to see a couple of her projects. One was a really neat high end apartment for seasonal Canadian clients. (We get a lot of snowbirds from Canada) Mistakes were not acceptable, and it was a high stress environment. I did learn that I need to not work in that type of environment. But for a period of time I put on my big girl pants and did what I needed to do to navigate that experience.

Continuing My Development as a Designer

Between then and now I have done many design jobs on my own. I also did some of my own remodel projects, and had a lot of fun with them. I have also made mistakes that I will now not make on client projects. I have learned to work with licensed contractors vs. people who are just "experienced" and will say what I want to hear to get the job. I learned that some tile setters want to be in charge of designing the project, and in the future, it is best not to work with them anymore. I learned that everything should be drawn out ahead of time, a lesson I am still reminded of as I look everyday at  a funky area that I "designed'  for my washer and dryer, I learned (again) not to take the cheapest quote when refinishing furniture. (Another thing I am reminded of every day when I look at my dining table and chairs)

Grit and Determination

I am thankful that I have had the grit and determination to be where I am at today. I finally found the Interior Design firm I want to be a part of, where people are treated well, the attitude of the office is "low drama", people have a sense of humor, and the lead designer is generous in sharing her knowledge accumulated over many years of experience. We service middle to high end clients, and great customer service in an integral part of our culture.

 Now I just need more clients. And client generating is a whole challenge in itself...

* I was getting head shots done and my photographer was old school. She wanted me to hold fabric so I would look like an interior decorator. Plus the obvious cropping is funny.

Just Plugging Away to End of Semester

Busy Life

What a busy week. I haven't had time to work on the KIVA project, sad as that is. In the beginning I got really excited about it and thought it would be really fun. The problem is, my life is just too full. I managed to blow out my adrenals as well as get Epstein Barr virus several years ago. So it is not possible for me to manage my life on short sleep as I tend to become ill when I do that. I am doing my best to accomplish the most important things in my life right now. Even though I struggled with some sicknesses earlier in the semester, I have been feeling better lately. My energy seems to be mostly consistent.

Health Has To Be Managed

Over the past few years, I have learned that I have to manage my health. Whatever I do in life, if  I don't have my health, the other important things in life will not fall into place. As a business woman, it is important for me to remember that the energy I can put out toward personal care, relationships, work, school and interests is finite. I have learned that the Grand Trifecta of health is proper sleep, exercise and nutritious diet. I have to make sure I meet those needs every day and then I will be able to achieve all that I am meant to do in my life. Also stress management and spiritual nourishment are very important as well, and I strive to work on these.

Family Challenges

My mother has stage 4 cancer and has been close to the end a couple of times over the last several months. We thought she would need to go into hospice care several weeks ago. As a family we don't want her to have to suffer unnecessarily, and she has been through so many treatments that have caused pain and discomfort for her. When she was so ill last time she spent a few days in the hospital, but her oncologist felt that it is not time to give up. Treatments have continued, and we shall see if she is on the path to slow recovery.

Pursuing My Dreams 

I'm not sure I realized quite how demanding it would be for me to be in school while I am building my Interior Design clientele. After work I used to do a lot of things that were more focused on leisure activities, and I thought that the time trade off would be about the same. But my life has become homework and more homework. My husband has been somewhat lonely as I pursue these goals. But he is really supportive because he wants me to achieve my goals and dreams. Fortunately, it will only take about a year to earn my Bachelor's Degree in Applied Business Management.

Interview With an Entrepreneur and Other Fun Stuff

Interview with Christopher Barry of Desert Design Solutions

A Company Get its Start at Home

   Christopher Barry graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor degree in business. Soon after graduating, he got a job at a local tech company. After a few years, he was promoted to Project Manager. During the economic downturn in 2009, Chris was downsized from that position. Fortunately he was given a great severance package, which allowed time to think about what he wanted to do. He decided to open a computer repair business, and named it Desert Computer Solutions.

                Chris first ran the business out of his home. He hired an office manager and did the repair work himself.  After a few months, he needed to hire a computer repair tech to come in everyday and work full time. His business soon overtook his 2400 SF home. His office took up half his bedroom. Customers were in and out of his home all day long, and he would have six to eight cars parked in front of his house at a time. His home is located in an HOA, and the neighbors started complaining. After 18 months, he was compelled to find office space.

Business Moves to Office Space

                He found a roomy office in complex located by main cross streets. It is in a centralized location that is easy to find. He laid out each area, and set up shop. His reliable office manager is still with him. He said that it is most difficult financially to make the transition between being a technician, as well as doing the other necessary operating procedures, to having enough business to comfortably pay for the people he needs to hire to replace himself.           
               The whole operation is incredibly neat, clean and organized. He has an area for repairing macs and PC's. The computers are lined up in order of oldest to newest intake, with a nice big table with tools and components organized nearby for the repairs. He has an area especially for I-pads, with all necessary repair components hung up in a neat and orderly fashion. He has an area set up to show reconditioned computers ready for sell.

                What if a computer cannot be saved? He has two solutions for that. One is to sell its individual components. An area is set up with a computer for researching and photographing the computer components. An employee goes online to research components to find out their value, then posts them on the web site to maximize their salability, typically either E-bay or Craig's list.

                Any computer components that are not salable are separated and put in recycling. Chris has a big storage facility next to his place of business. In it are several large crates, of a specific size, pile two deep, in which the defunct computer parts are separated. Precious metals are in computers, among other things. Periodically a truck will come by and take the parts for recycling. Over the year, the amount that the business earns from this simple but effective practice really adds up. He uses it for his yearly bonus check.

Owner Focuses on Running Business and Driving Business

                From almost the beginning, Christopher stopped being a technician for his business. He focuses on two main jobs. The first is to oversee the business. He uses his project management background to keep everything running smoothly. As intimated earlier in this report he uses many systems that are periodically re-evaluated and improved on.

                The second is to drive business. When asked about how he does this, Chris said that he relies mainly on networking. I met him through the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, in a lunch leads group. We give 30 second commercials about our businesses, and his is always clear and concise about what his business has to offer. He will often warn about current viruses, and occasionally tell horror stories about people he knows who lost all their data. It is very effective.

                Chris gave me great information about networking in our chamber. He said that there are about 200-300 people who are key players. He said it should be my mission to get to know every one of those people. He prioritizes his own time to go to as many networking activities as possible. He said at first, people don't know you, so they don't send you business. But if you keep showing up, they begin to know and trust you, and you become part of the referral network.

Future Business Expansion

                Chris has been working hard, and after 6 years, Desert Computer Solutions is becoming very successful. He has worked at it a step at a time. He is currently making decisions about how to manage the growth of his company, and hopes to expand to a larger space in the future. He is looking forward to working with an architect to plan his next space exactly how he wants it. He is considering what would be the best way to expand, and has not yet decided. I look forward to continuing to learn from him as well as seeing what he does next.

Other Fun Stuff

                My boss, my design colleague, and I met with our metalwork artist today. I recently designed a metal  fireplace surround for a client. I used a picture of an industrial style lighting fixture-- that the client gave me-- for inspiration. We met to show the metal artist our other materials for the space. We wanted him to have visual context for what will be happening so all the design components will flow together.  In discussing my design elevation with the metal artist, he felt that my design is actually quite different from the inspiration. 

                My lead designer was really excited when she saw my design a couple of weeks ago, and said I should enter it into the design competition.  However after she saw the design inspiration photo, she became worried that it was not original enough. However, I  believed that my design stands on its own, and it was really great that the metal artist-- very experienced-- agrees with me. We talked about how most art is referential, and he said the only way you can not be affected by what is around us is if you live in a box. (Some contemporary art is not referential but that is about it)

                I hope the client moves forward with it!  Everything was designed and selected based on her own personal taste and preferences, and I think she will love it.

Business and More Business

Becoming An Enchantress 

This is a great class, and I really like it. I like the Guy Kawasaki videos, especially the one about The Secrets of Enchantment. Overall, it seems to do well in business you need to be a person that others know, like and trust. A lot of becoming successful is about developing character traits. Interesting.

I haven't had a great week in regards to building my own business for myself or this class. I worked very hard at my design job. I had company this week, so it was hard to do everything I wanted to do.

Entrepreneur Interview

I did my entrepreneur interview, and it was very interesting. My friend, Chris, was very generous in sharing his experiences. During the economic downturn in 2009, he was downsized from a project management position and given a good severance package. He spent some time thinking about what he wanted to do and decided to open a computer repair business. Chris first ran it out of his home, but grew out of that space in about 18 months. Next, he moved into office space.  He has been working hard, and after 6 years, it is becoming very successful. He has worked at it a step at a time. Now he focuses on networking to drive business to his company.  He is currently making decisions about how to manage the growth of his company, and hopes to expand to a larger space in the future,

Business Building Through Networking

Chris gave me great information about networking in our chamber. He said that there are about 200-300 people who are key players. He said it should be my mission to get to know every one of those people. He prioritizes his own time to go to as many networking activities as possible. He said at first, people don't know you, so they don't send you business. But if you keep showing up, they begin to know and trust you, and you become part of the referral network.

I am trying to learn how to be great at networking and so I appreciated his willingness to share what he knows.  I am glad I am learning the fine points of networking as I find out how to be a successful entrepreneur.

Have I Started a New Business for Real?

Kiva Project

Well it was another busy week. Trying to do too much in too little time. Plus this time of year some illnesses are going around, and so sometimes I am not doing so well. Meanwhile, I think that a class like this is teaching me that, despite the ups and downs, I must persevere.

That is how business is. Nothing is perfect, and we have to make adjustments as we go along. I had my business idea for doing the Easter treat, but honestly it doesn't excite me anymore. At the beginning of this class, I called my stepdaughter to ask her opinion about what I could do, and she said if I made dresses for the girls-- her two daughters, ages 5 and 8, that she would buy them. Also she knows other young moms who might do that as well.

Recently I decided I would rather sew for my Kiva project. But I don't want to do anything complicated, so I am making personalized t-shirt dresses. I bought shirts for $5 in colors the girls will love, and then I found a corresponding knit fabric to add a little skirt and possibly trim around the sleeves.

I found a product called "Print-N-Press", which is a fabric on  a backing that can go through a regular printer. I can print on it whatever images I like, then heat set it with a dry iron. Then I trim it and iron on to the shirt, then peel off the backing.

 I am thinking about what I want to print, and I love the idea of personalizing. I think I can ask a little more money, because it is no longer just a simple t-shirt dress. I thought maybe I can do the first initial of each girl's name, and then a representation of maybe 3 things that they are interested in. It will cost me about $11-12 for each dress, I'll spend about 1 1/2 hours per each, and because they are personalized I think I can ask at least $25 a piece. That sounds a lot more fun to me.

A New Product

On a longer term basis, I want to do a business that doesn't compete with my boss's Interior Design Firm. Also I want an alternate source of income.  We have a gentle-ladies agreement that I don't try to run any Interior Design jobs on the side while I am working for her. In exchange for her mentoring and training, any clients I pick up have to be run through her business. I am honoring this agreement.

This class started me thinking about products I could invent as another type of business for myself.  I tried a moisturizing body wash a couple of months ago by L'Occitaine. It was a great product! And you only need to use a few drops. But I checked the price, and it is $35 for about 6 ounces. Also I couldn't pronounce some of the ingredients.

I am interested in non-toxic, natural and gentle skin care anyway, so I thought why not do some research and come up with my own product? So I made this body wash that is liquid unscented castile soap, with coconut oil, honey and a few other key ingredients. It's not quite edible, but almost.

I have been using it myself for a few weeks, and I love how soft my skin is now. It seems to be concentrated, even though that wasn't my original intent. I only need to use a small amount. I made it as body wash, but started using it on my face, and I love it.

I was using the Neutrogena body wash from Costco before I started using this. I have a bottle in the shower that is almost used up so I wanted to finish it.  I have used it for so long, up until now. But after using my own body wash for a couple of weeks, I no longer like it!!!

Also my husband has really sensitive skin, so I asked him to start using it. He hasn't had any reactions to it, and it is very moisturizing. I want him to try it for at least 2 weeks, which he will do if he continues to not have any reactions to it.

Product Testing

 I want to do more product testing on a small scale. I made my second batch of body wash and made a few small sample sizes. This idea has been on my mind for several weeks so I have been online buying bottles in bulk in the sizes I think I will need, as well as the ingredients I wanted to use.

My friend, Jennifer runs a nail business out of her house and has many clients over. So I left a few samples for her to pass out to any clients she thinks will be interested. I made a sheet that lists the ingredients and talks about the properties of the product, I asked that anyone who wants to try a free sample leave their name and phone # so I can ask questions about how they like it and anything that needs to change.

So that is where I'm at with it. We'll see what happens.