Concept Comes First
When I was just starting in grad school for interior architecture, I struggled with conceptual design. It was always the most important thing to our professor, and it was the thing you were most likely to lose points because of during a presentation. I just wanted to design pretty spaces, I wanted to express myself as an artist, and when you don’t have a client to meet with there are no repercussions for making selections “just because". As my work improved, I stopped being questioned as much about my reasoning. So what had changed? My professor explained that it was because my conceptual designs had gotten stronger. Why was that? I had begun to design for clients I cared about, and their identity, experience, and logistical needs had become the driving force behind the decisions. The client was the concept, and the concept always comes first.
Conceptual Design Images for Wight Tea Co
At Reidy Creative, the concept is the cornerstone of the design, and it’s the first step in our process with clients. We familiarize ourselves with our clients through a series of interviews, each focused on different elements that build our concept. We then use our favorite superpower of translation to analyze the knowledge collected and formulate a conceptual design that’s personal to our client. During this process we look at inspirational images the client has collected, along with images we believe speak to the interview data analysis, and combine them to create one cohesive conceptual design presentation. This digital concept board becomes the roadmap for our project, it determines the form of the space (walls, ceilings, windows, flooring), and is continuously referred to when questions arise regarding purchases for objects within it (lighting, hardware, furnishings, window treatments, accessories).
Conceptual Design Images for our Blue & White Dining Redesign Client
How do our clients benefit from this process?
They receive the most accurate cost analysis from their contractor upfront instead of receiving bills for change orders later.
We create an intuitive design of their space from the start, meaning less time reviewing revisions.
We make selections for the space which work together to create a cohesive design that feels personal and intentional.
Conceptual Images for our Beauty in Bowie Client
Conceptual design is worth the investment up front because it saves you time down the line. Plus it helps clear up any nagging questions about whether to purchase new appliances for your space (you should), whether you can in fact buy that vintage glass you found at the estate sale (you can), and whether it’s possible for someone to actually create your ideal vision for the space (we will).
