Design Centers around the country seem to be the alternate or secondary destination for designers in search of products and solutions for their projects. Of course they are still a viable source for some designers but there is a steady decline in traffic in these facilities. Where are designers turning to for inspiration and to source new product?
Certainly the internet is a convenient source but what about the touch, the feel, the color! How are designers compensating for the real live thing in the early stages of design development? Are most design source sites that good that you feel you can make relatively good selections initially with sample back-up? Are recommendations or insights on Pinterest or Instagram critical or of significant value?
Are clients driving the selection process more than in the past and is that drive becoming stronger with more design sites open to the public and more “design” shows on the air? Is this of concern or is it beneficial? Surely client input is critical but at what point does it become a hindrance in the creative design process?
Open sourcing can be a good thing but it leads to less unique design solutions and less creativity. How can you design creatively around open sourced products from RH or RLHome? Does it create more of a challenge or make for a more stream-lined process?
How do you source? Have you changed your sourcing venues in the past few years? Are you new to the profession of Interior Design and find the old ways of sourcing inhibiting or irrelevant?
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