Professional Practice for Interior Designers

Yet another books I've read from Christine M. Piotrowski. This book seemed like it is one of the most best selling book from the author as the one that I've got on hand is already the fifth edition.

Professional Practice for Interior Designers fifth edition covered all things that we, interior designer should have known before jumping into the industry. It is a complete business guide that explain the interior designer scope of work and working environment in details. In this new edition the book even improved by adding information on working ethics as an interior designer.

The book starts by introducing the world of interior designer profession, what do interior designers do, the division and the value. The first chapter also contains a section of historical overview on the profession and later how this profession is responsible in changing the world. The next chapter discuss professional advancement which is about the preparation and institutions that help to boost the career includes the education, internship, exams, licensing and associations. Then the rest of the book is the main information on professional practice.

The book expose all of the important aspect and knowledge to be a professional designer such as ethics and professional conduct, legal responsibilities, designers work field, project compensation and design fees, design contracts, product pricing, the selling goods, trade sources, the project management process, documents and specification, contract administration, creating and managing interior design practice, advice and counsel, business plan, business formation, business legal filing and licenses, strategic planning, money management, fundamental of marketing, promotional basic, selling strategic, design presentation, employee management, goals and career, and finally the job search.

To my opinion, this book feels like the extended version of the first book that I've finished from Christine - Becoming an Interior Designer. If the first book is the introduction to interior design world, then this book is more like a complex guide and tips to dive in as an interior design professionally. However, even though this book is meant to be for all interior designer regarding the job types, I think this book actually bring more advantages to those who wants to start own interior design practice because the book discuss more on business and contract issue.