The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book

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THE INTERIOR DESIGN REFERENCE + SPECIFICATION BOOK

Chapter 2: Project Management

The designer and client must reach a common understanding of the contracts,

fees, and design process for a project to succeed. For large projects, a project

manager will assume responsibility for coordinating these business aspects of

the job. For smaller projects, the designer has both to design and to manage the

project. Typically, management issues weigh heavily at the beginning of a project,

but they must be attended to throughout to ensure that the fees, schedules, and

agreements are all being met.

CONTRACTS

The first step in embarking on a project is for the designer and client to sign a contract. The

contract defines the scope, qualifications, assumptions, exclusions, duration, and terms of the

project. Ideally, it is set up in a manner that separates the scope into specific design tasks,

determining, for example, the number of meetings to be held or the number of renderings or

sample boards to be provided. In addition to detailing the scope, the contract should include

a list of qualifications, which are limitations placed on the scope. A typical qualification might

be “the project fee is based on 20,000 square feet” or “the project fee is based on a six-month

design period.” Including a list of assumptions will avoid miscommunication; for example, “as-

built AutoCAD drawings will be provided by owner” or “the project will be phased into two con-

struction projects.” It is equally important to list exclusions to the contract, such as “an interior

survey is not in contract” or “furniture selections are not part of contract.” This will help to

identify issues or consultants for which the designer is not responsible. The contract must

also provide a written description or a graphic schedule that outlines the project timeline.

DESIGN FEES

When negotiating a fee, it is up to the designer and the client to agree on the fee structure.

For most design disciplines,

vices, due to the vastly different nature of individual projects

can range from a modest renovation to a new custom-tailored design, and the fee may be best

structured on an

it would be reasonable to assume a fee

said, most designers choose among several methods for structuring fees, either alone or in

combination, and adjust them to suit a client’s particular needs.

SCOPE QUALIFICATIONS ASSUMPTIONS EXCLUSIONS DURATION TERMS

Terms of Agreement to Include in Every Contract

Limitations of liability

Payment terms

Code interpretations and ADA compliance

Ownership of documents

No consequential damages

Termination or suspension

Insurance and indemnification

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Establishing a Contract

Not defining a detailed scope of work

Starting before the contract is signed

Not defining a method of compensation

Not red-flagging additional services as they arise

Not listing reimbursable items

Not halting work when payments are overdue

Job:02-30056 Title: RP-Interior Design Reference and Specification

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