Clients insist on fleeting trends in their commercial space. How do you handle the conflict?
When clients push for fleeting trends in commercial spaces, balancing their desires with practical, long-lasting design is crucial. Here’s how to address this conflict:
- Educate clients on longevity: Explain the benefits of timeless design elements that won't quickly become outdated.
- Propose a mix: Suggest incorporating trendy elements in easily changeable aspects like accessories or paint.
- Showcase case studies: Present examples where durable designs proved more cost-effective over time.
How do you manage client expectations in design? Share your strategies.
Clients insist on fleeting trends in their commercial space. How do you handle the conflict?
When clients push for fleeting trends in commercial spaces, balancing their desires with practical, long-lasting design is crucial. Here’s how to address this conflict:
- Educate clients on longevity: Explain the benefits of timeless design elements that won't quickly become outdated.
- Propose a mix: Suggest incorporating trendy elements in easily changeable aspects like accessories or paint.
- Showcase case studies: Present examples where durable designs proved more cost-effective over time.
How do you manage client expectations in design? Share your strategies.
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When clients insist on fleeting trends in commercial spaces, I balance their desires with lasting design through these strategies: Educate on Longevity: I emphasize how timeless design choices offer long-term value, saving money on frequent updates. Propose a Mix: I suggest integrating trends through flexible elements like decor, lighting, or wall paint, which can be easily changed without major renovations. Showcase Case Studies: I present examples of how durable, classic designs have stood the test of time, proving more cost-effective in the long run.
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At Ricki Mountain Studio, we approach fleeting trends as design cues—not blueprints. In hospitality, commercial, and residential work, we extract what resonates from a trend—color, form, mood—and integrate it through flexible elements like artwork, textiles, or surface finishes. Meanwhile, the foundation remains timeless and aligned with the client’s long-term goals. This approach allows us to meet trend-forward requests without compromising durability, cohesion, or purpose.
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"Last year, a café owner insisted on neon palm walls. ‘It’s all over Instagram!’ Instead of a hard ‘no,’ we compromised: timeless white oak furniture + trendy neon art hung with museum putty (easy to swap). Fast forward 12 months: the neon’s gone, but the space still feels fresh with new framed local art. Lesson? Trends are seasoning, not the main dish. Now, I show clients before/after photos of ‘dated vs. adaptable’ spaces. Suddenly, ‘timeless with a twist’ sounds a lot cooler.
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