If you’re a professional interior designer or architect, you no doubt are aware of helping your client express themselves with the overall design of their home. In essence you’re providing an expression of your client’s values, beliefs, and principles. Hopefully, you’re also working with the rare customer who is employing you to design around their passion as well.
What if you could take this even a step further? What if you raised the value of your client’s experience by raising the scope of your offering?
Being the good designers and architects that you are, I’m sure what I’m about to say isn’t anything new. If this does end up being new to you, then you’re about to learn something that will greatly increase the value of your service. What I’m talking about is legacy.
Don’t just design a space, design a legacy.
Your clients come to you to help design the ideal environment for their particular stage in life. Whether they’re just starting out in life, midway through it, or nearing the golden years. You’re not just building them a retirement home, or designing the ideal kitchen, you’re helping them build a legacy. It’s true. You’re allowing them to do something most people don’t ever accomplish; having a carefully crafted structure stand as a testimony to their existence. Seriously.
Now, envision how much more passion and excitement will go into your work as you view each interaction with the client as a chance to add more to their legacy for future generations to experience. It’s not just about heirlooms and property any more, is it?
A shared vision is essential to the legacy.
In order to accomplish this in the most valuable way possible, it’s going to take more than just a mindset shift on your part. It’s going to mean restructuring your whole approach to client work. Your core message, marketing, and systems will have to make the shift as well. I’m not talking about a complete rebranding, I’m simply saying that you will have to take a long look at these aspects and tweak them to help accomplish this newfound mission.
Now that I’ve got you thinking about this, start going through your vendor and provider lists. Are these vendors and suppliers delivering the best that you can get from them? More importantly, are they aligned with your goals and visions for the client? Are they open to approaching the work they do for you in the way I’ve presented above?
If so, then you are well on your way to securing the legacy for your client with each project. If they aren’t operating with this outlook, what can you do to open them up to this concept? If you’re unsure,or they’re unwilling, then it may be time to look for a new supplier.
You’re building a legacy of your own.
Approaching the client’s needs in this way elevates not only your offering, but you as well. Good or bad, you are all establishing your own legacy with each conversation, and each interaction you have with your clients. Why wouldn’t you take your own legacy from good to amazing? It may only start with a small shift in perspective and approach, but the results are generational.
I have this privilege every time my hand touches the tool. Each pass of the plane helps bring to life someone’s legacy. I am finally becoming more aware of the importance of my own in this bigger game we call life.
I’ve been thinking on this idea lately and it’s led me to begin working on something that will enable you to provide a lasting legacy to your clients in a bigger and bolder way.
Have I peaked your interest and curiosity? Good. Subscribe to the Studio Blog to find out more.
What about your approach to this concept? As a professional, is building a legacy part of the offering? Why or why not?
Let’s discuss.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I do not necessarily target creating a legacy but I do very much focus on client experience. The results have to meet every aspect of the client’s needs. Hopefully, the value added by the analysis and research that I do will push the design to the level that it is more that just an outdoor space. I try to touch on the functional, sensory, and emotional components that create that lasting, special experience.
Mike,
First of all, I love the name of your blog, Landscape Validation. What a great approach to teaching landscapers how to work with clients. You’re really presenting some valuable information in what is probably the most crucial interaction point with the client. Really, though I see your approach as certainly building the legacy of the client because of how involved you are in creating such a personal expression for them.
Love that you said this,
Hey Robert,
That’s it. You got it. Connecting to the emotional wishes and intentions of the recipient ensures a connection from the very beginning. I love that a computer age lovespoon ended up in such a great story about a couple whose life together is due to the computer! It’ doesn’t get better than that. There is indeed a great deal of satisfaction when you approach your work from this perspective. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you Tara,
I’m glad I could help put the words to your beliefs. Your websites are indeed a component to a client’s legacy. Especially as more and more of us seek the build brands around ourselves. In essence, your work becomes the platform for someone’s online business legacy. I love that.
Enjoy Europe!
Adam:
One of the things I do (not enough of lately) is lovespoons. One of the nice things about lovespoons is that if you are lucky enough to have a client you sit down with them and discuss what memories and feelings they want incorporated in the final piece. I’m still just starting out with this so haven’t had any “clients” as such. However one of the “spec” pieces I did was a lovespoon for the computer age that incorporated symbols of love, security and marriage with computers. I put the piece up on etsy where it was seen by a lovely lady in Italy who bought it as an anniversary present for her husband. They are both employed in computer graphics and met on the job. Computers have been an integral part of their lives together, and my lovespoon just happened to strike a chord with the lady. The satisfaction of doing this kind of thing, producing something in which people invest their emotional lives, is enormous. Yes, designing a legacy is a wondrous thing.
Bob
“You’re allowing them to do something most people don’t ever accomplish; having a carefully crafted structure stand as a testimony to their existence. Seriously.” “In essence you’re providing an expression of your client’s values, beliefs, and principles.” I see websites in much the same way as you see furniture, except I have never been able to express it so eloquently. Thank you for sharing your perspective on design, Adam. It has helped me to become more aware of my own.
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