A Blog on Design?

That's right Tom, you are writing a blog on design.

When I was asked to do this my first thought was, I guess it comes down to writing the things that I talk about all day. For some reason I think I am a better talker than a writer, but here we go. One disclaimer: I call it the way I see it, and I don't pull punches.

First off, here's what you need to know about me. I am a residential designer and sole proprietor of Tommy Mahoney Design. I am based out of my home office in East Greenwich and in the South End of Boston. I specialize in architectural design for the home, with a concentration on kitchen, bath, office, built-ins and media rooms.

I thought for this blog maybe what would work is a Q&A, like a Dear Abby for design ... Dear Tommy? Since this is the first one, I have no choice but to ask questions myself. How about, What exactly is "design"? What is a designer? Is an interior designer a designer? Sometimes. Is an architect a designer? Usually. Is a kitchen-and-bath designer a designer? Rarely.

I know, I came up that route. Some interior designers are really interior decorators. Architects are well trained but some just don't have the creativity to design. Kitchen-and-bath designers are, for the most part, cabinet salespeople. Now that I've probably offended some of you, I'll admit that maybe I'm not a designer either. But I do know what design is.

The number one hurdle to be overcome when it comes to construction is the design. The word has so many misuses and misunderstandings, never mind how it applies to a project. Here's how dictionary.com defines design: "To prepare the preliminary sketch or the plans for a work to be executed, especially to plan the form and structure of: to design a new bridge."  I would have left out the part about preliminary. After all, isn't everything preliminary to the ultimate end of a project? Plus, in my world builders want it now. The word preliminary scares the heck out of them. 

Want to know what makes a project go over budget and over schedule? Lack of or bad design. Does that mean that originally there weren't pretty sketches and happy dreams for the finished product. Nope. Does it mean that the folks involved aren't talented and professional? Definitely not. Going back to that definition, there is a very important phrase in there: "plans for a work to be executed." I often say to clients that the design must limit the wiggle room that the builder has to make his or her own interpretation. The builders are often very capable but who or what is advocating for the one paying for the project? That would be the design. If the plan has been thought through and agreed upon by the parties with money at risk, then there is no reason for a project to go off book, so to speak. Of course, no design is foolproof, but a good design brings a focus to all the parties involved so that even if we have to adjust, everyone knows what the expectation is. Another way to look at it is that a good design can and should be accomplished even if the designer is never heard from again.

Guess which design will have budget overages and may never end? This one? or this one?  A little extreme example maybe, but I am trying to make a point. And believe me when I say that many people get a similar amount of detail in the first example with which to build on. Which one has wiggle room and which one is advocating for what the homeowner agreed upon? Does all that detail mean it's good? Well, that is for the homeowner to say before it is given to someone to build. 

A design is a plan for work to be executed, not just some pretty sketches. A good designer advocates for the party with money at risk to make sure what they have discussed and agreed upon gets executed.

This reminds me of a joke. Remember when the Tampa Bay Bucaneers were first starting out as a franchise? Well, after losing their first dozen or so games the coach was asked, "What do think of your team's execution?"  The coach replied, "I'm all for it."