“The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live.” – Albert Hadley.
from House Beautiful & Elle Decor
Hadley's own office
The words of a renowned and redoubtable designer.
You can tell, can’t you, from just these two pictures, with what care he crafted these rooms to reflect their very different occupants? Then look how differently he interprets his own!
The most recent issue of Icon (ASID’s magazine) includes an interview with Shashi Caan, the current president of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers, and the founding principal of the eponymous Collective. Her ‘take’ on the meaning of design is summarized in this emphatic statement: “The promotion of human well-being is the end goal of design.” She elucidates: “I believe that this is not new but a clarification of the knowledge which distinguishes the expertise of the designer of interiors… It is about educated and artful decision making which shapes the intended human behavior and outcomes”. Ms. Caan has a great deal more insight than I’ve excerpted here, but I love how she explains and validates, all at once, both why one would hire a designer and why one would become one.
It’s no secret that the “built environment” design trades have been battered lately by all sorts of external forces – the Internet and the Great Recession probably being the most forceful – and there’s no doubt that all of us who practice architecture, interior design and interior decorating are reshaping how we work. However, the core premise of why we do this work, constantly challenging both the right and the left side of our brains, and why it might matter, and why our clients hire us (we hope!) is just that: a conviction that in the end, when we’re successful, our efforts promote well-being.
This is not intended as some sort of manifesto on my part, simply a train of thought triggered by those of a couple of the most inspired designers of our time. Sometimes it’s just helpful to reflect on why you’re doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s all triggered by the recent overhaul of our website (hooray!), with many thanks to our talented and patient neighbors, Pulp + Wire!
Please let us know what you think? Best to you all.
