Who is the "designer" in your shop.

[JRB]

Are you the designer, or is your customer?

I feel it is my customer who is the designer, I just help them do it. I want them to feel it is all designed to their own unique taste, no matter how much of mine is in it.

How is it in your shop?

John

 

[Roddick]

It all depends.

Some people know exactly what they are after. We just help them find it. Some people have no idea what they want, and want to be told what looks good for the particular piece. They like to see various options, but I find with some customers, if you give them too many options, they won't be able to make a decision.

And of course there are those lovely customers that just drop of a piece, and say, "Do whatever looks good."

 

[BUDDY]

John the answr to that question is definetly Marie and myself. However when you ask how do we design framing for a customers work,the answer is "WITH " them and maybe with both of us all at the same time.
In our shop when ever the question comes to wether something can be cut in the mat or etched on the glass etc. it normally defers to my opinion. When the choice of colors becomes difficult we normally consilt "the color lady" (Marie). But all of this starts with "what did want to see your frame look like"and "Where will you hang this work. " After decideing what their taste is then we make rcomandations and when they ask for some special cut I reply with what I am able to do and maybe an alternative that might be equally as pleaseing.
But the final say is theirs. However in the words of Charles Carithers when he was teaching us back in the 80s "you have to tell the customer what they need ,otherwise they won't know".
So Marie and I design eveything that leaves our shop but always with the help and consent of the customer. after all they are going to be looking at it for a long time and I want them to tell all their friends how Great we are at doing even more than they hoped for.
However If they insist wewill do what they think looks best after giving them the benefit of our opinins, even when we PRIVATELY disagree.
BUDDY

 

[Ron Eggers]

I think we're playing a game of semantics here.

When I go to the doctor, I know what I want. I want to feel better. And her job is to make make me feel better. But there's no question which one of us is the doctor.

If you think that comparison is outrageous, I'd point out that - in the time it took me to become really comfortable and efficient with framing design - I could have gone through med school.

If my customer is the designer, I would be very happy to let her come in, pick out the mats and mouldings and write up the order while I keep framing. That would definitely bump my production up from that 4-a-day average.

That's not to say that the customer does not sometimes have some very good design ideas, but a good part of my day is spent gently steering them away from using a fillet to frame a 30x40 or using a double mat and a liner in the same frame.

 

[gemsmom]

I like the term "design consultant" to describe what I do. It is a combined effort since I have to be informed about color and style. The suggestions are mine, the choices are theirs. I have the ideas. They are there to tell me if they like my ideas, or not. I consider the finished design mine, but if the customer wants to take the credit, I'll let them. I don't think anyone ever has, though.