The design process how do I go about it?

Feb 06, 2012 No Comments by Francoise Murat

The design process for an Interior Designer and Garden Designer is for me, a normal process of everyday life. Since I was a small child I have always put things together in a very specific way and with a sequential train of thought and action. I see things in my head as tagged colours and my imagination runs wild with abandon on anything I see or read and when I am having conversations. I visually remember text like photographs for example.

I often find that talking to people who are not in Design, client and friends for example, that the design process of an Interior or a Garden is not something they can imagine. And why should they? After all – as a qualified designer, the process was taught to me over a number of years at University and out in the field.

: Francoise Murat Interior Designer Garden Designer

The design process not just of a garden or an Interior is something that happens in everyday life and that we all do consciously or not. When you think about it all the elements of everyday use have needed some type of design process. From the cars we drive, to the kettle we use for our cup of tea, to the clothes we wear, design is at the source of everything we own.

The designers for the above items, had to think about function, form, aesthetics: how streamlined do we want our cars and how small so that we can park easily in cities? Does the kettle need to stay cool to the touch when it is boiling? Does it need to have a spout that doesn’t spill hot water everywhere when pouring. Our clothes are designed with weather in mind and comfort and look. These days it’s also important to consider the sustainability of any materials and processes used – at least I do as we specialise in eco interior refurbishments and interior design.

Many considerations go into a design process. I do the same. So how do I go about it? The process is pretty much the same for Garden Design and Interior Design with some exceptions that are specific to each project of course. After having chatted with the client, spent time with them, I get on with my work.

Walking the site…

Site analysis is so important. I get a feel for the place whether indoors or outdoors. Can I get a team through the garden? Do they have to walk through the house to get to the garden? Can I have a skip outside the house – do I need a permit? Any TPOs on trees? Does the wiring need replacing? Does the sewerage work? Any hazardous materials on site – the age of the house will usually let me know if there is any asbestos to look out for. Overhead cables? The style of the house or garden. Listed? Amount of work needed, etc.

I take endless photos – great memory aids. The list is long but I have trusty check sheets I go through for every job! I am Swiss after all…

: Townhill Park a Gertrude Jekyl Garden Restoration

Bar and resturant before refurbishment

Thinking time…..

I need to think about what the client has told me, what they house and garden looks like, their family set up, their work requirements, the lifestyle they lead. It’s a time for reflection and research and analysis of the client, the requirements and what can be done.

I need to think about the constraints – there are always constraints! Even when I get a client that tells me money is no object, I know that somewhere down the line, this will become an issue. There are access constraints, limitations on what is physically possible and the availability of the right people for the job. In my case the right builder who can work differently since we uses ecological building processes and materials.

So what’s a concept?

A concept is an idea that forms into your mind once you have looked at the above. It might start with a very clear path and a definite end result or it might change and grow so much as to become unrecognisable from its first idea!

I get inspired by the environment around me, right now it’s the amazingly and and down Winter we have been experiencing with the striking colours of the trees and shrubs. Walking around a winter garden it has spurned me on to design and plant a Hydrangea Walk and BerryGarden! (a garden area full of coloured berries for winter show with a Hydrangea walk).

I get an idea when walking around Tate Britain– the way they hang their artwork is sometimes different to the norm, but it gave me an idea about a travelling train garden for a conceptual event I am thinking of entering.

: The filing room – research heaven!

I keep files and files and files….of cut up magazines, newspaper articles one every subject imaginable. I have an extensive library of books but also hanging files in cabinets that hold info I have found.

From the really esoteric – cacao making process inVenezuela(yeah I know crazy right?) to cooking books, to the more subject specific – bathrooms and kitchen manufacturers. These are my precious golden nuggets. I never ever lend them to anyone, they never ever leave the office and they are meticulously filed! It has taken me 6 years to put this together and I keep adding to it every week.

Whenever I get a new project – I pull out books and files relating to my idea. An example would be this; I have a client right now who need privacy in her garden from noisy neighbours and to shield an array of sheds from her view.

One of the many libraries in the office

So this is what is on my working table at the moment:

- books on shrubs and trees, climbers, roses, scramblers – what can I use to screen?

- a book on prairie planting for research on textures and volumes – I want to screen but not block, so large plants but with lots of texture to give interest and also so they sway in the wind

- a book on construction of garden ornaments – maybe I can place a gazebo? An arch with climbers?

- a book about art in the garden – clients love art so perhaps we can use a sculpture to screen off?

- there are articles on:

noise reduction – need to learn about this
noise reduction materials: felt, fencing… – important to see latest research
examples of gardens with these requirements – ideas from here and there, what works and what doesn’t
lighting for gardens – if I use lighting where will I site and how will it light ?
statuary – again perhaps I can use this to screen off the view?

- colour swatches to put together a 12 month colour scheme for the plants I choose – has to be evergreen or at least have texture and colour throughout the year.

Climbers to screen

I start sketching – nothing Rubanesque! Just little vignettes of ideas… using pencil, markers, coloured pencils, photoshop over photos – a whole variety of tools basically.

Draft Garden Design

Hampshire Wildlife Trust diagram existing areas

Bedroom sketch

Quick photoshop doodles to get volumes right

Art gallery perspective rough hand sketch and photoshop

Then what?

I develop a concept from all the information I have gathered – to then formulate something more concrete. My concepts (or several concepts) are then put together as draft plans in the form of:

3D illustrations (hand drawn and computer aided design)
plans
models – quick models made from foam boards
mood boards with images, words, drawings

Tub chair hand rendered yellow

Visiting Reed Harris Tile Showroom for inspiration

Hand rendered sketch

Why do I do all of that?

To show the client what it will look like. Most people find it difficult to read a flat plan so this is a good way of imaging the ideas for them.

This process not only shows the client what they wanted but is a point of discussion to refine the idea(s) and change, add, subtract or revise certain points.

Bar and Restaurant after refurbishment & interior design

Luxury Suite Visual Hotel Elevations presentation to client

Sunken Garden after design and restoration

This is the best time for me, although I am always on a tight schedule (mostly of my own making!) I do love immersing myself in my studio where I am surrounded by books, by cuttings, tear sheets, photos, papers, articles, paint and anything else that I have scavenged!

It’s especially very gratifying when a client is bawled over by my idea and concept for their home or garden and knows that I have spent thought and time and care into presenting them something that they love.

I really have the best job in the world.