The design of interior work can be relevant for buildings used for residential, commercial, shopping malls, education institutes, hotels, hospitals, offices, etc.
Characteristics of a Robust Interior design work can be measured vis a vis:
1. Accomplishing the vision of balancing functional space between
Filled space in the area being designed
Vacant space in the area being designed
2 Accomplishing vision of Colour schemes that are optimum vis-a-vis
Hue (Red, Green, Blue, Purple, etc, excluding white, black, etc)
Value (lightness or luminosity, ie how dark or light a colour is)
Intensity (brightness or dullness of colour)
3 Accomplishing vision of Design style of Interiors:
Normal or
Classical (a blend of both Greek and Roman and planning perfect harmony, balance, and order)
Modern (monochromatic color,…..palette, clean lines
4 Accomplishing the vision of Lighting
Mood (Ability to create an atmosphere within an area using lighting)
Accent (Highlighting or focusing on objects like artwork or feature locations to create dramatic effects)
Task-driven (For increasing light for specific tasks in a room, eg for fine work )
or Natural light (light from the Sun)
5. Accomplishing vision Texture & pattern
Defining the physical feel of something (e.g. smooth, rough, slim, etc.)
Defining appearance (e.g. size, shape, density, arrangement, proportion)
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Inputs that contribute to making a good Interior design include:
1 Proposing the right choice of strong materials, in terms of specifications while optimizing costs for:
Finishing material for Floor: marbles, tiles, wooden floorings, and soon | ​Marbles/Tiles colour, hardness, grain size, texture, polish ability, chemical properties and so wooden floorings size, colour, lustre, grains, content, hardness, density, wear resistance, shear resistance and so |
Finishing material for walls: paints, wallpaper, fabrics and so on | ​Paints workability, Gloss, viscosity, flowability, Resistance to water, wear, heat and so wallpaper look, size, abrasion resistance, Type of coatings, strength, durability Fabrics Strength, cohesiveness, flexibility, water absorbency, dyeability, resistance to chemicals, softness, tenacity, woven ability, length to width ratio, etc |
Finishing materials for ceilings: lighting fixtures, lamps, etc | ​lighting fixtures, lamps types like chandelier, pendent, landscape, cove, ceiling, etc sizes, shapes, type of lamps (LED, incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, wattage, intensity, color, temperature, etc |
Chinaware, chrome plated fittings, | ​Size, color, shape, strength, type of material (acrylic, tempered glass), scratch resistance, crack resistance, etc |
​Furniture: Chairs, sofas, tables, cupboards, almirahs, modular kitchen, etc | Types of materials (wood, Aluminium, SS, Plastic, etc), Sizes, dimensions, capacity, Make, model, color scheme, |
​Fixtures & fittings: For each type of room, kitchen, bathroom, office, etc | Makes, Models, sizes, capacity, power consumption, performance parameters, |
​Equipment: For Gym, Spa & sauna, offices, kitchen, laundry, etc | Makes, Models, sizes, capacity, power consumption, performance parameters, |
​Artwork: paintings, sculptures, Antique items Material types-(Glass, Ceramics, Stainless steel, Aluminium, Paper, wood, etc) | Sizes, Shapes, Colour, strength, ease of installation, durability |
and so on | ​ |
​ |
2 Incorporating, in Interior design & drawings, good practices for construction or & installation of the following as per applicable Quality standards:
Process for | Applicable for |
Carrying out plaster coating, painting, tiling, decorative work | ​Wall finishing |
​Laying Marbles, tiles, wooden floor, coverings with carpets | ​Floor finishing |
​POP, painting, suspended framework, decorative works | Ceiling finishing |
​Assembly, installation, testing & commissioning | Furniture and furnishing including internal areas and external areas like lawns, landscape |
Assembly, installation, testing & commissioning | fixtures such as lighting, signage |
Assembly, installation, testing & commissioning | ​Equipment like kitchen, laundry, office, Gym, Spa, etc |
​Assembly, installation, testing & commissioning | ​Artwork |
Providing inputs to the Architects, including landscape/ softscape architects and MEP designers, for integration of all designs across the project
3 Building quality in the designing process Interiors using designing software:
1)Essential technical steps/activities include performing the following for developing designs.
·Generating Solid, surface, and mesh modeling
·3D navigation Visual styles,
·Renderings,
·DWG and Images references
·Integration with Architecture and MEP services
Software like Pro’s modeling suite Max, AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk 3D’s, SketchUp Photoshop, or a similar one can be considered for developing Interior design.
2)Detailed design for walls, ceiling, flooring, furniture, fixtures, staircase, internal doors & windows, etc.
3)Detailed specifications must be generated/captured for layouts, manufacturer details, serial numbers, etc.
Software like Architectural Interior Modelling or a similar one can be considered for developing Interior design
Nine stages for developing the design of Interiors
Design activities vary considerably from company to company, but generally, there are nine stages to designing the interiors for buildings, as shown below. Whatever designing processes and software are used, designing must result in developing Robust designs by accomplishing the following:
Build designs that are comprehensive, accurate
·Contributes to building quality in construction by incorporating national and international quality standards in BOQ/material specifications and construction processes
Integrates statutory and safety requirements (if applicable) in the designs and drawings
Optimise project costs
Enables efficient delivery of designs & drawings
Incorporates maker-checker step in each design stage through the implementation of segregation of duties concept
The nine stages are:
1. Develop interior design plans
2. Develop and design furnishing plans of the area under the scope
3. Develop reflected ceiling plans
4. Develop floor covering plans — designs, specifications, and drawings
5. Develop mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering plans
6. Develop design and drawings of Interior areas
7. Develop Tender documents- developing tender documents -technical design aspects
8. Estimate Costs (BOQ+ labour+ direct construction variable costs)
9. Provide handholding support
In the below-listed activities, those marked *reflect those activities which can have adverse statutory implications.
Stage 1 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
Not obtaining or not incorporating strategic inputs (like the design of interiors to be traditional, modern, contemporary, etc vis a vis furniture, fixtures, finishing, target costs, target customers) and inspirational vision vis-Ã -vis each area to be designed as wall locations, reflected ceiling plans, Floor covering plans, finishes, Power and data plans) from various functions
Not involving all relevant functional teams in the vetting of the plans as mentioned above.
Stage 2 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
Plans developed by untrained/unskilled professionals
Not involving all relevant functional teams in the vetting of the Plans
Inadequate Standardisation leads to higher costs
Proposing furniture and fixtures through limited pre-identified vendors with malice intent
Stage 3 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
Making RCP non-comprehensive or inaccurate by not obtaining or not incorporating inputs from functions into various design elements (like sprinklers, smoke detectors, light fixtures, fans, and lighting plans, HVAC mounts, and any other mechanical equipment requiring special venting or electrical objects on the ceiling) for RCP.
Using unlicensed software while developing Interior designs.
Making compromises in the detailed RCP design process by skipping or compromising on essential aspects such as those below.
RCP Design Features
Statutory requirements. *
·National and international standards for quality *
Tolerance of BOQ material specifications and workmanship.
Non-comprehensive RCP design-related Construction processes
Inaccurate Bill of quantities for each RCP design area /no off
Inadequate Standardisation leads to higher costs
Measurement requirements for work in process and completed Interior design areas of the project
Stage 4 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
Making Floor plans non-comprehensive or inaccurate by not obtaining or not incorporating inputs from functions into various design elements for floor plans Using unlicensed software while developing Interior designs.
Compromising on tolerances for BOQ materials and installation based on the design of the preferred vendor or & contractor
Making Compromises in the detailed Floor design process by skipping or compromising on essential aspects below.
Floor design features
Statutory requirements. *
National and international standards for quality *
Vague BOQ material specifications and tolerances on installation.
Non-comprehensive Quality requirements
Non-comprehensive floor design-related construction processes
Developing renderings that are at variant from a design developed Inadequate Standardisation leading to higher costs Inaccurate Bill of quantities for each flooring design area /no off
Acceptance criteria for Interior design work in process and completed area
Stage 5 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
·Making MEP & interior design integration plans non-comprehensive or inaccurate by not obtaining or not incorporating inputs (such as power points, data points, finishing materials, etc.) from functions into various design elements for MEP plans
Using unlicensed software while developing designs for interiors
Making Compromises in the detailed design process by skipping or compromising on essential aspects such as below.
Interior design Features
Statutory requirements. *
National and international standards for quality *
Vague BOQ material specifications and tolerances
Compromising on tolerances for BOQ materials based on the design of the preferred vendor
·Non-comprehensive design-related construction processes and potential equipment
Inadequate standardization leads to higher costs
Inaccurate Bill of quantities for each Interior design area /no off
Inspection requirements concerning inputs (like finishes, sprinklers, smoke detectors, light fixtures, fans, lighting lamps, etc) are not comprehensive
Non-comprehensive Quality requirements for completed areas
·Acceptance criteria for Interior design work in process and completed area
Stage 6 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
·Design and drawings not aligned to approved strategic plans, concept, and layouts vis a vis Internal elevation, Sections for each area, Wall finishing configurations, ceiling profiles, Joinery details including custom-built BOQ/items, All coordinated designs, and drawings w.r.t these design aspects.
Assigning the same designer to develop designs & drawings in this stage who initially developed designs in earlier design stages, thus not implementing the segregation of duties concept*
Design and drawings are not comprehensive or not accurate
Using unlicensed software while developing Interior design specifications and drawings
Developing drawings and designs that are not well coordinated, leading to conflicts or rework during construction
Compromising specifications for the development of samples/mock-up units in collaboration with vendor/contractor
Using smartphones in interior design work areas to take pictures and share with competitors
Allowing official laptops to be carried outside offices/to homes of interior designers and misused by sharing confidential information *
Printing of Interior design and drawings without any control and misusing these
Not shredding waste designs/drawings and misuse of these
Allowing Liberal access to design servers/laptops and printers *
Stage 7 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
·Making tender documents non-comprehensive or inaccurate vis-à -vis the following: in tender documents.
BOQ material specifications (furnishing, fixtures, and equipment, Finishing BOQ like marbles, tiles, flooring, claddings, paints, fabrics, etc.)
·Tolerances in specifications of BOQ materials
Interior design-related construction processes and potential equipment
Standardisation
·Bill of quantities for each Interior design area/no off
Interior design features in GFC drawings
·Statutory requirements. *
·National and international standards for quality *
Measurement requirements for work in process and completed Interior design areas of the project
Inspection requirements concerning inputs and workmanship are not comprehensive
Stage 8 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical
·Making cost estimates based on non-validated assumptions of BOQ material rates from vendors’ design or cost estimates from contractors.
Deliberately skipping a few BOQ materials from the scope of costs
·Not computing costs on 1st Principal vis-à -vis raw materials, Direct construction materials, and costs of labour/fabrication or installation, leading to underestimating or overestimating project costs.
Stage 9 activities that can adversely impact business (including unethical)
Interior designer/consultant not providing adequate inputs and handholding support to the project team for:
Development of detailed specification and quality requirements
Development of sample boards or samples for developing Interior designs.
Selection of vendors for BOQ items
Inspection of interior design items.
Insisting on sourcing specific brands of BOQ materials and interior design-related consultancy services from vendor and service providers, respectively in collaboration with them in return for kickbacks *