Decoding Cohesive Design
Design is immensely important and something that not everyone pays attention to yet is something we all notice whether we are aware of it or not. You get a feeling when you walk into a space, … any space. What that feeling is can be drastically influenced by a handful of variables and great design takes into account all of these variables, using them like sliders on a mixing board. Carefully turning one up and pulling another down can completely transform one’s perceived experience of their surroundings. It is the culmination of these variables that creates the intangible “ Vibe” of a space and It is with whom we entrust the design of our spaces that dictates just what exactly they become. More often than not these choices are relegated to the one person in the house who watches a few episodes of Fixer Upper the coming weeks before a remodel, Or worse the design is shuffled to some handyman who begrudgingly falls into the role out of necessity to land a job. I’m not saying that the handyman wearing baggy Carhartt pants and a holy pullover hoodie can’t be the next HGTV superstar. However, I do feel that such a role can be better filled by someone who utilizes a conscious & holistic approach to design.
The first things to take into consideration are most always 1) Who is this for and 2) What are the constraints of the design? These two factors will come into play with almost any decision throughout the process. Carefully crafting a Bohemian $160k kitchen does little good for someone who loves Mid-Century Modern and has a $50k budget. A quick internet search should yield a name that coincides with the design choices an individual is drawn to, thus narrowing a whole world of possibilities down to a much more manageable field.
When designing a space I break down these variables into 7 categories.
Color-
Light or Dark, Whimsical or Moody, Warm or Cool
Textures-
Smooth or rough, soft or hard, organic or engineered
Lighting -
Natural or artificial, Direct or diffused, Direction of light, Value of light
Climate
Temperature of the room, Temperature of surfaces. Locations of air sources, element exposure, energy efficiency
Scale
Division of space, Size of finishes & components, Proportions
Cohesion
Ergonomics, Ease of use, design flow, service life.
Duration
Service life, intended use, impact resistance
Hopefully this helps you to understand the current iteration of my design process. As expected your process will look different just as mine will intentionally evolve for the remainder of my time on this planet. At the very least my hope is to inspire you to bring some conscious attention to your next creative endeavor whatever that may be!