Col lab' o rate: "to labor together" (Webster's). Curiously, we in the world of design are often fearful of drawing other professionals into our projects. Why? The reasons may be different for everyone. Perhaps we blame creativity, personalities or working styles. What we can agree upon, however, is there’s no escaping collaboration in design. This "team approach" is a worthy one and it benefits all players!


NETWORK VALUE

Let's take a closer look. Because none of us is fully immersed in all facets of building and home design, we designers need other experts to complete our work if we are to serve our clients effectively. We not only can't do the job without them, referring clients to allied specialists builds respect and appreciation among them immediately and strengthens ties in the profession. We all know those who are terrifically talented in design-related fields; their involvement raises the bar for the whole project and builds valuable relationships that often last for many years and through many clients. It can even generate new business or help reduce costs.

Collaboration not only strengthens your professional network, it’s an opportunity to learn from the shared knowledge and to let others benefit from your best practices. Every project is a unique puzzle and your team members just could have all the right answers. Shared knowledge and experiences can reduce cost, improve quality and maximize efficiency.


PRACTICAL POINTERS

Why not bring one or more other professionals into your next project and heighten the level of the entire project? A new decade and year is an ideal time to begin new, profitable practices! Following are a couple of pointers:

• Consider always characterizing your work by inviting others early in the project.

• Whoever makes the first referral is generally viewed as the "Project Leader."

• Meet with your partners in person to review and discuss the project at hand.

• Be clear on where their involvement fits in and who will make decisions.

• Have a timeline and ask everyone to agree to it.

• Communicate in writing as well as by phone, especially when changes are made.

• Keep others in the loop of developments, ideally by email to create a paper trail.

• Communicate in writing as well as by phone, especially when changes are made.

• Show honest respect to all others, enhancing their value to the client and team.

• Try to meet frequently at the site or elsewhere to review details and answer client questions.

• Inform the client of the dynamics of team members and the benefits to them.

• At the end, if you photograph aspects of the project, invite others to participate in photography costs, thus giving them opportunities for their own photographs (a wonderful way to share expenses and make lasting friends).

• Try to gather together one last time to review what worked and what could have been better.  Discuss pitfalls and solutions and share ideas on improvement for the next project.


GETTING A START

Interested in building your professional network but don’t know where to start? Carefully make a list of those you'd like to associate with in your work, their contact information and their specialties. Tap into the professional organizations; get to know more professionals and network with them all. Attend all the events of your organizations if possible, and go out of your way to befriend others. You can easily invite individuals to a brown-bag lunch, where you can brainstorm together on this concept. Everyone will learn much more about the others' needs and challenges, making the collaboration future for everyone much brighter! You may find that this method bring significant new work your way in 2010.


—Duval B. Acker, ASID, CMKBD, is principal of Kitchens By Design, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He can be contacted at kitchensbydesign@comcast.net.

Want to hear what other designers are saying about working together? Check back tomorrow for an excerpt of an ongoing discussion in the K+BB Designers Network. And if you design kitchens and/or baths, you can get in on the conversation by joining the group on LinkedIn.