I'm currently working as an interior designer in both UK and KL with more then 10 years experience.
I was flabbergasted and shocked after meeting with someone from a design firm yesterday. Company not to be named. I would just like to express my feeling and thoughts towards the work actic and the practice of Interior Designer in Malaysia. I'm not intending to make any enemy or conflict.

I had just finished designing a 3 storey house in cyber jaya and a single storey old house in Klang.
I had done up 64 pieces of drawings excluding mood boards, furniture planing for the 3 storey house which consist of layout plans, ceilings, lightings, M&E, details specification drawings and 3D. This one whole set of drawings cost my client RM18,000.00 but he has the freedom of hiring anyone to construct the renovation.

Yesterday I was told by a design firm that they will only provide 3D and furniture layout plan with the same fee RM18K. Which, I totally disagree with him and that is not a proper interior designer .

The reason why they don't provide detail drawings is because they want to construct the renovation. Without detail drawings / material specification, it will be hassle for a client to engage other contractor.

3D drawings is important but detail specification drawings is much more important when it comes to interior/carpentry renovation.

So I ask myself why so I need to provide 30+ pcs of detail drawings??? I shouldn't have bothered because clients in Malaysia is so easily hooked up with fantastic 3D drawings and without any knowledge of what an interior designer supposed to provide.

A good 3D but where is the real built? Style with no substance.

You clearly don't have a clue. Budget given 100k end result based on just the 3D drawings RM200K,
Is that the same to you? As most people understand that my drawings is my communication. Without a full sets of drawings, they shouldn't address themselves as Interior Designer.

An interior designer need to have these drawings for any MNC, Berhad, Retail Chain and etc. Without these, they don't have a chance. Why cut corners for private homes? Or they are just simply not qualified to do the work.

As for the famous architect who won numerous award, he has a team of people to do his drawings.
He may not know how to use AutoCad but i'm pretty sure he sketches or doodling his idea based on the picture taken, before handing over to his team. A director or a famous architect doesn't need to do any drawings. Same goes with any other profession. Does a banking director count pennies everyday? The answer is NO.

This post has been edited by ID adrien: Oct 12 2013, 08:16 PM

Really appreciate all of the people who spend their time in my topic.
I believe these information will educate home owners. By having this
Topic, it will give us a healthy and fair competition.

Ehwee, I would like to address on your 1st paragraph. An Interior Designer
Should provide all layout except single line electrical diagram because we
Are not engineer or draftman. We should provide 3D drawings and details drawings.
We will also provide presentation board for all furniture, colours, material, textures
And soft furnishing. And lastly we will provide BQ and it is up to the client to go
Ahead to engage my contractor or he may find any other contractor to do the job.

It is my job to consult But it is not an interior designer job to do a site inspection unless
we are paid to project manage. My current client is very understanding. He's having his
Reno now and he is from this forum. When ever he ask me questions, I'll give him a feedback.

This post has been edited by ID adrien: Oct 14 2013, 12:32 AM

After reading your comment, I'm going to acknowledge but disagree with your 1st paragraph. We know some client don't really know the usage of detail drawings but we as a designer has to educate them the importance of these in order to minimize any dispute or receiving V.O with contractors during the built. As you have mention, the drawings helps on construction part which is the main subject. Client may skip and not bother with these drawings but he or she is still entitle to have them.

Just received a private message asking me for a full quotation with breakdown. The list is very impressive and precise which includes alarm system, autogate, doors, shower heads, solid wood bedframe and everything you can think off. And me reply to him :

" Thanks for your inquiry. I think you have mistaken my job scope. I'm an interior designer not a contractor. I charges design fee based on client's specification and im very Impressed with the list you provided. You need to get your estimated quotation from A contractor. Once you get the rough quotation, you then hire an interior designer to discuss layout planning, furnitures, material, colours, style, tiles, doors and so on...... He or she will present you a moodboard and when everything is agreed, it will then render into 3D, all layout plans and provide you with detail drawings.

You have written interior design as MISC, which I think that is interior decoration.

I'm sorry I can't provide you with anything. We will only provide BQ when we are
Engaged as the interior designer "

He's asking me to provide him a BQ and expecting me spending the whole day telephone every single trade. How am i supposed to quote him on the solid wood bedframe witout knowing the design? It is thousands of ringgit different between solid wood frame with carving and a clean solid wood frame. A shower head can cost RM80 - RM1000, Im wondering why he thinks that i'm able to predict what he really want and willing to provide him a BQ despite not being a confirm designer for this project. I'm never mean to any potential client, just straight to the fact.

This is the reason why I start this topic and to differentiate my profession with contractors and suppliers.

This post has been edited by ID adrien: Oct 14 2013, 01:04 PM

I wasn't offending anyone. I was explaining to them. How can you possible giving BQ to anyone witout knowing what sorts of material, designs and brandings they are after? A kitchen cabinet top can be RM400 p/ft run and it can be RM900 p/ft run, it all depends on material and designs. A whole kitchen cost RM22k but what he has in mind Is totally different and it will cost him RM50K. Why tell him lies and false infoemation ? I hope you get my point across. I'm sorry if he felt offended but is the fact.

My work is actually 95% - 99% accurate including decorative items. But we will only achieve this when a client doesn't change their mind every now and again. I cannot afford to change my 3D too many times to suit he's ever changing mind.