Interior Design Basic workshop at IIT Delhi

Lead Speaker: Ms. Satnam Kaur (Life Spaces Interior, Gurgaon)

Lead Speaker : Ms. Nidhi Bindal (Associate Professor, Pearl Academy)

Speaker: Mr. Dhruv Nangia (Spire Infra)

1. Introduction to Interior Design (20 minutes) By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

• Objective: Provide an overview of interior design fundamentals.
• Topics Covered:
• What is interior design?
• Importance of interior design in everyday spaces
• Key principles of interior design: balance, harmony, and rhythm
• Activity: Quick discussion on participants’ favorite spaces and what they like about them.

2. Elements of Interior Design (40 minutes) By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

Objective: Introduce the essential elements used in designing spaces.

• Topics Covered:
• Color: The psychology of colors and how to choose the right color palette
• Light: Natural vs. artificial lighting and its impact on space
• Space: Understanding space planning (positive and negative space)
• Texture: How textures affect the feel of a room
• Furniture & Layout: Basic tips for selecting and arranging furniture
• Activity: Group discussion on favorite colors and textures, followed by a quick demonstration on how lighting affects mood in a room.

3. Basic Design Styles & Themes (30 minutes) By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

• Objective: Familiarize participants with common design styles.
• Topics Covered:
• Overview of popular interior design styles (e.g., modern, traditional, industrial, minimalist, bohemian)
• How to identify and select a design style
• Activity: Hands-on exercise where participants identify different styles through images and describe the key characteristics of each.

4. Space Planning Fundamentals (40 minutes) By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

Objective: Teach the basics of functional space planning.

• Topics Covered:
• How to measure a room
• Furniture arrangement tips
• Zoning and traffic flow
• Scale and proportion
• Activity: Practical exercise where participants sketch a basic floor plan for a room of their choice.

5. Choosing Materials and Finishes (20 minutes) By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

• Objective: Guide participants through selecting the right materials.
• Topics Covered:
• Flooring options (hardwood, tile, carpet)
• Wall treatments (paint, wallpaper, accent walls)
• Fabric choices (curtains, upholstery)
• Matching materials with design styles
• Activity: Mini workshop where participants create a small mood board using swatches, samples, and images.

Q&A and Design Tips (1.5 Hour) By By Ms. Satnam Kaur & Mr. Dhruv Nangia

Objective: Answer questions and provide actionable tips for participants’ own projects.

Questions About Setting Up an Interior Design Business:

1. What were the initial steps you took when setting up your interior design business?
2. How did you decide on the legal structure of your business (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC)?
3. What tools or software do you recommend for managing projects and finances as a small business?
4. How important is it to have a well-designed portfolio or website when starting out?
5. What are some common mistakes new interior designers make when setting up their businesses?

Questions About Getting Clients:

1. What strategies did you use to get your first clients?
2. How important is networking in the interior design industry, and where should I start networking?
3. Do you recommend any specific online platforms or social media channels for attracting clients?
4. How do you build and maintain strong client relationships to encourage repeat business and referrals?
5. What’s the best way to present design concepts to potential clients to secure the project?

Questions About Managing Profit Margins:

1. How do you determine your pricing structure, and how did it evolve as your business grew?
2. What’s the average profit margin for an interior design project, and how can I maximize profitability?
3. How do you handle client budgets to ensure profitability without compromising design quality?
4. Can you share any tips for managing project costs effectively, especially for a new business?
5. What are the hidden costs in running an interior design business that I should be aware of?

Questions About Finding Vendors for Civil Work, Furniture, Wardrobes, etc.:

1. Where do you recommend finding reliable vendors and contractors for civil work and renovations?
2. How do you evaluate and build strong relationships with suppliers for furniture, wardrobes, and other design materials?
3. Are there specific trade shows, events, or marketplaces where new designers can find quality vendors?
4. How important is it to have a vendor agreement in place, and what should I look for in these contracts?
5. What advice do you have for negotiating prices and terms with vendors as a small business?

Bonus Questions:

1. How did you handle scaling your business, and what challenges did you face during growth?
2. What would you do differently if you were to start your interior design business again today?
3. How do you stay updated on industry trends, and how do you incorporate them into your business model?
4. How do you handle client disagreements or difficult situations during a project?

These questions can help a budding interior designer gain insights into the practical aspects of starting and running a successful design business.

Introduction to Interior Design (By : Ms. Nidhi Bindal)

• Contents of the Workshop
• Design v/s Decoration
• Terminologies
• Interior Design Inspiration
• Skills needed as a designer
• Design Process
• Q & A

6. Interior Design Styles (By : Ms. Nidhi Bindal)

• What are styles in ID
• Introduction to various styles and their elements

7. Boards in Interiors - Moodboard, Material Board, Element Board (By : Ms. Nidhi Bindal)

• Moodboard - meaning and significance
• Material board - meaning and significance
• Element board - meaning and significance
• Creating moodboard using powerpoint/ Canva

8. Colours Psychology in Interiors (By : Ms. Nidhi Bindal)

• Impact of colours on humans
• Space composition in a specific colour

9. Q & A (By : Ms. Nidhi Bindal)