Project binders: How to create them [+ alternatives]
In today's modern world, digital and tactile is the way to go. Integrating your interior digital boards with tactile design project binders provides a seamless end-to-end client experience, in contrast to pitting them in an all or nothing, black-and-white thinking.
Ready to get started? Learn how project binders can help you give value and win more business.
Benefits of design project binders
Because the interior design business model is unique, finding the right industry-specific tools to manage it can be challenging. Creating systems that work for your business is how you craft a recipe for success. Here are some pros when you merge innovative technology with old-school design project binders:
Efficiency: Working with a project binder will help you work more efficiently since you’ll have your specs and project requirements ready to go in one place. Too often as designers we start a project and create documents in separate places. Fast forward a few weeks and the number of reference documents explodes. When you need information quickly, you waste time searching. The project binder cuts that out.
Convenience: Going on full stops and starts can be unproductive, especially when you're pressed for time juggling different interior design phases and projects, all at the same time. Need a resource-saving tool? Design project binders batch your tasks for the momentum you need to accelerate.
Professionalism: First impressions last, and design project binders as a tool can make or break your deals. The way you win business starts with cultivating the unique story of your brand and communicating this value all throughout the customer journey.
Uses of design project binders
Client education is the smartest marketing move you can use now. For many businesses, a digital folder is enough, but for interior design, cobbling makeshift systems from a myriad of spreadsheets need to be complemented in a kinesthetic manner with physical material samples. Leverage design project binders as tools for:
Progress updates: Treat project binders as support for legal documents such as interior design contracts and spec sheets. Using as a point of reference, increase your bottom line when you look back with a repository of lessons learned or think forward for look-a-heads.
Materials library: Collate fabric memos, material swatches and CFA to aid your product selection and recommendation process. Having project binders in place serves as an informal contract on client's final product expectations before you send that PO.
Client presentation: Drive business with your big reveal. What's your differentiator? Hone in on your unique value proposition (UVP), use project binders to connect the client's needs with your solutions, solve their problems and win their trust.
Marketing collateral: Whether you use the funnel or flywheel model, converting your prospects to clients is easier with level-specific project binders as a sales enablement tool. Binders also set the stage for vendor collaboration keeping you abreast of new fabric intros, colorways and price points.
Design ideation: Get your creative juices flowing with design project binders, and use design thinking as harbingers for innovation and bringing specialist ideas together into habitable spaces.
Project binder contents
Underneath the selection of binder ring styles, custom interior lining and unlimited palette of cover materials, comb through the basic roadmap inside and structure your design project binder using your brand.
Cover page
Interior design objectives: context dependent on project requirements
Drawings: mood boards, 3D renderings, FF&E plans, space planning, demarcation plans
Spec sheets: cut sheets, technical data sheets, CFA, legal documents
Site surveys: fit-out, as-built measurements, existing conditions
Finish schedules: wallpaper, textiles, floor coverings
Sample boards: paint swatches, fixtures
Program schedule: Gantt chart, one-week look-a-heads, critical path method, lead times
Cost estimates: BOQ, BOM, supplier quotes
Procurement: PO, sourcing, logistics, delivery, material handling, storage
Accounting: cost codes, invoicing, pricing methodologies
Project management: assembly, installation, inspection and test plans, quality control and quality assurance
Dynamic filtering for project binders
Next step after covering the essentials: curate your design project binders and get your maximum return on this investment.
By stage: In schematic design, you have the client brief and concept mood board as your go-to materials. As you move in agile through the technical design stages, project binders are crucial to communicate your design library in reality. All memos and physical samples with cost codes and lead times should be laid out so clients can interact and touch the materials, and visualize how the colors, textures, patterns and finishes come together.
Schematic design
Design development
Contract documents
By design: Depending on the client's design intent and project requirements, categorize your project binders into full-service or specialist interior packages as needed.
Structural interior design
FF&E
By system: Sort out your internal and external business systems from start to finish. Create project binders conveying your firm's core values and acting as operations manual and brand guidelines for new hires, client onboarding and employee retention.
Client: Think of the client experience from project inception to closeout, and establish pillars for productive communications and open feedback culture. Some ways you can take your client communication to the next level:
Project kickoff email
Meeting requests
Design proof
Contract delivery
Invoicing
Timeline reminders
Business: Simplify the complex business model of interior design. Streamline your workflow altogether in one cohesive project binder with filter tabs for:
Procurement logistics
Calendar events
Employee responsibility matrix
Operations
Marketing
Accounting and finance
By specialty:Take a restaurant's FOH & BOH versus a single-family home, for example. Along with their sub-specialties, residential project binders differ from commercial interiors in a broad spectrum of design considerations including, but not limited to:
Function
Layout
Materials
Building codes
By function: If finding a common denominator is in vain, be as creative and as technical as you can be. Set your own parameters and tailor your custom project binders as you see fit:
Project
Product
Collection
Hierarchy
Material selection
Space
Project binder alternatives
It takes versatility to communicate the design value of your interior project. When large D-ring or O-ring project binders can't help you seal the deal with your clients, look for alternatives that might fare better such as swatch stack books showing off larger patterns, or memo samples for SKU types. Think outside of the project binder box and find more material options at Source:
Fan decks
Ring sets
Box set
Pom boxes
Large formats
Tip cards
Sample boards
With a Same-Day Delivery feature, Source is one step ahead of transforming the interior design experience by streamlining tech with personal touches.
Conclusion
Complex interior design business models require simple solutions that neutralize the trade-offs on the opposite ends of spectrum. Break down the silo mentality and find the middle ground between digital personalization and human touch. This is the core emblem of holistic interior design experience, and project binders are only part of the multitude of indispensable solutions.
Author
Karissa Austria | Architect, Construction Manager & Consultant
