“Yes, We Can Do That!”; Diversifing for Success

The business world for designers is constantly changing. We have to do more for our customers with less. We have to continue to find new ways to bring value to our clients. If they read in the Wall Street Journal that designers offer new opportunities for corporations because we have been trained to problem solve, then we better “problem solve”. If their brother-in-law got a great deal on furniture through a designer, then we better be ready to do the same. If they are connected constantly to their smart-phone, we better be technically “smart”.

 r.o.i. Design is first a consultative design firm making revenue by charging fees for interior design, graphic design, planning and programming.  But over the years, we have taken on seasonal products or services with the goal of giving our clients enhanced services; we have offered to decorate for the holidays, organize closets, design custom furniture, select art, create schedules and manage projects.

Today we have four projects that we are promoting in addition to our design services:

Trends 2012

Today, everyone is a forecaster. With information and images at our fingertips, it appears anyone can make a case that a personal preference could be “trend” or will soon be.

 So after scouring the internet we offer these observations for our West Michigan customer base on what could be trends for 2012

 1. Lipstick colors continue to be important accent colors; in 2011 it was versions of Pink, http://tinyurl.com/87shtoj  in 2012 it will be versions of Orange. Pantone color of the year is Tangerine Tango.  http://tinyurl.com/77z5n5f

We are designing a Modern Home!

You know those houses, those sleek boxes with lots of glass that in a traditional neighborhood looks kinda odd. And they want flat roofs, and extreme overhangs and rooflines. And sometimes the basement is missing, or replaced by a garage or a patio or a garden.  More often than not, there is a splash of color somewhere. Not a lot, but definately there.

AND we are designing one for a great couple who have done their homework. Working with Bruce Heys Builders through the design build process, we are bring to our little community something you may only see on Long Island, or California, or at least in DWELL magazine! Stay tuned for more news on modern design in West Michigan.

1700 Glorious SF of Modern Home! 10 FT Ceilings, Cantilevered Car Port/Deck!

ArtPrize, r.o.i. Design and Mercantile Bank: Part SIX

It’s October 4, more than 26,000 people have visited the venue at 48 W Fulton.

ArtPrize, r.o.i. Design for Mercantile Bank, PART FIVE: The Art Arrives

ArtPrize 2011 r.o.i. Design and Mercantile Bank PART FOUR; The ArtPrize Artists

ArtPrize 2011, r.o.i Design and Mercantile Bank PART THREE The Artists Who Weren’t ArtPrize Artists

ArtPrize 2011, r.o.i. Design and Mercantile Bank PART TWO The Concept Takes Shape

 

As a firm  we weren’t too keen on ArtPrize in 2009 and 2010. 

ArtPrize 2011 and r.o.i. Design PART ONE

r.o.i. Design is  creating an ArtPrize venue with client Mercantile Bank of West Michigan. “Creating” means planning a space, but also in this case, creating a criteria for the entire venue and selecting/recommending artists.

NeoCon 2011; What’s New?

So our little team of designers hopped in the company van and drove to Chicago on June 14, the “hump day” of NeoCon.

Ryan Bright Studying "Mural Walls"

We arrived as the exhibit floors were opening and we started on Floor 8, the temporary exhibits that are organized around Healthcare, Workplace, and Hospitality. The headline review of floor 8 was: Technology and Graphics Impacts Surfaces. Glass, wall covering, fabrics, are all so sensitive to customization that they almost cancel each other out. We saw some of our factory reps (Hi Steve, Hi Jenn), and we met some of our reps bosses. (Our sympathies.)

Stephanie and MaryJane at Davis Office

Spent a lot of time with Davis Office Furniture but being from GrandRapids, the home of Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth, etc.; they looked at us like “really”? But they had a great inventory of used products and a great program.

Floor 7 was supposed to showcase, new stuff and product introductions; not so much. But we liked the GLIMMER exhibit.

Life Straw; Filtering Drinking Water, One Thirsty Person at a Time!

Floor 10 is all about carpet and fabrics. Our sales reps must be doing a great job because between them and the internet, the new stuff wasn’t so new. BUT this floor was crazy with give away bags, granola, gadgets, etc…OK, maybe all the floors were. Mary Jane Caster, Senior Interior Design type probably collected 10 tote bags, a watch, lip gloss, T-shirt, measuring tape, glowing 2×2 acrylic box, snack bars, granola…….