1:38 PM
Design Teacher
1:38 PM
Design Teacher
11:47 AM
kdloves
Name: Aaron King
Koncept Design Group
Tell me how you got started in this field?
I went to college for production and started my own production company. We produced commercials for companies including National Car Rental, L’Oreal, Skil Tools and many more. I then transformed my company into a full service interior design firm that specializes in hospitality, however we still produce commercials, and I have also designed for corporate spaces and residential spaces.
What educational background or related experience might be helpful for someone entering this field?
An education in Interior Design is extremely helpful because you learn the codes and standards. However, an education in any field of art and design is helpful because you learn to train your eyes to see things in ways that most peop
le aren’t able to and that is helpful for Interior Designers also.
What are the opportunities available for growth in this field?
There are so many different avenues you
can take within design and many career paths you can take even in a very specific area of design.
I hope to expand my company and be busy enough to employ a full time staff of five to ten designers.
Does the market look promising for people starting out in this career?
Through this economic recession I have had to lay off designers and cut back on hours simply because the work wasn’t there. Right now it seems the economy is picking back up and things are starting to get busy again. So yes I think that this career is looking promising for people who hope to get started in the next few years.
What do you find most rewarding about this job?
I love seeing my designs and ideas come to life, having a vision and making that vision a reality.
Owning my company is beneficial because I am able to make my own hours, attend my sons little league games and also volunteer in the community. I have also had paid traveled to some great places while working on commercials.
What are the toughest challenges you have had to deal with?
Budgets and working on a project that has many clients and satisfying all of them.
What workplace demands do you have outside of the actual job?
It’s hard to leave work at the office. People are constantly calling the cell phone or emailing and needing answers or clarifications.
How much flexibility do you have in terms of hours, dress, etc.?
Do you have a favorite project that you worked on? What was it?
At Koncept Design Group we work on the designs for many Marriott Hotels. I enjoy the variety in designs we are able to achieve. I also did a private residence in Long Beach that remains on of my favorites.
Marriott LAX Airport: J.W. Steakhouse
Marriot LAX Airport : Porte Cochere
Private Residence Long Beach, CA
12:09 PM
Laura Salcido
We broke into teams of 5-6 and had about 30 minutes to come up with a design and create it. We set down the mortar mix and placed the tile down with spacers so that it would look even. It looked awesome! the only thing we didn't do, was lay down the grout, but that wouldve taken way too long. In the end, we all applauded the winners and left satisfied knowing that now we could install our own tile at home! It was really fun and educational, although it was really messy :P.
If I get the chance, I will definitely go to another meeting again. There is two meetings in June, the on in Orange is at MSI Premium Natural StoneShowroom. You also get a DISCOUNT for being a STUDENT, so don't miss out on this great opportunity. There is also discounts if you want to register to be a member, for students. So if you're interested, just go to http://www.nkba-socal.org/ to register.
Laura Salcido, OCC
5:26 PM
Caroline
4:54 PM
kdloves
Business name: Archetype International
Business owner’s first and last name: Trish Secor
Business address: 523 North Grand Ave. Suite A
Santa Ana, CA 92701
How did you get started in this field?
An Interior Design class was offered in my senior year of high school. I remember that the teacher stated that there is a distinct difference between decoration and design. I then attended San Diego State as an undeclared major, and I quickly discovered that you could actually “major” in Environmental/Interior Design.
When I graduated from college, there were few commercial design firms to work for at the time. I was able to find work with a real estate developer assisting home owners with their interior finish selections in a “design center”. After that, I workedfor a flooring contractor for a short time, and eventually landed a job as a designer with a commercial interior design firm. The company provided furniture as well as tenant improvement interior design. I worked for two firms of this nature during the go- go 1980’s when the building boom of commercial high rises were keeping space planners very busy. After 9 years of working for other firms, I found it increasingly difficult to meet the demands of motherhood for my baby girl, and a full time job, so I decided to start my own business. My husband became my partner two months later. He is a licensed architect with similar experience.
What educational background or related experience might be helpful for entering
this field?
An Associates degree, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Design, or Interior Design. Internships or jobs in design, architecture or facility management.
What are the opportunities available for growth in this field?
The field is constantly changing. Architecture firms have added interior designers to their staff. Specializations in commercial design, healthcare design, and hotel and restaurant work are becoming more and more key. Large companies, the military and government agencies have their own space planning and interior design divisions.
Does the market look promising for young people starting out in this career?
Yes, as long as the individual is committed to lifelong learning and continuing to focus on specialties that meet the market demands.
What do you find most rewarding about this job?
Being able to interact with so many different types of clients and learn about their operations and careers. Police, Fire, Lawyers, Corporate, Research and Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, etc.
If you had to do it over, would you be in the same career?
Yes.
Are there any fringe benefits that particularly attractedyou to this field?
Reading design magazines, examining great architecture, and buying amazing art, are often what many people can only do for recreation.
What are the toughest challenges you have had to deal with?
The most challenging issue in our business is the consistency of work flow to keep employees on staff. This type of business fluctuates with the economy.
What problems does the industry/field have as a whole?
Marketing and public relations to promote our value needs constant attention.
What is being done to address these problems?
The industry has done a good job on this issue in the last few decades but willalways need to continue this effort. Groups like CCIDC, NCIDQ, IIDA, and other specialty organizations are doing a good job collaborating and informing legislatures and the public. However, it’s primarily volunteer and supported solely by our own efforts and contributions.
What workplace demands do you have outside of the actual job?
I started my business because I wanted the freedom to raise my family without being tied to a 40-60 hour per week job. We also provide this kind of family friendly flexibility to our employees. This was unique in 1987 and we were not sure if we could make it, but we did.
How much flexibility do you have in terms of hours, and dress?
Our policy has always been to try to design individual work schedules to meet the family life needs of all. Our dress policy is “professional”.
What kind of salary range could a person entering the fieldexpect?
It’s too broad of a field to generalize.
What are the benefits (paid vacation, insurance, retirement, etc.)?
Again, it depends on the nature of the employment. A large corporation or a government agency will likely be able to provide more benefits than a small firm. The tradeoff is generally in the type of work.
Do you have a favorite project that you worked on? What was it?
The Orange County Register newspaper decided to develop a daily newspaper in 2005 called OC Post. The design criteria included designing a team environment where each section of the paper had its own identity. Additionally, each section could see their work being developed digitally on a wall of monitors so that collaboration could be maximized. The newspaper executives, who developed this daily news product, requested that the interior design be completely different than anything previously done at the Register. All of these criteria were presented to us on a Friday afternoon in June, and the product was scheduled to be up and running within 60 days. It was a fun project to fast track and to develop creative solutions almost as they were being constructed in the field.
What are you currently involved with in the industry? Associations? Boards?
International Facility Managers Association (IFMA), President 2004 – 2005
Certified Facility Manager, IFMA, 1996
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) 1989 - present
Seminar instructor for BOMA, Project Planning and Management
BOMA California - Legislative Affairs Board Representative (BOMA CAL) 1999 - 2009
Interior Design Advisory Council, California Community College Consortium
LEED AP, 2008
All questions answered by Trish Secor.
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