Ann Chan Lu, CEO of Hero Design Group, goes head-to-head with JJ Acuña, founder of the JJ Acuña Bespoke Studio, in this month’s great debate
When it comes to interior design, is the client always right?
Ann Chan Lu: YES
“In this line of work, the client is and will always be right. My philosophy for interior design can be summarised by the famous words of the late fashion editor Diana Vreeland: ‘Give ’em what they never knew they wanted.’
The true magic of interior design lies in the collaboration between the designer and the client, by giving the client what they want and need but didn’t know they were looking for. I am a firm believer in dedicating time towards liberal design thinking strategies prior to design execution. Building this foundation enables me and my design team at Hero Design Group to look beyond the built environment, and see it instead as a physical response to a client’s needs.
Only by understanding our clients on a deeper level is the creative process fuelled because they feel heard and empowered. It’s not a question of compromising design integrity, but rather understanding our clients and pushing their creative boundaries in a meaningful way.”
JJ Acuña: NO
“The client is not always right—and neither are we. A project is always about a negotiation between two parties to find the best and most elegant and aesthetic solution. It’s actually everybody’s job to be comfortable with saying ‘no’. If the design doesn’t make sense, support the brief, give a solution to the brief—or if the brief is always changing, the client should say ‘no’ to keep challenging the designer.
Simply put, the client is always right when it comes to the understanding of their own needs for a project, but whenever a designer says ‘no’, they should offer five to ten new options as an alternate solution to the ‘no’. Instead of just stopping an idea in its tracks, a ‘no’ should become the seed to grow more solutions, ideas and concepts. ‘No’ is not the end of the road—‘no’ should be the start of a new path to a better design.”