This Resource Tells You What You'll Need:
- During Your Initial Client Interview
- When Inspecting the Space
- During Field Measuring
- When Sourcing Products
- & Lots More!
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IDRA Interior Designers Tool Kit: 25 Tools to Keep You Organized
This Resource Tells You What You'll Need:
Featured Interior Design Software: Studio IT
Studio Designer 8.0
From Proposal to Invoice, Studio Designer manages the daily activities of interior design firms.
Studio Designer
• Proposals
• Purchase Orders
• Invoices
• Cash Receipts
• Check Writing
• Email Client Correspondence
• Email Vendor Correspondence
• Automatic Expediting Reminders
• Phone Message Management
• Address Management
• Mailing Labels
• Project Management
• Budget and Profit Analysis
• Time Management
• Time Billing
• Inventory Management
• Inventory Labels
• Inventory Bar Coding
• Inventory Scanning
• General Ledger Accounting
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Client Deposits
• Work in Progress
Features include:
Address Management:
Manage client and vendor information in one central location
Maintain name and address information for clients and vendors.
Separate physical and mailing address.
Enter the company email address and automatically address emails to the company.
Enter the company website address and automatically link to the company website.
Enter contacts with email address and phone numbers.
Automatically address emails to specific contacts.
Define the parameters of how you work with individual clients and vendors to personalize how Studio Designer works for you.
Filter, Locate and Sort
Filter addresses by any field in the address database.
Locate addresses by any field in the address database.
Sort the entire address list ascending or descending by any field in the address database.
manage design projects from the initial proposal to final invoice
One Step Entry
Items for clients are entered in one simple step. Proposals, Purchase Orders, Invoices and Checks are automatically created with the click of a button.
Project Management
View the summary status of design project items in one central location.
View your purchase cost, selling cost and profit for each individual item in the list.
Watch the project profit change as you adjust item costs.
Enter and maintain budgets for individual items or for the project overall.
Expediting
Easily track the status of each item with dates and notes to insure orders proceed seamlessly.
Filter, Locate and Sort
Filter, locate and sort items to find information quickly.
Reminders and Project Scheduling
reminders keep orders on track and clients informed
Studio Designer provides employees a list of reminders or tasks that need to be completed to keep orders on schedule.
Project Scheduling
Enter and maintain activities with beginning and estimated completion dates.
View and print project schedule timeline charts with a click of the mouse.
History
A complete history of all communication regarding an order is displayed for quick reference when employees
follow up on tasks.
Phone Messages
No more lost phone messages. Studio Designer keeps track of phone messages and maintains an ongoing
history of all calls.
Time Billing
schedule meetings and produce time billing invoices
Schedule
Schedule and maintain an organized list of meetings with clients and vendors.
View schedules in a calendar format by day, week or month.
Track
Track time spent on design projects by employee and the activity performed.
Measure project profitability by time spent.
Start and stop a timer to calculate time spent on administrative tasks
Invoice
Time is money. Automatically invoice clients for the time spent on a design project.
Client Rates
Unique client rates can automatically fill in based on the client, employee and the activity.
Cash Receipts
Enter payments from clients and other miscellaneous cash receipts
Client Payments
Receive client payments and maintain accurate checking account balances.
Easily move payments from one item to another.
Flexibility
Enter client deposits and invoice payments in one simple step and the appropriate accounting transactions are
automatically posted.
Payment Detail
View account posting detail for each individual deposit. Studio Designer tracks cash receipts and maintains
deposits and accounts receivable automatically.
Client Deposits
Track client deposits and automatically apply them to final invoices.
AND MORE!
For More Information:
Studio IT
http://www.studiotothetrade.com/studiodesigner/studiodesigner.htm
4 Steps to the Perfect Elevator Speech
An elevator speech remains one of the most important networking and marketing tools you have at your very disposal. Of course every business is different and it is all very well talking to people at networking events and so on, but how do you make sure you grab their attention? Is there a template that can be followed that allows you to come up with a 30 second introduction for YOUR business?
Actually there is a format that has proven success and can be applied to pretty much any business that aspires to have clients! Hopefully that is every business that wants to stay solvent!
There are some pre-requisites to achieving success with this approach and the main one is developing a clear idea of your ideal client and the issues with which they are struggling. Closely related is how you help them - what does your company do that solves the chosen challenges of your ideal client base.
Armed with that information, the more detail you have the better, here is the template to follow for any business:
Part 1: Who You are
Hi, My name is... from (company name)
That is all you need. Obviously if you are in a conversation already and someone asks you what you do you don't need to reintroduce yourself! You can also vary this along the lines of: "I'm Jerry and my company is..."
Most importantly, resist the temptation to expand this into a long explanation of where your office is located, when the business was founded, how many employees you have and so on. Shorter is better
Part 2: Who you help
We help (this target audience)...
Again, as short and targeted as possible. Avoid the temptation here to think everyone is your IDEAL client. Messages such as: "We work with anyone who owns a car" is too broad. There is leeway here to change the words as well of course. Pick a variation with which you are comfortable - we work with, we help, I am focused on etc.
Part 3: What problem do you address
Who have (this problem, issue or challenge)
You don't need to elaborate for minutes on end. Define the main problem you solve - not the solution at this stage.
Part 4: What they get
So they get (this particular solution)
The best way to couch these parts is using language that speaks to the emotions of your ideal client - frustration, anger, annoyance, fear, worry and so on.
For example:
Hi, I'm Jerry from Acme Insurance. We help home owners in Leawood who are worried they don't have adequate coverage or even that they are over-covered. With us they get over the frustration of not knowing and get the peace of mind they want by knowing they are insured appropriately.
By Jerry N Smith
Photography by James Wimmel
Jerry Smith is the co-founder of Marketing Action Club, focusing on small service based businesses and independent professionals who want to grow but struggle to attract quality clients consistently. Visit http://www.30SecondElevatorSpeech.com for a step by step, online program to lead you through producing an effective, attention grabbing introduction for you and your business
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3 Steps to Client-Retention for Interior Designers
Retaining Clients - Results Results Results - The Answer in All Stages of Client Retention
Once you've won a new client, it's important next to consider some concepts of client retention and the "stages" at which client retention is at risk. There are points in the client engagement where a client is likely to quit the coaching or consulting relationship. In order to retain clients, you need to understand these stages and give the client what they most need - results at every stage.
1. The most critical stage is in the earliest appointments of the engagement.
At this time, the client is still unsure and tenuous, and liable to bolt in fear of having made a bad choice to work with you. Some salesmanship type courses would tell you to reassure them about their choice. Such reassurances - based on nothing but words - can ring false, fail to settle the relationship, or deeply reassure the client.
What works is helping the client have quick and obvious results - especially results in response to the client's stated desires. Your best client retention tool is to know specifically what results a client seeks in each session and to deliver those results. Doing this, especially in the first few sessions, gives the client a feeling of security, and confidence that their choice to work with you was a sound one.
2. The next stage where client retention becomes an issue is when the client hits challenges (often including financial).
At that point, they will weigh the cost and benefits of working with you, and look for "reasons" to leave the working relationship. At this point, they have invested a substantial amount (to them) of time and money to work with you. Some of the areas they will examine will be
* What results have I gotten for my money?
* Has this person failed me in any way?
* Is this going to be too hard or too much work for me?
* Has this person been unlikable in any way (non-supportive, unpleasant, not understanding)?
Any one of these issues or areas can be the cause for a client to quit working with you - if you don't understand what is going on. They've hit a challenge, and need help moving through it. Often coaches and consultants respond by giving advice and recommendations.
You're better off going into extreme listening mode and questioning with great finesse. The questions must be few, highly targeted, and generously larded with true listening. This is what will assist the client to breakthrough and discovery. At this stage, this is what will deliver results to the client. Do not make the mistake of letting the interaction devolve into chatting, complaints, or a "pity party". You need an astute balance of directed questioning, along with profound listening and a firm guiding hand to move the client to their own discovery.
3. The next client retention stage comes anytime that the relationship veers toward "same old, same old".
The client questions whether or not they've gotten all from you that is to be gotten. What needs to happen is a constant and consistent expansion of the client's vision of possibility. Anytime you see they may be reaching a plateau, ask challenging questions about what is next for them. Don't be "pushy" about it. That will create resistance and feel like your agenda rather than theirs. Instead these challenges are gentle (of course this depends on client personality and needs) and open-ended to elicit deep thought from the client.
There's no rush or intensity to begin something new but rather an expansion of potentialities to be considered. It's an invitation for the client to look at alternative futures. Rather than allowing a client's ennui to cause them to terminate the working relationship, stay one step ahead of them at all times. That creates value for them and you retain the client.
Understand these stages of client retention, and keeping clients will no longer be a business problem. Give them what they need at every client retention stage and you will become expert at retaining clients.
By Suzi Elton
Photography by Yuri Acurs
Suzi Elton provides business writing that attracts targeted prospects to your service business and converts them into clients for you. She is a Robert Middleton Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach, as well as a professional writer. Her website offers a free series of 8 assessments you can use to analyze your own site. To learn about her Robert Middleton style Web Site Tool Kit Writing Package, go to http://www.wowfactorwriting.com/services/web-site-tool-kit-package/
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7 Tips to Have Clients Raving About Your Design Firm
Better Up Your Game and Deliver Better Results
If you don't have clients delighted and exclaiming about the results they get from working with you, you need to reconsider how you are delivering your services. All the perfect marketing in the world can attract new clients, but if you aren't producing ecstatically satisfied clients during your working sessions, you will not retain clients or easily attract new ones. If you're ready to "up your game" to produce client raving positively about you and your services, here are a few ideas you can use.
1) Clients buy results.
They may believe they are buying other things like working with someone they enjoy or feel affinity for. Those things are definitely true in the short-term, but when clients get to the point where they are considering the cost of continuing to work with you, only one thing will matter - results. Have they gotten promised results? Have they gotten what you promised plus a lot more? Are they experiencing an improved situation? Can they quantify the benefit? Are results obvious? In order to deliver results to your clients, you need to ask yourself what changes you need to make to deliver more profound results to your clients.
2) Figure out every way you can think of to increase the results that your clients get.
Are these ways that you could make slight adjustments to your delivery and get much greater results for your clients? Perhaps you could all "homework" for them to work on between sessions and provide them accountability. They will get much greater results if they know that you will ask them about what they got done on the homework. You might create bonuses such as assessments, tips, special reports, exercises to correct common issues, or in-between email support.
3) Create services or combinations that you've proven to give greater results to your clients.
You could create "packages" of services that deliver greater value and successes to your clients. The better you know your target market, the more you observe and can create solutions for typical issues they will face - that they didn't yet even know they will likely need. In other words, have a way to help them solve problems they don't yet know they will have - be prepared and ahead of the need.
4) Think about any products you can create to combine with your services.
These products should be problem solvers that help your clients deal with the common issues of your target market. Make sure they are optional offerings so that your clients don't feel coerced to buy. You can also offer product/service combinations. What's key is providing solutions and results that are even greater than the client expected to get.
5) Ask your client what you could provide that would make their results spectacular.
Listen to their ideas. Explore how you can deliver what they request. You may be surprised to find that small and easy changes (such as more information at the right time) could provide huge changes in client perception of results. This is about providing what the client believe they need - in the way that gives them the greatest results and perceived results.
6) Do some competitor research.
Don't do this with the intention of stealing ideas, but look for small things you hadn't thought of that, combined with your current offerings, could exponentially contribute to the value you deliver. By researching your competition, you may also get ideas by seeing what a competitor fails to deliver, but you could also easily add to your business offerings. This isn't about getting fancy or complicated (unless that's your market). It's about sparking new ideas for incremental improvements that deliver big increases in results.
7) Up your results by upping your target market.
Working with more capable, motivated, and gifted clients - and delivering results to them beyond their expectations will produce VERY satisfied clients. These are the situations that can attract many more clients to you. Look at ways to upgrade your target market and provide them the kinds of upgraded results they would necessarily be expecting.
If it's not typical for you to have clients raving positively about your work and the results you delivered to them, it's time for you to consider upping your game. Stay focused on delivering results to your clients and always have that as a priority.
By Suzi Elton
Photography by Andrey Kiselev
Suzi Elton provides business writing that attracts targeted prospects to your service business and converts them into clients for you. She is a Robert Middleton Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach, as well as a professional writer. Her website offers a free series of 8 assessments you can use to analyze your own site. To learn about her Robert Middleton style Web Site Tool Kit Writing Package, go to http://www.wowfactorwriting.com/services/web-site-tool-kit-package/
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IDRA Featured Book: Kelly Hoppen: Ideas
Kelly Hoppen: Ideas taps into this world-renowned designer's exceptional talent and professional experience. It's an indispensible source of inspiration and advice for anyone undertaking home design or redecoration, whatever the scale or budget. Kelly explains how she works and offers creative solutions for every aspect of design and decoration, from evaluating and reconfiguring space and layout, to planning the lighting, choosing materials and furniture, and adding individual touches. Through photographs and plans Kelly explains the creative process involved in turning a concept into reality. She considers every element of a home - from walls to windows, floors to doors, stairs, lighting and more, giving you the know-how to make informed decorating decisions and think beyond the obvious solutions. The room-by-room master class includes checklists and more tips, highlighting the key points to address for each space in the home, whatever its size and shape. Keynotes looks at one example in detail, explaining the essential elements to consider. Throughout the book Signature Details illustrates tried-and-tested ways to give a home the designer touch. More Keynotes, Kelly Loves ...' and tip-filled inspiration boxes offer a wealth of clever ideas at a glance, making Kelly Hoppen: Ideas an invaluable resource for anyone embarking on a home design project, whether you're starting with a blank canvas or merely giving one room a fresh look.
 |
| Photography: Mel Yates; Design: Sarah Stewart-Smith |
Kelly Hoppen: Ideas
Now available at a bookstore near you.
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Interior Design Business Strategy: Why You Should Have One & How to Get Started
Why the Owner Of a Service Business Should Care About Strategy
Get Started With Strategic Planning
Strategy - the planned marshaling of resources to have specific effect and accomplish specific objectives, is the keystone of every financially successful business.
If you aren't using strategies for your service business, you're likely to be simply taking random and unfocused actions that leave your business floundering. It's even more likely that your efforts and energies will be spent "fighting fires" and desperately attempting to maintain equilibrium rather than growing the business.
Without a strategy guiding you, you've got no strategic objectives, no plan to achieve them, and you're not clear what actions to take. Without strategic plans, there's no possibility to ever achieve the momentum you need to attain your objectives. Your only "chance" of success is accidental at best.
Let's say you're new to the idea of using strategies for your service business, and you want to understand how to get started. Here's a few ideas about that.
1) Put aside a few hours when you can plan.
Most owners of service businesses find their days consumed with delivering service. It is a challenge to carve out time to work out a strategy. It is critical though that you make this a priority. You may fret that it's a "waste of time", but the truth is that you likely waste much of your time now, because you do not have a strategy in place. Without a strategy, your business cannot approach its true potential. You aren't taking regular action to achieve something specific. Your time and efforts are wasted on non-productive activities. Taking time to plan will save you time in the end and ensure that your time is spent on those activities that will achieve your strategic objectives.
2) Have a clear and quantifiable strategic objective.
Put your objective down in numerical specifics. Make it quantifiable, "I aim to have X number of new clients." or "I intend to have X amount of new revenue.". You must be explicit, so that you recognize when you've reached your objective. This is where the quiet planning time can be so productive. With quiet, it's easier to think big and go for what you really want. Your goal must motivate you and be reason enough to have you taking consistent, focused, targeted action.
3) Once the objective is clear, create the strategy to get it.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you devise a strategy.
* What revenue-generating actions will become priority activities for you?
* What new products or services could increase revenue?
* How does your business need to change to meet the current market?
* What activities must you eliminate or de-emphasize?
* What have you been failing to do that is critical to success in this objective?
* What have you been avoiding that could bring you results?
* What tactics (series of actions that comprise one part of a strategy) will you pursue to achieve your strategy?
4) Generate all the tactics you can think of.
For example, if your strategic goal is, "to increase revenue by X", your tactics might be:
* "Add new services."
* "Execute marketing plan."
* "Start joint ventures."
* "Eliminate low-profit services."
Be complete. A strategy is a "living document" and you can pare this down to practical size later. Look over your tactics, and ensure that they all contribute to the achieving your strategic objective. Focus and target precisely.
5) For each tactic, list all the action steps required to execute that tactic.
Break each of these down into the smallest steps possible such as, "Call X.". The smaller the steps, the easier they are to execute, and the more you will have a feeling of progress and momentum. What you want is to have these action steps broken down into their smallest possible units so that you can squeeze one in between calls or when you have a few minutes free. This makes it possible for you to take action daily and feel consistent forward motion on your strategy.
6) As you progress, keep updating and revising the details of your strategy.
Cross off completed items and add new tactics and action steps as needed. Add new tactics. Revisit your objectives and add to them as you see the necessity. Use your strategy as a living document and consistently consult it.
Every owner of a service business needs to get into the habit of strategic planning and working from a strategy to ensure the financial success of the business. If you haven't been doing this - give it a try. You'll wonder why you haven't been doing this all along.
By Suzi Elton
Photography by Suhendri Utet
Suzi Elton provides business writing that attracts targeted prospects to your service business and converts them into clients for you. She is a Robert Middleton Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach, as well as a professional writer. Her website offers a free series of 8 assessments you can use to analyze your own site. To learn about her Robert Middleton style Web Site Tool Kit Writing Package, go to http://www.wowfactorwriting.com/services/web-site-tool-kit-package/
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How to Shoot Amazing Interior Photography
Simplify
This is the first tip I would like to give you: When you view the interior in front of you, take notice of what needs to be there and what doesn't. Remove everything that would "eat up" focus in the final photo and leave everything that grabs the attention. With that said, a red toy lying in the middle of the floor might actually be something that makes the photo stronger. Also, everything doesn't have to be perfect. A messy bed can make the photo look cozy and more spontaneous, but it has to have a purpose. What fits and what does not is something you'll learn over time, but keep in mind that the photograph needs to be simplified.
Using Live View
I myself use the function of Live View in my camera to get a better view of the final picture. This was something that proved to be extremely helpful, yet ate power like crazy. After a three hour photo shoot the 5D Mark II battery was nearly completely dead. So if you are going for a long session and plan on using Live View, bring spare batteries.
Using Live View
I myself use the function of Live View in my camera to get a better view of the final picture. This was something that proved to be extremely helpful, yet ate power like crazy. After a three hour photo shoot the 5D Mark II battery was nearly completely dead. So if you are going for a long session and plan on using Live View, bring spare batteries.
Be aware of the lines
Interior design is a lot about form and you as the photographer need to capture that. Be aware of every line in the interior and how you can use it. In one photo, I wanted to shoot an view over the kitchen, and since it was very white and the cupboards where clearly divided into a grid, I used this to create a lead in into the picture. Kind of like a road in a landscape.
Lines that are supposed to be perfectly horizontal or vertical must be so in the final picture. For instance, the shelves are supposed to lean into the picture, but the floor would look really odd if it tilted just slightly. It needs to be perfectly straight. This is something that is kinda of hard to do sometimes without extremely expensive equipment, so I fixed it afterward in Lightroom. I shot as good of a shot I could and then made sure afterward that the lines were flawless. In real life they are, it's the distortion in the lens that bends them.
To help you out you can pretty much imagine a grid across the picture. If a line from a floor, door or whatever breaks that grid just slightly it's wrong, but if it breaks it a lot (kinda like the cupboards that would go diagonally through the grid) it's okay.
Don't forget the unique details
Every interior designer has a few elements they are proud of or something that is really unique in that specific interior design, and you definitely want to capture that. Especially a good interior designer has put a lot of thought and care into every single detail. If you noticed and captured a detail that they worked hard on - guess who feels satisfied with your work? The designer.
It can be anything, in the photos of one space, it was the clear red little robot and the word "LOVE" sewed into the frame of the bed. Since I knew these were unique details I framed them and focused on them where the detail in itself became the entire picture. The other stuff is just framing. Important framing, but still just framing.
Overview
Once you are walking around in the property and you find all these cool details it can be easy to forget about the overview. However once you shoot an overview, or any view for that matter - never shoot from eye level. Everything on eye level is boring, it's the same view every person see every day. So instead go either extremely low, extremely high or what I prefer to do is to look for the lines and objects and get on their level and just slightly above. This way I get an interesting view yet still some depth. A table for instance in it's own height is just a line, but if I raise the camera up just a little bit I'll get some depth.
My last tip from this experience is: bring a tripod. I shot during the day to get a good light, we turned on every light-source to get some life into the picture and finally placed the camera on the tripod, adjusted it perfectly with Live View and I took the shot with a two second shutter timer. This is because I didn't want me pressing the shutter button messing with the sharpness of the final photograph. And since interior photography requires a really small aperture the shutter speed will be several seconds.
We hope these tips will help you when photographing your interiors.
We hope these tips will help you when photographing your interiors.
By Mikael Cedergren
Mikael Cedergren Photography
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HGTV’s Design Star is now casting Season 7!
Do you want to be the next star on HGTV?
What we are looking for:
■Extensive design knowledge
■Personality that pops
■A clear and unique design perspective
■Lots of energy and enthusiasm
If you or someone you know has what it takes, we want to hear from you!
WHERE WE’LL BE:
We will be holding open calls in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Austin, Charlotte, Miami, New York City and Boston. Check out our “Open Call Information” page for more details.
If you can’t make it to an open call, you can still apply!
There are three ways to apply to HGTV DESIGN STAR. All participants must provide the following documents and materials when submitting your Participant Application. Failure to do so will result in delaying the processing of your Participant Application and/or may result in eliminating you from further consideration. No materials will be returned. Participants will be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with their application for any option of entry set forth below.
Option 1: Attend a HGTV DESIGN STAR open casting call and bring a completed participant application, two (2) recent photographs of you, each clearly labeled on the back with your name clearly printed, a minimum of three (3) samples of your design work (clearly visible copies of pages from your portfolio or a website) and, one (1) legible photocopy of EITHER (1) your passport; OR (2) your driver’s license OR (3) your state ID card.
We will be casting in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Austin, Charlotte, Miami, New York City and Boston. For detailed information about each open call (including date, time and location), please see our “Open Call Information” page.
Option 2: Upload your 5-minute video to hgtv.com/designstar and then e-mail designstar7application@gmail.com with a completed participant application as a PDF document, along with two (2) photographs of yourself, clearly labeled with your name. Example: firstlast1, firstlast2, and three (3) examples of your work or a link to your website, clearly labeled if attached, and one (1) legible photocopy of EITHER (1) your passport; OR (2) your driver’s license; OR (3) your state ID card, clearly labeled. Please see our “Home Video Instructions” page for additional information about home video requirements.
Option 3: Mail in your 5-minute DVD or mini DV tape (please see our “Home Video Instructions” page), a completed participant application, two (2) recent photographs of yourself, each clearly labeled on the back with your name clearly printed, three (3) samples of your design work (clearly visible copies of pages from your portfolio or a website) and one (1) legible photocopy of EITHER (1) your passport; OR (2) your driver’s license; OR (3) your state ID card to:
HGTV DESIGN STAR
Scripps Networks, LLC
5757 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 220
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Rules & Eligibility
If you have any questions, please contact us at designstar7casting@gmail.com
HGTV's Design Star Open Call Information
Open Call Information
***
DC Open Casting Call
Date: Tuesday, August 9th
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: The Westin City Center
1400 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Email: DesignStar7DC@gmail.com
***
Las Vegas Open Casting Call
Date: Sunday, August 21st
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: The Westin Casuarina
160 East Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
Email: DesignStar7Vegas@gmail.com
***
LA Open Casting Call
Date: Saturday, August 27th
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel
2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
Email: DesignStar7LA@gmail.com
***
Austin Open Casting Call
Date: Friday, September 9th
Time: 9am- 1pm
Location: Hyatt Regency Austin
208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Email: DesignStar7Austin@gmail.com
***
Charlotte Open Casting Call
Date: Friday, September 23rd
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Hyatt Place Charlotte/ City Park
4119 South Stream Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217
Email: DesignStar7Charlotte@gmail.com
***
Boston Open Casting Call
Date: Saturday, September 24th
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Lenox Hotel
61 Exeter St at Boylston., Boston, MA 02116
Email: DesignStar7Boston@gmail.com
***
Miami Open Casting Call
Date: Saturday, October 1st
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Miami International University of Art & Design
1501 Biscayne Blvd. Ste. 100, 2nd Fl. Atrium
Miami, FL 33132
Email: DesignStar7Miami@gmail.com
***
NYC Open Casting Call
Date: Monday, October 3rd
Time: 9am- 1pm
Location: Sutton Place
1015 Second Ave., New York, NY 10022
Email: DesignStar7NYC@gmail.com
HGTV's Design Star Video Instructions
HGTV DESIGN STAR VIDEO TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
1. Please show us your personality. This is the key to having a great tape. Have fun with it! Remember, you only have 5 minutes. Don’t make the tape any longer than that. We want to see your personality from the moment the tape starts rolling
2. Introduce yourself (name, age, hometown, etc.)
3. Talk about your design background (How long have you been a designer? How did you get started? What other fields have you worked in? What inspired you to become a designer? Schooling?)
4. Sum up your design style in one sentence and elaborate on what it means to you.
5. What do you love about designing? Why is it your passion?
6. Show off and talk about one of your favorite designs.
7. Tell us why you want to be on HGTV Design Star and why you think you can win.
8. Show us a part of your lives. Introduce us to your home, your family, something important in your life. We want some insight into your life!
9. If you are mailing in a tape, please only film on mini DV, DVD & MAKE SURE YOU CHECK TO BE SURE YOUR DVD PLAYS IN YOUR DVD PLAYER, sometimes even when it plays on the computer it won’t play in the DVD player.
Suggestions for shooting a quality video:
■DISTANCE: try not to be more than 10 feet from the camera, as the sound will be too faint.
■Do not chew gum or have candy in your mouth.
■Close the blinds, shades, etc. and turn on the lights. Make sure the room is well lit.
■Do not sit in front of a window or lamp, as this will create a silhouette.
■Turn off the TV, radio, air conditioning, ceiling fans or heating units.
■Be sure no photographs or other artwork is in the background of your shots.
■Do not wear clothing with any visible trademarks, logos or other copyrighted material that you don’t own and control.
■Have fun! Emotions – both happy and sad – make for a compelling tape.
■Have someone other than yourself run the camera. Make sure it’s someone with whom you feel very comfortable and who knows how to run a video.
How to submit your video:
Option 1: Upload your 5-minute video to hgtv.com/designstar and then e-mail designstar7application@gmail.com with a completed participant application as a PDF document, along with two (2) photographs of yourself, clearly labeled with your name. Example: firstlast1, firstlast2, and three (3) examples of your work or a link to your website, clearly labeled if attached, and one (1) legible photocopy of EITHER (1) your passport; OR (2) your driver’s license; OR (3) your state ID card, clearly labeled.
Option 2: Mail in your 5-minute DVD or mini DV tape, a completed participant application, two (2) recent photographs of yourself, each clearly labeled on the back with your name clearly printed, three (3) samples of your design work (clearly visible copies of pages from your portfolio or a website) and one (1) legible photocopy of EITHER (1) your passport; OR (2) your driver’s license; OR (3) your state ID card to:
HGTV DESIGN STAR
Scripps Networks, LLC
5757 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 220
Los Angeles, CA 90036
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