Each Interiors & Sources issue delivers relevant and timely commerical interior design information that equips interior design professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to reach interior design excellence in commercial interior design industry. As the only interior design publication exclusively focused on commercial interior design, we emphasize interior design products, how they are used in projects and where to source them.

Monthly sections found in each issue include:

SOURCE: commercial interior design products and furnishings sourced in a single room

ALSO SEEN: a quick look at the latest commercial interior design projects

TRENDS: latest interior design developments in the architectural and design market

TRANSITIONS: movers and shakers in the commercial interior design profession

DESIGNER PROFILES: find out what leading interior designers are up to and what inspires them.

ENVIRONDESIGN NOTEBOOK: expert commentary and news on sustainable interior design

DESIGN COLLABORATIVE: an inside look into the partnerships between industrial designers and manufacturers and the products they create

PRODUCT Q&A: a whimsical “interview” with the latest interior design products and furnishings on the market

ON THE HORIZON: upcoming interior design projects on the drawing board

Further opportunities for commercial interior designers include:

Interiors & Sources Continuing Education Series articles allow interior design professionals to conveniently earn valuable continuing education unit credits (CEUs) through the pages of Interiors & Sources with content provided by manufacturers. CEU articles are written by interior design experts and approved by IDCEC and accepted by ASID, IIDA, IDC, IDEC and NCIDQ.

Readers’ Choice Awards – provided with a comprehensive list of innovative interior design products, Readers are allowed to vote on their favorites.

Just starting out? We also provide commercial interior design resources from

http://www.interiordesigndegree.net, where you can find in-depth and un-biased information about an Interior Design Degree.

Interiors & Sources also works with several interior design professional associations as well as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, which accredits professional-level interior design programs. To learn more about their missions and programs, visit

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01/30/2013

Empowering Tech

Emerging technologies can help communicate the value of interior design and drum up new business—here’s how to put them to work for you.

By Barbara Marini, FASID, IDEC

Technology has reshaped how we think about design and how we conduct business at all levels of the marketplace.

To meet today’s rapidly evolving online environment, ASID launched a new website at the beginning of this year. Designed to engage the design community—including both industry professionals and clients—the new site truly showcases the expertise of our designers. New features include access to industry research and reports, a robust designer directory and seamless integration with social media so that designers, industry partners and clients can better manage and share information. Specialized content areas are available 24/7, providing streamlined and user-friendly access to ASID resources and information.

But a robust website is just one way designers can use technology to enhance their practice. Other strategies for delivering services, such as bundling, allow potential clients to determine the desired scope of services while providing designers with greater flexibility in terms of project management. The ability to benchmark projects, monitor hours and determine appropriate fees sets a competitive edge, and provides an opportunity for designers to increase their functionality and advance their business.

Tech tools, such as the Canvas Model Design app by Intergrupo, provide an intuitive way for designers to generate individual client or project scorecards that track and compare projects on the go, and assist in the benchmarking process. Canvas Model Design is user friendly if you spend some time to gather and input data on your projects, and can be downloaded directly to your mobile device (available through a Google search or the iTunes app store).

Other tools enhance productivity and provide information (often on mobile devices) that can be customized to fit your needs. Creating new ventures and opportunities can require a different business model and looking at this from a strategic perspective may be necessary. StratPad Plus by Glassey Technologies, My Business Plan by Ololac Interactive or Strategy Architect by the Burwood Group, Inc. are three specific apps that can help designers define, shape and prepare their businesses for the future; they are also a great way to organize your goals and set a direction. Having a plan in place guides your decisions and helps to maintain focus, whether the intent is to increase market position, expand your network or develop a new model of work; technology aids in the process and encourages innovation.

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