Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews freelance interior design consultant Joanne Dolan. Joanne works directly with homeowners and fellow designers on custom cabinetry, storage solutions, fabric selections, soft furnishings, and custom window treatments.

 Since 2018 when Joanne Dolan Design began, she has focused part of her work on being a freelance interior decorator to help other designers with their work, especially on large projects. Joanne will go through the importance of what she does, how she helps others, and how to manage your current work ethic to see if you need more help.   

So join Crystal and Joanne as they discover different areas where more help is needed, how to keep track of how much your work you are putting into a project, and know you're worth in your field. 

Do something today that your future self will thank you for and call Joanne to get help with all of your interior design needs. 

Joanne Dolan Contact

https://www.joannedolandesign.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JoanneDolanDesign

https://www.instagram.com/joanne.dolan.design

https://www.pinterest.ca/joannedolandesign/

Recommended Podcasts

https://armchairexpertpod.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-should-know/id278981407

https://rebeccahay.com/podcast/

https://www.wingnutsocial.com/podcast/

Featured in this week’s episode on The Productive Designer, host Crystal Collinson talks about the importance of Standard Operating Procedures, what they are, why they are necessary, and how to create them for your interior design business. This episode is perfect if you are wanting to learn how to delegate tasks to others, if you are ready to bring on help, or if you are wanting to keep a set order of tasks.

 Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, are a series of lists made to help keep consistency throughout your work, even if you are not the one doing the task. It gives continuity to your work and helps reduce errors. Also, these step by step procedures allows the business owner, to outsource more work, aiding in the onboarding of employees or consultants. 

SOPs can be developed for meeting with clients, drawing packages, ordering processes, sourcing, contract preparations, and more. Crystal will give you examples, tips, and tricks to take your business to the next level.

 Plus, if you want to an outline of the discussion and a downloadable pdf you can contact Crystal at theproductivedesigner.com or on Instagram to receive an example of an SOP. 

 So join Crystal and learn how SOPs can work for you and learn how to take full advantage of SOPs in your business. And do something today that your future self will thank you for. 

Join Crystal on part 2 of the simulcast where she interviews Cynthia Soda the host of The Fizz Podcast. To listen to Part 1 where Cynthia interviews Crystal, pop on over to The Fizz podcast. 

A business owner and busy mom of 4, Cynthia is the Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Soda Pop Design Inc. and Host of The Fizz Podcast.  

Crystal and Cynthia talk about how she got started in the interior design business, why she started a podcast, and how she manages her business as a busy Mom of 4.

https://soundcloud.com/thefizzpodcast

https://www.instagram.com/sodapopdesigninc/

https://sodapopdesign.ca/

Featured in this week’s episode on Productive Design, Crystal interviews Director of Trade Relations at Caplan’s, Linda Kafka. Linda is a specialist and industry resource on inclusive design and wellness in the residential trade sector. She also has an in-depth knowledge of living in place before the current coronavirus pandemic began. 

The living in place idea is to think about designing in ways that could make life easier in the home whether it be easier for expecting mothers to move around the house, designing a room to increase sleep quality, or creating designated spaces in the home for visitors and deliveries. The idea is that life should be adaptable and Linda gives us different ideas of how to do that.

So join Linda and Crystal as they explore different ideas to bring your home designing to the next level in comfort, care, and ease. 

If you would like to know more about Linda or get in touch with her, you can reach her at livablecanada.com or on Instagram at lipnetwork.

#livinginplace 
#livablecanada
#livinginplacenetwork
#lipnetwork
#lindakafka
#interiordesignresource

Today I speak with Julia Fraser, owner of Watts Current “brick and mortar” lighting store located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. Julia and I talk about some of the pitfalls Interior Designers can run into when specifying lighting. Working with a knowledgable lighting supplier is liking having a “free employee” they are an extension of your design team, everyone can save time, the Designer, the Client, and the Electrician.

Key Take-Aways

-Make sure you establish and share your lighting budget, and be honest and realistic about your timelines, this will give the necessary requirements that your supplier needs to be made aware of to provide you with the best lighting solutions for your projects.

-Electricians are not allowed to install light fixtures that are not CSA or ETL approved, very important if you order lighting online

-Warranties, by working with a trusted supplier they will be able to rectify any issues on your behalf.

Mentioned in this episode:

Quote from Mark Twain “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything” 

https://www.csagroup.org/testing-certification/marks-labels/csa-marks-labels-north-america/

https://www.intertek.com/marks/etl/

Podcasts mentioned in this episode:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/front-burner/

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/current-affairs-information/sks/

https://canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes

To get in touch with Julia Fraser or her Watts Current team

https://www.instagram.com/wattscurrentinc/

https://www.facebook.com/wattscurrentinc/ 

https://wattscurrent.com/

In this episode, we chat with Kitchen Design & Product Expert Margaret Macdonald. Margaret is the Ontario Architect and Design Sales Manager for Sub Zero, Wolf, and Cove focusing on the education and specification of luxury residential appliances.

We learn why your A&D representatives can serve as a member of our team when it comes to specifying. Your A&D rep comes equipped with the tools, experience, and knowledge to take you and your client through the entire process of designing, specifying, installation, and the end-user experience of luxury appliances. 

Email: [email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/margaret_macdonald0415/

https://www.instagram.com/subzeroandwolf

#subzeroandwolf #luxuryappliances #kitchendesign #traderesource

With 30 years of experience in architectural design, project management, and general construction Foti Hatzidemetriou brings knowledge and experience to every collaboration he works on. 

Foti is a General Contractor, accessibility expert and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), he gets his biggest satisfaction from helping his clients discover practical ways to modify their home/work so they can enjoy it for as longs as they want. He is an advocate of The Home Modification Council working on public awareness and government change. 

Listen to our conversation as we discuss ideas to improve and accommodate your client’s specific needs to have a safer and more liveable environment through the use of home automation, design, and materials just to name a few.  
https://concept2build.com/   
https://www.facebook.com/concept2build 

https://twitter.com/Concept2Build. 

https://www.nahb.org/Education-and-Events/Education/Designations/Certified-Aging-in-Place-Specialist-CAPS

https://www.chba.ca/CHBA/CommitteesCouncils/Home_Modification_Council/CHBA/CommitteesCouncils/HMC.aspx?hkey=13a3967f-5b5b-493b-a1ce-3c0bccecd651

[email protected]

Cell: (416) 859-5813

Ep. #005

Today we chat with Interior Design Professional Ingrid Porter from Cleveland Ohio-we talk about that mean girl voice in our heads! You know the one, the voice that likes to remind us that somehow we have managed to "trick" everyone into thinking we know what we are doing, and we will soon be exposed for the "fraud" we really are. This is commonly known as "Impostor Syndrome", and I am sure each and everyone of us has battled it at some time in our lives and careers. As Entrepreneurs we are typically "high achievers", some may say "A Types" who are typically not happy with the status quo, we tend to stretch ourselves outside our comfort zone, and that is often when the voice starts to get loud.

So listen in to learn how Ingrid deals with Imposter Syndrome, what books, podcasts and mindset tools she likes to turn to when the “inner mean girl” rears her ugly head!

Episode #004 I don’t know about you, but I love hearing what tools others use in their work life or daily life to be more productive or just make life easier for them. In this solo episode I talk about the tools and software I am currently using in my business. I discuss what is working for me now, and some of the software or apps I have previously used and why I switched. 

Below are the links to the apps or software mentioned in this episode.

• https://calendar.google.com
• https://www.etsy.com/ca/market/digital_planner
• https://asana.com
• https://www.voxer.com/
• https://designfiles.co/
• https://evernote.com/
• https://www.autodesk.ca/
• https://www.google.com/drive/
• https://www.loom.com
• https://zoom.us/
• https://www.waveapps.com
• https://www.dropbox.com/

 Here are two additional apps I use but forgot to mention in this episode. I will definitely talk more about time tracking & planning in future episodes.

• https://www.rescuetime.com/
• http://www.hourstrackerapp.com/