The Power of the Process: Designing with Intention

Since COUPAR’s inception, developing a sound process has always been at the forefront of our business. The design industry focuses on the value of aesthetics, but process and practicality can often be absent. Firms have individuals with an innate sense of creativity, which is undeniably an integral part of the business, but systematically approaching these visions is crucial. 

Our team believes in the mantra: process first, design second. Putting an organized, seamless procedure in place allows for more bandwidth to exercise creativity. COUPAR streamlines these processes, carving out valuable time for principal designers to focus primarily on their vision and partnerships rather than being absorbed with structural nuances. This process not only makes it a smoother, more efficient experience for your firm internally, but it cultivates a top tier experience for your collaborators and most importantly your clients. 

In high-end, residential design, firms’ signature design styles can often resemble one another, but what sets firms apart is the collaborative experience. Clients want a beautifully designed home as the end product, but they also highly value the journey to get there. The people are what precisely make the experience, so having a  “dream team” of collaborators that work well together is what will attract clients to your firm. By investing time and effort into developing strong, strategic partnerships, you will bring a higher project success rate.

The processes COUPAR established are what has made the company able to design with ease remotely. Our well-designed business model functions during the economy’s fluxes and unexpected events, like COVID-19. Krista Coupar first championed remote design in 2010 when one of her clients moved to Switzerland, and she continued to run design projects at a distance and across time zones. 

There are a variety of tools that both our Studio and Marketing teams utilize to ensure our projects track efficiently. For project management, our designers rely heavily on Basecamp and have fine-tuned a set of best practices for using this online resource. On the marketing side, Asana and Google Drive are essential for managing a diverse range of creative projects. 

Basecamp Dashboard

Zoom Meeting

As we have moved to remotely working during the pandemic, we easily implemented our processes just as they were before. Except now, they have been supplemented by increased communication through Zoom or Google Hangouts. Although face-to-face meetings are often preferred, we have discovered the unique advantages of video conferencing throughout the design process. For example, our studio designers wait for relayed feedback from a principal designer’s client meeting. Now with meetings conducted via video, we can listen to the meeting’s recording, having more extensive access to the details that we need to carry out the next step of the project. 

As times continue to change unexpectedly and our dependence on technology increases, it’s becoming even more crucial for companies in the design sphere to establish intentional processes that are functional, yet adaptable and agile. If you are interested in learning more about how COUPAR can help your firm with its processes visit our services page or contact us at info@couparconsulting.com