How to Ruin a Technical Specification and Say Goodbye to Your Project

A technical specification is the first and very important step in developing a design project. Stanislav Orekhov, on his website, shared what not to do if you want to find common ground with a client, avoid disappointing them, and not add extra work for yourself.

Stanislav Orekhov is an expert, designer, visualizer, owner of a design studio, and founder of one of the most popular schools for visualization, interior design, and business development in design.

Send a questionnaire to the client's email so they fill it out themselves

Then you organize a meeting where you discuss the answers with the client and supplement them. The designer doesn't draft the technical specification — just writes it down in a notebook.

What it leads to: when the client fills out the questionnaire themselves, they don't answer all questions. Some points they don’t understand and skip, while others are answered incorrectly. They get tired during the process, become disappointed in the designer, and end up choosing another contractor instead.

Discuss the task during a personal meeting with the client or during measurements

You keep questions in your mind, make notes in a notebook, and show photos of various interiors to determine the style.

What it leads to: you don't ask all the questions, only the main ones. The client leaves loopholes for options that they later use. The designer didn’t clarify the details — they “hit” on those options.

Don't draft or sign the technical specification

You jump straight into developing the concept and show variants. You hope to figure out what the client wants during the conversation — you take the project, and then sort it out later.

What it leads to: the client doesn’t value the result. It’s a job that won't be paid if the concept isn't liked — not because the designer is bad, but because they didn’t make what was required. And what was required? They didn't find out in advance because they tried to skip the technical specification stage.

Adjust the technical specification every time for a new client

You have various clients and for each you find your own approach. Some get a questionnaire, others you discuss everything verbally. You also customize the standard questionnaire for each client.

What it leads to: without a system, the designer will inevitably forget to ask something important.

On the cover: Stanislav Orekhov's design project.

Also read:

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• How to communicate your vision to a client as a designer: 5 rules
  
• 10 critical errors made by designers in visualization