Making Lemonade

“If life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Words to live by, especially when you kept in mind that the only way to make them into lemonade was to squeeze the hell out of them.”
― Stephen King

Many of us are prepared to squeeze the hell out of something if we thought that would improve our situation. Times are tough and tensions are high. What can design do for us in this moment?

I doubt that I’m alone when I cringe watching online retailers hawking new furniture and patterned dishes when people are out of work and going hungry. It strikes me as similarly tone deaf to amplify a designer’s role in creating fabulous redesigns featuring tons of splendid new products. So I won’t do it -not that I’ve ever been inclined to focus on sales of new products. Still, I do believe in the power of delivering functional and beautiful spaces. It’s now more important than ever to treat our spaces as sacred given how little space in which we can safely operate these days!

Here’s another way to think about working with a designer during tough times. Keep in mind that independent designers are also deeply affected and struggling to find work as creatives during this pandemic. Even if you are keeping your home or office free of unnecessary visitors, there are plenty of ways you can consult a designer to meet emerging needs. Here’s just a few ideas:

• Looking to give a room a fresh coat of paint? A one hour video consult with a designer can typically yield the perfect color for your space and save you lots of unnecessary re-dos and/or trips to the paint store.
• Need to reconfigure your office? A designer can help you with this task, remotely providing you technical drawings and specifications to make sure the new version will inspire your best work and everything fits in your space just right.
• Planning an appropriately intimate/socially distanced gathering? A designer can help you assemble a beautiful look that meets your needs and inspires your guests.
• Are you now encountering some new organization and storage challenges? A designer can help you edit your space and map out budget-friendly storage solutions that don’t look makeshift or clumsy.
• Finding you need some more durable finishes that will endure beyond your new pandemic protocols? A designer can help you identify the best options for your budget and taste.
• Need some new inspiration? A designer can help you identify artwork and accessories that make an impact while still blending seamlessly in your space.

Especially working within constraints, independent designers can generally do a better job researching multiple sources and methods to get you the best outcomes for your budget and style. If you’re not in the market to buy anything new, your independent designer is often equally happy to help you work with what you have on hand. In my case, working primarily as a consultant keeps me free of pressure from employers and vendors who would otherwise expect me to steer you toward product sales for them.

I chose an independent route for my career because I’m concerned about the environmental effects of selling products in a ‘disposable’ culture. I’m also typically more excited by the challenge of working with what you have rather than simply pushing you to buy something new. In my mind, it’s a great fit for the times we are living in today. You can always get an estimate beforehand for how much design time is necessary to deliver what you need for your project. If you decide you want to use my ideas to shop on your own for new products, that’s great. If you prefer I help you shop your favorite retailers, I’m game for that too.

Do what you need to do in order take care of yourself. I’ll be sure to do the same. In the meantime, if this post gives you inspiration to make some lemonade out of these lemons we’re being handed – I’m happy to help any way that I can!