Why AI will never replace Interior Designers

Let's talk about AI. AI has taken the world by storm in so many areas of our life, including our homes with AI mood boards, AI floorplans, AI shopping lists, even AI “designers". While these tools can be helpful to visualize what your home could look like, there’s a growing misconception that AI might eventually replace interior designers altogether. But here’s the truth: AI can assist, but it cannot replace the human touch, creativity, knowledge and expertise that Interior Designers bring to a space. AI can generate a beautiful picture, but it has no understanding of how a space is used or how people move through it, structural limitations, correct & safe material applications, lighting conditions, building code & city bylaws, or plumbing & electrical requirements.

What AI does not know

The list goes on and on. One of the most important parts of an Interior Designer’s role is working with contractors, trades, and vendors. We ensure contractors execute the vision correctly, solve on-site challenges in real time, & keep projects on schedule and budget. AI cannot go on site, coordinate teams, or make judgment calls when things inevitably go off plan, and let's be honest they almost always do, it is the nature of construction.

Let me be clear, I am not completely anti AI. It can absolutely be a helpful tool. It can help with a simple decorating or furnishing project to get you excited, but then you are still left to your own devices to source these items, ensure the furniture layout & flow is correct for your space, find the best pricing, coordinate the deliveries, check for damages, unpack & place the items and decorate. Also it is important to note that this is the role of an Interior Decorator, although Designers also decorate, but decorators do not design. AI can show you a nice idea, but Interior Designers create real solutions, on the fly changes and well thought out designs curated to you and your family.

I will admit that I am protective of the design community. We have worked hard with our training, degrees and industry knowledge to provide not only a service, but a personalized experience for our clients. Interior Design offers a luxury experience by combining expert guidance, curated selections, and flawless execution to create a home that is uniquely yours

Want to know more about how an Interior Designer can help? We would love to chat !

"Do I need an Interior Designer?"

The short answer is yes. The long answer is to follow. With the internet and home inspiration websites like Pinterest and Houzz, more and more homeowners are attempting to tackle their renovation or new-build on their own. What they don't often realize is how much an Interior Designer does before those beautiful photos are produced. Before anything is built, we are space planning, examining human factors, researching building and fire code and city bylaw requirements, creating your budget and schedule and ensuring all aspects of your project are feasible and depending on the scope of work preparing your building permit drawings. I cannot tell you how many times I have been given a Pinterest photo and asked to "design" it. Firstly, this is not design, this is replicating someone else's design. Secondly, if a client wants an identical reproduction of an inspo image, they do not need a designer, they just need someone to build it for them. Designers are highly creative people, we want to produce a design that is uniquely you so your home stands out.

What is Interior Design?

Many people use the terms “interior design” and “interior decorating” interchangeably, but these professions differ in critical ways.

Interior design is the art and science of understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.

Interior designers apply creative and technical solutions within a structure that are functional, attractive and beneficial to the occupants’ quality of life and culture. Designs respond to and coordinate with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability.

Interior Design is defined by CIDQ as "a distinct profession with specialized knowledge applied to the planning and design of interior environments that promote health, safety, and welfare while supporting and enhancing the human experience. Founded upon design and human behavior theories and research, interior designers apply evidence-based methodologies to identify, analyze, and synthesize information in generating holistic, technical, creative, and contextually-appropriate design solutions. Interior designers contribute to the interior environment with knowledge and skills about space planning; interior building materials and finishes; casework, furniture, furnishings, and equipment; lighting; acoustics; wayfinding; ergonomics and anthropometrics; and human environmental behavior. Interior designers analyze, plan, design, document, and manage interior non-structural/non-seismic construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building design and construction, fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines for the purpose of obtaining a building permit, as allowed by law. "

Budgets and documentation

Every homeowner wants to know how much their project is going to cost. Without a full design package, it's nearly impossible to put a number on it. The only way to get a firm grasp on your budget and project cost is to have it designed, and sent out for pricing to all trades and suppliers required by the project. You can learn more job costing HERE.

Drawings and specification packages are one of the most important part of a designers job. It communicates the design intent and all of it's details to the contractor, suppliers and trades people. Without them, there is no way for them to know what to build or what things are going to cost. So many details are captured in our drawings such as tile pattern, grout thickness, flooring direction, cabinet door style material and finish, shower valve height, outlet/switches locations & types, cabinet hardware placement, light fixture placement, flooring transitions, cabinetry door and drawer sizes, door swing...the list is endless.

An interior designer should be able to produce the following drawings & documentation:

Interior design is becoming more of a requirement in construction, rather than a luxury; no different than a plumber or electrician. Someone needs to make all of the decisions required, and your builder is not going to do it for you! Designers ultimately save you time, money and costly mistakes and delays on your project.

Still have questions? Please reach out, we are always happy to chat anything design!