Design 设计 -
美国建筑室内设计American Designers
-
- First of all, in almost all cases, American designers/architects will only provide conceptual design/schematic design + design development, the local architect of the developer's choosing will handle the construction drawings as that is required by the Chinese codes, as I was told by an interior designer friend. Foreign architects do not know concrete structure houses so there is no way he can handle construction drawings.
- Chinese clients hire foreign architects to work with local architects only for phase I and II, the construction drawings will not be reviewed, or formally reviewed, by the designers, that's not good practice as the local architects may miss something important, or ignore/change something they do not think important. I always recommend Chinese clients to pay some extra money to let American designers to review all the construction drawings. So when you quote, pls include that part of work also.
- Most of time the developers will agree to pay air tickets and loging expenses and transportation to support American designers' work, but they would never do that to a Chinese designer, except he is invited to review a drawing package, not hired to do the job. So some Chinese clients, especially the private residence owners, may find it difficult to accept, just be patient. You do not need to include your air fare and lodging expenses in the design fee, try to make it looks low and competitive.
- Retainer is another issue that many Chinese clients find difficult to accept and that's another big difference between two countries' design industry. In China it's not retainer, it's deposit, that means the client will need the Chinese designer to finish design and then pay during the latter phase, which is risky to the designer of course. Do not worry, most of time the developer can compromise for outstanding American architects and they can change their attitudes for great American designers, I will explain that to them if they do not. But the private house owners may be more difficult.
- Everyone in China lives in a fast growing economy which requires us to response quickly, but unfortunately most of us do not know enough, wise enough to make right plans in advance, so when you work with us, please be flexible enough to change your working attitude/working rhythm otherwise you will not succed.
- The client can hire a 3D model/rendering professional team to support your design work and you do not need to worry about the fee, that can save you a lot of energy and cost, so do not include this part in your proposal.
- The client may hire a translator, or I can let my assistants to translate for you, you do not need to pay extra for translation fee. But if you want me to translate your website into Chinese, or a brochure, then I will need to charge some fee for my time as that's not just for this job.
- You do not need to pay me in advance, you pay my commission after you get paid.
- My fee varies according to the size of job, and if I will need to translate emails, and design documents all the time. Translating all the emails during the whole process could be a big job, I used to translate around 10 emails each day, and write 20 emails in two languages each day, for 4 projects.
- Computer generated 3D model will be a very important method of presentation, it is required all the designers need to open a 3D model file in their computers and explain their ideas to the client face in face. We do not use study model. You will provide sketches, inspiring pictures to the Chinese professionals hired by the client or me and instruct them to finish the 3D model, you do not draw it but you need to know how to open the file and turn around the 3D model. Normally we use SketchUp to draw the model, sometimes it's ChiefArchitect.
- We use Skype/MSN to communicate with each other, instead of emailing back and forth, as those are more efficient due to the time difference, and Chinese contractors/clients may want an answer quickly.
- If it's an interior design job, then the work will not include shopping most of time, mainly interior architecture as most of the buildings are shells. You will not be able to have mark up as part of your fee.
- We use Skydrive.live.com instead of email or yousendit.com to send big files, like your brochures, big drawings, 3D models, renderings, etc. You may also use drivehq.com to do this. Yousendit.com and box.net are both blocked here, so they do not work at all.
- Good luck!
- I am looking forward to working with a talented you and learning from you.
你还不是该群组正式成员，不能参与讨论。
现在就加入。
