Blogs and websites are changing the dynamics between designers and their clients, but how? On November 20, ASID EVP/CEO Randy Fiser hosted a panel discussion at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., to discuss how more informed consumers are shifting the dynamics and what new business models designers can implement to capitalize on this change.

Panelists Amanda Dameron, editor and chief at Dwell Media, and Kelly Porter, a designer and blogger addressed questions such as:
What new business models are designers using to shift their design work online? When asked how someone should approach blogging and transitioning into an online client service model, both panelists agreed to, first, find your voice and put it to work positioning you as a thought leader in your niche.  Second, be patient and cultivate your online persona just as you would any other brand.  They both cautioned that just like any business, it could take months or years to see a return on your initial investment but your payback is proportional to the care and attention you invest throughout that time.

Fiser engaged Dameron and Porter in a thought-provoking discussion about the ways designers and consumers currently use the internet. “Many established designers use their blog to provide thought leadership while others are taking it a step further and designing for clients via the internet,” says Porter. “Several of my current clients came to me through my website; I’ve never met them in person.”

Data from consumer research Dwell conducts each year, Dameron painted a picture of a client who comes to a designer knowing exactly what they want in their space. “They even come with pictures of rooms and furnishings torn from shelter publications and printed from the web,” she explains. “The value of a designer today is that they create an aesthetic that matches each client but do it in a way that ensures the room functions in ways to meet the occupant’s needs.”

Melinda Skea is ASID director of communications.