My job as a designer involves the traditional roles of an interior designer, but another aspect is playing the role of psychologist or therapist. So much of the job involves listening to clients and deciphering the design issues at hand, and that boils down to understanding the clients' needs and ultimately finding ways to meet them.

This stands true whether the client is a single person, a newly minted couple, a family or a group such as business owners or a condominium association. A "group" is quite a doozie when under the guise of a "design committee." As they age, many condominiums need a good facelift, and design committees are generally intended to serve as representatives of the homeowners, as well as consensus builders for the design.

Everyone has an opinion about design style, and we should be free to express them. What is curious is how territorial committee members get in the design of the common areas. Some apparently believe they are discussing the design of their own living room, pushing for their stylistic preference and color palette.

Therein lies the problem: some loving the design, others abhorring it. Boy, the things I have seen in these meetings — everything from name-calling to temper tantrums, threats and even board resignations — and all in the name of design. Sometimes these disagreements are genuinely about design and budget, but more often than not, they are about poolside politics.

Designing for hundreds of clients at one time is particularly complex, as it is difficult to please everyone. The design of condominium common areas should have broad appeal; they must be welcoming like a living room and durable like a hotel lobby. The design should address the architecture of the building, as well as the location of the project. Other items to consider include the amount of use and the peak hours of use for the area. Knowing the socio-economic composition, age range and background of the residents is essential to a successful design. Lobbies are the spaces that make the first and most lasting impression.

Recently, I completed the redesign of a condominium lobby of mid-1980s vintage. Upon completion, the residents had a champagne reception to celebrate the newly designed space. Later that evening, I was surprised to receive a phone call from one of the committee members. I expected the worst, but the call was to commend my design, and to let me know that 30 or 40 ladies of a certain age who attended the celebration wished to thank me for making them feel younger every time they entered the lobby. This was music to my ears. Besides proving a job well done, it demonstrates the psychological power of design.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash