Interior Design as practiced today is both an art and a science, and within its creative bounds will be found individuals of varying talents, experience, training, and disposition. There are one-man operations and large corporations catering to an equally diverse clientele. Interior Designers may pursue any of a variety of specialties, each of which represents a complex body of knowledge: residential, office, hotel, hospital, spa, retail, club, even air and marine design are all highly specific areas of Interior Design in which a designer might specialize. If you are interested in hiring a designer, do your homework: Ask your friends for recommendations Look in magazines or periodicals for work you consistently admire Check the work of members of professional organizations such as ASID, IIDA, or LADG Once you have narrowed the field of potential candidates based on work you find appealing, approach the designers in whom you are interested for an interview and review of their portfolios. You should have a clear idea of the scope of project you are contemplating, and be able to discuss with your candidates what you will require of a designer. Do not be afraid to discuss the budget you may be comfortable with, and be certain to discuss all aspects of the designer's contract and fee structure. Interior Designers charge for their services in a variety of ways: some through a markup on merchandise, some through pre-negotiated design fees, and others through a combination of these or other methods. An Interior Designer's fee structure should in no way be a mystery, and should be settled in advance. Interior Designers have many approaches to the creative and business methods employed in the work they do: as in any creative field, there is no one way to do things. Interior Designers have unique and individual personalities: each is different and will see things differently. Again, there is no one way to see things. Find the Interior Designer with whom you feel comfortable---you are entering into a partnership to accomplish goals you define together. Your creative partnership can only succeed in an environment of mutual trust. Therefore you must have a relaxed, confident, and open relationship with your Interior Designer. Be comfortable, settle business matters first, and then allow your Interior Designer to open up a whole world of possibilities in the design of your personal space.