WESTWEEK Buzz: Demystifying the Designer

Why do so many people consider designers unapproachable, high-handed, expensive, or worst of all, unnecessary? How have designers come to be regarded by so many potential clients as little more than personal shoppers, granting access to the good stuff? How can designers reach the vast market of sophisticated homeowners too intimated to hire a professional?

Elle Decor Editor-in-Chief Michael Boodro and a panel of design professionals tackled these questions at more during their WESTWEEK panel Demystifying the Designer.

The crowd spilled out into the PDC's hallway, with the audience listening in on the panel from outside the Blue Conference Center.

Elizabeth Chamberlain, Marketing Director of PDC, gave us her thoughts on the packed panel: "It was a thrill to see the standing room only crowd! What an honor to have Michael Boodro and the amazing panel of designers to share their insight and inspiration. There is clearly a lot of need for these questions to be talked about and answered right now."

The panel discussed innovative approaches to reaching out to and securing new clients, establishing the importance, value, time and money saving skills of designers and offer their thoughts on the future of "to the trade." Panelists also talked about how websites, blogs and social media have changed misperceptions about the industry.

Stay tuned for more WESTWEEK Buzz and hear about the fabulous reception for Demystifying the Designer panel in the Brown Jordan showroom on GoDesignGo.