FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE:

INTERIOR DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

SEEING THE VALUE OF OUR ROLE IN EACH AND EVERY PROJECT

HOW TO COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF OUR ROLE

HOW AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE HANDLING PURCHASES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

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It IS a challenge being the only girl in construction management. 

This actually came about because I was scrolling through Instagram and stopped to listen to a speech a woman and it really struck a cord for me. She was talking about imposter syndrome, and barriers women face in a male dominated industries. 

She has done some research on this concept called ‘bicycle face,’ which is an idea from the 1800s that claimed’ women’s faces would be distorted from riding bicycles.’ But what it really was about was fear—fear of women gaining autonomy, traveling, gathering together, and socializing independently and without being dependent on a man. And yes, I would imagine that in the 1800s, that created some fear. When we think about it, some of these same reactions still happen when women step into industries like construction and architecture. 

Construction and architecture have historically been male dominated industries. 

In the past, these roles were seen as physically demanding and technical, and society aligned that with masculine traits. So, women were kept out because we were considered ‘too delicate’ or opportunities of higher education and training that were not offered to women. 

But now, even in our generation and the generation before, entering construction and architecture as a woman was challenging. 

I had a professor at NYCID, Joan Peterson, who taught me drafting, and I have spoken about her before. She was incredible. She was adamant about teaching us to draw, drawings we could never legally draw, let alone seal. The reason she did this was she wanted to “Be able to sit at a table with these men, speak intelligently, and add value to the conversation.” So I know how to draw an HVAC system – not fun, by the way, but it was so incredibly valuable in my skill building and my confidence. But I didn’t realize how incredibly difficult it must have been for her to be in the thick of such a male dominated industry a generation ahead of me. 

I also worked for an architecture firm, and I was on the executive team in my twenties. I still look back and think, “Did that really happen?” And it did! I was the only female at that table. 

This bias, it can be strong. This profession is frequently dismissed as a hobby. We seen as people who play with fabrics, have a great eye for color, or simply decorate spaces. I know I have been told all of those and more over the years. But that perception overlooks the incredible amount of expertise we bring to the table. This misunderstanding frames how people view our capabilities and, of course, our worth on any given project, which is why we have to work harder to claim our space and our value.

I have experienced firsthand discrimination on the job site. It doesn’t always come out right. It can be subtle, like undermining my expertise. I’ve been talked over and ignored. I’ve been questioned in ways that a male counterpart likely wouldn’t be – countless times. 

These small moments chip away at your confidence. It makes you wonder, am I doing something wrong? 

This ties directly back to the speech I listened to on social media, where she was saying imposter syndrome is the feeling that we’re not good enough even though we’re fully qualified. 

She also shared that 82% of women report feeling imposter syndrome! I would say it’s a hint more for interior designers managing construction.

So, of course, you start questioning yourself and looking inward when really the problem is with the system. We don’t need to fix ourselves. There is nothing wrong with us! The real issue is the structural barriers that make us feel like we don’t belong. 

It is critical for designers to communicate the value of our role and why we deserve to be compensated for our project management work. 

This includes purchases on construction projects. This is an area where designers often hesitate. Designers often feel uncomfortable taking on this responsibility or like it’s not their role. Trust me, contractors are more than happy to let you feel that way. Why? When the contractor makes the purchases, they get the markups. Where designers only get the fees for the time spent specifying the items. 

The thing is, both contractors and designers have business models that rely on profits for purchasing. That is just a fact. This needs to be negotiated up front. Who’s going to be purchasing what? It’s a simple conversation as that, and yes that varies from project to project. But because it varies, that doesn’t mean you don’t negotiate something.

I understand there are some designers that just want to hand everything over to the contractor thinking that it’s easier. And while I understand the why, I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t.

First, you are leaving money on the table. When you don’t handle the purchases, you miss out on a significant revenue stream opportunity. You’re left solely on billable hours, and there are only so many hours in the day to bill. If you bring in a second stream of income through the purchasing, it can dramatically improve your profitability.

Secondly, you’ll be pulled into the problems of these purchases when something inevitably goes wrong. But by managing the purchases yourself, you stay in control of the process, and the profits from those purchases can help cover any unexpected time issues.

You already know the value that you bring to a project.

We, as designers, bring a unique perspective to every construction project. And honestly, it gets overlooked. Contractors focus on the build, the architects focus on the structure and programming, and we, as designers, consider the human element. 

We understand how people live. We understand how they use their spaces. And we understand what they need to support their daily lives. So this allows us to design spaces that aren’t just beautiful but functional and elevated to the client’s lifestyle that they want. So we have the ability to see that big picture and focus on the details that improve our client’s quality of life day in and day out. And that is what makes our role so valuable. And if you don’t recognize your own value, how are others supposed to recognize it as well?

What will happen is you will continue to be treated as ‘the decorator’ rather than an essential part of the team.

Further into the commencement speech I listened to on social media, she said something really powerful. “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being brave.” And that rang true for me. 

I hope today’s episode helps you see the imposter syndrome you may be going through in a new light. It is NOT about you. It is about biases that come from outside of you, and therefore, you can take control back because you know your value. Once you can communicate it effectively, the rest will fall into place.

As always, if this episode leaves you with more questions than answers, please feel free to reach out to me at renee@devignierdesign.com or shoot me a dm on social media!