How to achieve a brilliant design solution with a super partnership

In the past whenever the topic of working with or for a coop board was mentioned the immediate reaction was contorted grimaces and verbal disdain. And the response was why would one want to be in such a frustrating and masochistic environment as a business? In hindsight, when we entered this field we were naïve and thrilled to have an impact on many people with our ideas. We still enjoy the challenge of delivering a well-received and successful product in spite of all the travails, chicanery and frustrations. As seasoned professionals we skirt major pitfalls, avoid egotistical traps and confusion that hinder the marvelous adventure of co-creating something entirely new that expresses a dynamic vision of the partners in the group - the design team and the client collaborators. Early on we realized that too many cooks ruin the stew. Now we request smaller design committees and strive to maximize our working relationship with excellent rapport and aggressive listening skills. Every idea is considered and usually excellent contributions evolve. The cohesive vision and direction is very stimulating and over time the team acts as a unit. Everyone has their individual strengths and the combination of efforts is super effective. We respect their passionate dedication to the need for positive change and beautification of their environment. Our background is theater design and hospitality design where collaboration is essential and enhances our attitude of dynamic cooperation. Imagination supports innovation and we honor all ideas as possibilities to stretch our vision and design to provide a unique and superb environment. A while ago we were invited to work with a design committee that searched three years for a lobby carpet. The lobby is situated on a classic beautifully detailed historical Greenwich Village building. We interviewed the three-member design committee for preferences and overall design intentions. We offered them samples of various design directions and they chose a handsome rich carpet that set the tone for the décor and visually grounded the space. After this, all design issues were resolved easily. In this situation, as with many which are similar, one member is more impatient and proactive. They monitor creativity and logistics as to expedite completion, a great asset to the project. Each decision has to be refined and tested in the new environment with new features and new lighting ambiance: light levels to be balanced with new colors that have been refined. Presently when you enter this room everything is beautiful, harmonious and inviting. It looks so good that you assume it was the original intention of the architect. Residents adore the makeover, and are proud to show it to guests. For an Inwood building we were provided with a very creative and individual design committee. Before our coming on board, they were investigating various color combinations for their lobby and hallways. We offered them viable schemes that they could submit to the residents for approval. Their design to spruce up their building was contagious and joyous. We showed them a new glass architectural file design for the lobby elevator wall. They loved the idea which was novel after searching through many "looks." Their reaction to this solution was very enthusiastic and charming in their glee. This material will boost the visual energy of the lobby and instills architectural integrity and quality. The committee is very responsive to the aesthetics of creating a new scheme. The synergy and surprise developments that arise with effective collaboration empower the creativity and direction of significant design. This process builds on input, combining various ideas to reveal a new entity that is defined by its uniqueness and special relationship to its surroundings. It answers the query: what does it ask for to be complete? In its own time it is the quintessential resolution of what the room requires. Jerold Richland is the president of Richland Design, New York, N.Y.