Commercial Interior Designer Onboarding Checklist

Commercial Interior Designer Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Commercial Interior Designer starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Design onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Commercial Interior Designer, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Commercial Interior Designer onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Commercial Interior Designer Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to company culture and values: The task involves providing a comprehensive overview of the company’s culture, values, and mission. This helps the new commercial interior designer understand the company’s ethos and align their work accordingly. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated company representative.

2. Familiarization with company policies and procedures: This task involves providing the new designer with a detailed understanding of the company’s policies and procedures, including those related to project management, client communication, and design standards. This ensures that the designer adheres to the company’s guidelines and maintains consistency in their work. The HR department or a designated supervisor typically performs this task.

3. Introduction to team members and key stakeholders: It is crucial for the new commercial interior designer to meet and get acquainted with their team members, including other designers, project managers, and support staff. Additionally, they should be introduced to key stakeholders such as clients, contractors, and suppliers. This task is typically performed by the project manager or team lead.

4. Review of ongoing projects and client portfolios: The new designer should be provided with an overview of the company’s ongoing projects and client portfolios. This helps them understand the company’s design style, project scope, and client expectations. The project manager or a senior designer typically performs this task.

5. Training on design software and tools: Commercial interior designers heavily rely on design software and tools to create visual representations of their ideas. Therefore, it is essential to provide the new designer with training on the specific software and tools used by the company. This task is typically performed by a designated trainer or a senior designer.

6. Introduction to company resources and libraries: Many companies have internal resources and libraries that provide designers with access to design references, materials, and samples. The new designer should be introduced to these resources to enhance their design capabilities and ensure they are aware of the available options. This task is typically performed by a senior designer or the design department head.

7. Review of company’s past successful projects: To gain a deeper understanding of the company’s design approach and style, the new designer should be provided with a review of the company’s past successful projects. This helps them understand the company’s design philosophy and provides inspiration for future projects. A senior designer or the design department head typically performs this task.

8. Introduction to company vendors and suppliers: Commercial interior designers often work closely with vendors and suppliers to source materials, furniture, and fixtures for their projects. The new designer should be introduced to the company’s preferred vendors and suppliers, along with any established relationships or contracts. This task is typically performed by the project manager or a designated procurement officer.

9. Review of company’s design standards and guidelines: Each company may have specific design standards and guidelines that need to be followed to maintain consistency and quality across projects. The new designer should be provided with a comprehensive review of these standards and guidelines to ensure their work aligns with the company’s expectations. This task is typically performed by a senior designer or the design department head.

10. Introduction to project management tools and processes: Commercial interior designers often work on multiple projects simultaneously, requiring effective project management skills. The new designer should be introduced to the company’s project management tools and processes, including project tracking, scheduling, and communication platforms. This task is typically performed by the project manager or a designated team member responsible for project management.

11. Shadowing experienced designers: To gain practical insights and learn from experienced professionals, the new designer should have the opportunity to shadow and observe experienced designers. This allows them to understand the company’s design approach, workflow, and client interactions. This task is typically organized by the project manager or a designated mentor within the company.

12. Introduction to health and safety regulations: Commercial interior designers must adhere to health and safety regulations to ensure the well-being of occupants in the spaces they design. The new designer should be provided with an overview of relevant health and safety regulations and guidelines to incorporate them into their design process. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated safety officer.

13. Review of company’s marketing and branding strategies: Understanding the company’s marketing and branding strategies is essential for a commercial interior designer as it helps them align their design concepts with the company’s overall image. The new designer should be provided with a review of the company’s marketing and branding strategies to ensure their designs are consistent with the company’s messaging. This task is typically performed by the marketing department or a designated representative.

14. Introduction to company’s project approval and review processes: Commercial interior designers need to be familiar with the company’s project approval and review processes. This includes understanding how projects are evaluated, approved, and reviewed at different stages. The new designer should be provided with an overview of these processes to ensure they can navigate them effectively. This task is typically performed by the project manager or a designated team member responsible for project coordination.

15. Ongoing professional development opportunities: To support the growth and development of the new commercial interior designer, the company should provide information on ongoing professional development opportunities such as workshops, conferences, and industry events. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated professional development coordinator

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Commercial Interior Designer checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Commercial Interior Designer up to speed and working well in your Design team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.