For this Community Connections project, I got in touch with Shannon Haerdi, who is the owner and Principal Interior Designer for the company First Impression Designs. Her company has been in business for 28 years locally in Coquitlam, Lower Mainland, BC. Shannon has a great passion for her job and the team that surrounds her. I chose to interview Shannon because my mom once hired her before I was born to help renovate and update our house. My mom suggested that I should see if First Impression Designs was still a local establishment and if I could get in contact with someone to interview them. I was happy to receive an email from Shannon answering my questions that also included some beautiful pictures of her work.

Below are some pictures of the conversation between Shannon and myself. (The picture above is a Great room located in Burnaby)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions:

1. Can you explain your role and responsibilities with your current position?

“I am the owner and Principal Interior Designer for our firm and we have been in business since 1994.”

 

2. What obstacles have you faced to get you where you are today?

“The main obstacles we are overcoming right now are availability of tradespeople for all of our new builds as well as for our renovation projects. There are not enough highly skilled tradespeople available to pull from right now.”

 

3. What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing?

“I would take as many art, design and construction courses in high school as possible. AutoCAD and other 3D drawing programs are a must in our industry and without those skills it is hard to find full time work as a Junior Interior Designer.”

 

4. Why are you passionate about your job or role?

“I really love that each client is different and that each job and project is completely different from each other and we are always excited to work with new builders as well as new clients when given the opportunity.”

 

5. What school courses should I in role to be a successful interior designer? Ie drafting, Art …?

“In high school I would take photography, any and all art courses, AutoCAD and drafting courses as well as business courses. This will prepare you for getting into an Interior Design program in the future.”

 

6. What certification or diploma is recommended to become an interior designer?

“At our firm the minimum courses are the diploma program but a degree is always preferred.”

 

What I have learned from the interview:

I have learned that it is useful to to gain experience in all Art classes, photography, AutoCad and drafting courses. I think its really interesting that every job has a different perspective depending on the clients and the space you are working with. I love to create art in school and on my free time. I have a passion for colour and design well also being very precise and thorough in my art work. I have gotten more information about the work field to become an interior designer, even though there are some challenges its still looks quite interesting. I look forward about learning more on how to be a successful interior designer in the future.

A Basement Kitchen in a Surrey home and a den in a house located in Squamish.

 

I have linked her Instagram account . Make sure to check it out and look at her beautiful work as well as her teammates work too!

First Impression Designs (@firstimpressiondesigns) • Instagram photos and videos

Taryn Allan