Katherine Bloodworth
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I am a seasoned professional who has worked in both high end residential design and to a lesser degree, commercial design. I have solid experience in all phases of interior design projects from conception through installation. I am well-versed in business strategies and development as well as internal processes and procedures. My 30-year career includes working for prestigious firms in San Francisco, as well as running my own business. I am currently semi-retired and focus now on mentoring and advising young people and coach business owners on best practices and procedures in order to grow their firms.
Katherine’s Career Stories
What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?
Interior Design had been an interest of mine since high school. After a stint as a freelance photographer, and then 8 years in advertising/print production, I went back to school and got my design degree. I had a friend who was a brilliant architect. He advised me to work for others I admired until I had "something to say". This is something I carried with me through all phases of my career. He also advised me to draw on all the skills I already had in the visual arts as they would inform how I see space. This was so valuable. From photography, I brought into my work, a keen sense of how light and shadow play across surfaces. From my work in print production, my eye was already trained in the subtle nuances of color. Often people who change careers don't realize how valuable their current skills are and how they might apply to a different field.
What is it like when your job gets tough?
What a lot of young people don't know is that a large part of being a designer is managing client expectations. That is the toughest part of the job. Design is only about 25% of the process. The rest is getting estimates, writing proposals and purchase orders and following through on delivery and installation. When things go sideways, which at times they inevitably will, you need to keep a cool head and be solution oriented. Clients need to feel reassured and confident that you are going to take care of them. Remember, this is a relationship business. And preserving those relationships is key in building a successful career.