Grow Your Design Team Virtually: Remote design help may better than you think.

Designers tell me they are busier than they have been in years. That’s great news! But when you get super busy really fast that can put a strain on your operations and your team. Since it’s anyone’s guess how long this boom is going to last, you may not be ready to bring on more staff or, given how tight the job market is right now, you may not be able to find the right talent even if you wanted to. Another option is to tap into the network of virtual services.

While the concept of hiring help with whom you interact only virtually might be something you feel wary of, I would encourage you to reconsider that mindset. Post-pandemic, a significant portion of the workforce continues to operate remotely. As a seasoned recruiter to the luxury interior design and architecture industries, I understand the challenge of finding “good help”. Yet, in the new world where we now reside, good help can (and often does) come in the form of that individual on the other end of your phone calls and emails, in addition to your live and in-the-flesh teams you interact with daily in the studio or office where you conduct your daily operations.

Need further convincing? Think of it this way: It’s not unlike traditional outsourcing where you may have periodically engaged the services of a freelancer to help with a project. Enlisting a virtual design assistant is comparable to hiring a temp who works remotely. They are available to perform a range of services on a regular basis for as long as you need them. These are design professionals who have chosen to assist various designers rather than commit to working for a single firm They are experienced in CAD, SketchUp and other design software, producing 2D and 3D renderings and drawings, and in creating client presentations. Some can even assist with developing marketing materials.

On the operations side, there are virtual assistants who are knowledgeable in product specifying and order management, design office management software, and billing. And of course, there are the standard business office service providers, such as bookkeepers, accountants, and human resource managers.

You can search for virtual assistants via the internet, contact an agency that represents them, or ask for recommendations through your professional network. The important thing is to get the help you need to maintain your firm’s quality of service and to prevent burnout. Virtual help is available, so might as well use it!