Building bonds, 'interrogating' clients: Designer Miriam Fanning shares the secrets to her success

Miriam Fanning, Founder and Principle of Melbourne’s Mim Design studio, knows that great work is always grounded in trust.

We spoke with Miriam about the close connections she forges with clients, colour combinations to watch in 2019, and why meaningful design is the most mind-blowing.

Q: How would you describe your interior design firm’s style?

A: I would like to think each project is unique and designed to stand the test of time. Detail, proportion, use of materials, as well as producing shape and form in a sculptural manner are Mim Design’s traits.

Q: Tell us a bit about your clients

A: We work with a wide range of clients, from individual residential through to multi-residential, hotels, retail, commercial and retirement living.

Q: Can you lift the lid on your creative process?

A: Our process is quite strict when we work through a job in the studio. We spend a lot of time “interrogating” our clients to thoroughly appreciate who we are designing for. We need to ensure we understand everything about how they live and how they need to enjoy their spaces.

We then move into philosophy and pre-concept, which educates the clients about what we are creating. Next is full concept, where we produce images and drawings that will dictate what we will actually build and finally the documentation stages.

Once the job is finished, we often go back and look at the concept images and sketches and find that they are identical to our first presentation.

Q: What material or colour combo are you really drawn to at the moment?

A: I use a lot of natural stone. I find the product fascinating, as each piece is unique and much like artwork, in my eyes.

Stone can be strong and bold or soft and sinewed. I love that it can be chiselled, polished, hammered or honed for differing effects. I’m not a fan of reproduction stone at all. In terms of colour, I love electric blue, but it must be used with balance and proportion to ensure strength in design.

Q: What’s the most important thing a client can do to ensure they get the best finished product from an interior designer?

A: I take pride in building lasting relationships with our clients and the best results are only achieved by having trust in the designer.

The process of understanding our clients and their needs is imperative to forming solid relationships, which in turn translates to creating something outstanding the client will enjoy for a lifetime. Engaging an interior designer is an investment. The design outcome must have meaning and purpose.