In a recent conversation with Barbara, the founder of Studio OSM, Coohom explored her career journey and insights within the interior design industry. At 55 years old, Barbara runs her own design firm, supported by a dedicated team of four. She began her career in graphic design, creating DVD and Blu-ray covers for the entertainment industry. However, with the rise of streaming services, she decided to follow her passion for interior design. In 2016, she launched Studio OSM in collaboration with a friend 30 years her senior, a partnership that garnered significant media attention.
Studio OSM’s Project Management and Design Process
During our interview, Barbara shared that Studio OSM completes about 40 large projects each year, along with several smaller ones. Her workflow involves communicating clients’ needs and rapidly generating initial design proposals using Coohom. Once clients approve the initial concepts, the team moves on to detailed construction planning. While Barbara primarily uses Coohom for design, her colleagues are accustomed to using Revit and AutoCAD, creating a need for improved file format conversion during the design development phase.
The Core Role of Coohom in the Design Process
Barbara emphasized Coohom’s crucial role in her workflow. With its rapid modeling capabilities and user-friendly interface, she can easily create 3D renderings that help clients better understand the design concepts. The vivid comparison images and panoramic views enable clients to make informed decisions, leading to high praise for this innovative presentation style. Barbara finds Coohom more intuitive and accessible than other design tools like SketchUp, as its integrated modeling and rendering features alleviate the burdens of the design process. However, she noted that Coohom’s adaptability in the Dutch market still requires improvement, particularly in localizing AI-generated design styles.
The Future of AI in Interior Design
Barbara believes that AI will play a significant role in the future of interior design. By inputting basic user requirements, AI has the potential to automatically generate comprehensive design proposals. However, she pointed out that Coohom’s AI functions need refinement for the Dutch market. Barbara prefers to personalize AI-generated designs to ensure they meet client needs.
She is keen to promote Coohom among her peers and students. Additionally, she hopes for more localized support in the Netherlands to enhance Coohom’s application. Barbara has expressed strong interest in Coohom’s Affiliate Program and educational initiatives, looking to attract more designers to explore and utilize Coohom through online courses.
Current Trends in the Dutch Interior Design Market
Finally, Barbara shared insights into the current landscape of the Dutch interior design market. With strict environmental regulations, consumer focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials continues to rise. Furthermore, as living spaces in the Netherlands tend to be smaller, the demand for space optimization is growing, providing stable market opportunities for the interior design industry.
This conversation not only illuminated Barbara’s professional journey and her valuable experiences with Coohom but also highlighted the unique characteristics of the Dutch interior design market. We look forward to more opportunities for collaboration and dialogue with Barbara and Studio OSM in the future!
