Teamwork Makes Tech Dreams Work

By Douglas Weinstein

Residential technology is an ever-changing, ever-expanding topic that is close to impossible to keep up with unless you’re a residential technology specialist. The basics alone—networking, energy management, climate control, clean air and water strategies, distributed audio/video, automation, acoustics, intelligent lighting, smart window treatments—are somewhat daunting. The list is long and growing exponentially, but here’s the upside: When done properly, technology enhances your design goals and delivers a heathier, warmer, more inviting living space for your clients. And, as a bonus, no one needs to see, or even think, about the technology behind the walls. With simple keypads and a few scenes, the homeowner enjoys all the convenience and none of the hassle.

Now, the question becomes: How do designers keep up with the latest technology advances and how do homeowners even learn about, much less begin to understand, the need for infrastructure planning and design at the earliest stages of major remodels and new builds? There are numerous opportunities including lunchand-learns from a qualified technology design firm and CEU courses from CEDIA, the trade organization that represents residential technology specialists.

Infrastructure

To begin, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture when it comes to residential technology. When we talk about infrastructure, we start with the discovery process. What does the homeowner want in their home and how do they anticipate living in the space? Do they want simple keypads with a few scenes that get rid of wall acne (there is no need for banks of light switches anymore) and provide the simplest user experience? Do they want to combine their lighting and automated window treatments together and set up specific scenes so when the lights dim at night, the shades come down to afford more privacy? These are basics that need to be addressed so the homeowner begins to learn what is possible and how elegantly they can experience living in a modern smart home.

What about smart thermostats, smart doorbells and advances in wireless technology that augment indoor/outdoor living designs? Whether or not the homeowner chooses to move forward with every design option, at least they are made aware of what those options are and how technology can enhance the user experience. And, believe me, when homeowners become aware of what’s possible, they tend to opt in on the entire smart home concept.

We start with discovery and a few specific suggestions that meet budget and homeowner lifestyle expectations. We then move to wires and cables— what we term structured wiring. This is the most misunderstood aspect of technology design. Here’s just one example: Investing hundreds of dollars up front to pre-wire the master bed/ bath suite even if the client isn’t 100% sure they want to automate those window treatments or put in intelligent lighting is analogous to an insurance policy. Because if they automate their window treatments in the great room and combine lighting and shading into three or four intuitive scenes, you know they are going to love it and show it off to their friends and neighbors. And within six months, they’ll be back asking you to automate the master suite.

Now, if they hadn’t invested hundreds of dollars in pre-wiring that suite, you would have to rip up the ceilings and walls. Not to mention the mess: drywall and repainting or re-papering. I think you realize that these obstacles probably mean you aren’t going to get that future business. Infrastructure— discovery, design, pre-wire—not only saves money for the homeowner in the long run, but it also gives you more opportunities to reconnect with your client for future upgrades.

Collaborating With a Technology Partner

Just like when you are interviewed by prospective clients to see if your visions are in sync, you need to identify a few technology design and system integration firms in your market area. And you need to interview them and, conversely, let them size you up. The best companies in my industry will certainly sit in on early discovery meetings to answer questions about technology as they arise—at no charge. CEDIA lists member companies who can be searched by zip code. This is a good first step in identifying potential partners.

Not every client needs advanced technology, but most clients want some technology. As a designer, if you are somewhat knowledgeable about basic technology design scenarios, you become a great asset for the client as they navigate a world they probably don’t know much about. But think about how advances in LED lighting have afforded us the ability to create really cool spaces and how colors pop and furnishings and textiles come alive. Also, lunch-and-learns and CEU educational opportunities from the right design technology partners are an invaluable tool to keep up with residential technologies at a high level. You don’t need to be an expert, but it doesn’t hurt to have a working knowledge of the subject matter so you can anticipate what your clients’ needs might be in order to bring in that perfect technology partner early in the discovery process. Technology, when done right, will enhance your design and, conversely, enhance your reputation in the marketplace. V

» TechnologyDesigner.com

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