What to Look for in a Hospitality Designer : The Definitive Guide

Hiring a hospitality designer is an investment in your business and the customer experience you provide. It’s also an investment in your future. If you’re in the process of opening a new pub or restaurant or are simply looking to refurbish your current hospitality establishment, it’s important to work with a qualified and experienced hospitality designer. Hospitality design is a complex field that encompasses everything from branding and digital marketing to interior design and signage. An award-winning hospitality designer will be able to help you create spaces and a cohesive brand identity that both looks great and functions well from a hospitality standpoint, and throughout the customer experience.

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know:

1. What is hospitality design?
2. What to look for in a hospitality designer
3. Why is it important to work with a hospitality designer?
4. How do I find a hospitality designer?
5. Choosing a hospitality designer for your bar refurbishment project
6. Benefits of working with an award-winning designer
7. What types of work are considered “hospitality design”?
8. Who should be a member of a hospitality design project team?
9. What questions should you ask your hospitality designer?

What is hospitality design?

Hospitality design is the process of creating branded environments that enhance the customer experience. This includes everything from developing the initial concept and brand identity to the interior design layout, furnishings, and signage.

What to look for in a hospitality designer

Good vs great hospitality design

A good hospitality designer will take into account not only how the space will look, but also how it will function from a hospitality standpoint. This means considering factors such as traffic flow, compliance, and acoustics. But what can you expect in a GREAT hospitality designer?

Style

Style is essential in hospitality design. Whether you’re going for a vintage pub feel or a contemporary industrial vibe, your hospitality designer should be able to help you capture the aesthetic you’re after. But it’s not all about looks – a great hospitality designer will delight your customers, and create spaces that are both functional and enjoyable to work in.

Value

Value is another important factor to consider when hiring a hospitality designer. You want to work with someone who will be able to create a space that not only looks great and functions well, but also doesn’t break the bank. An experienced hospitality designer will be able to source materials and furnishings that meet your budget requirements and are durable enough to stand the test of time.

Joy

Finally, one of the most important aspects of great hospitality design is deliver joy. Joy in the customer experience, the employee experience, and joy for the business owner. A good hospitality designer will be able to create spaces that are not only stylish and functional, but also full of personality and life. They should be able to bring your vision to life and create a space that you and and your customers will love.

“Curiosity and industry knowledge are the trademarks of a design team that balances aesthetics and performance in its pub refurbishments – and the Fruition team prides itself on offering style, value and joy to every project we complete.” 

Mark Green, Owner, Fruition Design

Why is it important to work with a hospitality designer?

There are many reasons why you should work with a qualified hospitality designer when planning your new space. A good hospitality designer will be able to help you create a cohesive brand identity that extends across all aspects of your business, from your website and digital marketing materials to your menus and signage. They will also be able to design an interior that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, taking into account things like traffic flow, acoustics, and compliance.

How do I find a hospitality designer?

A good place to start is by looking at their portfolio and reading reviews from past clients. You should also make sure that they have experience designing spaces similar to the one you have in mind. Once you’ve found a few designers that you think might be a good fit, schedule a consultation to get a better sense of their design process and see if they are the right fit for your project.

When searching for a hospitality designer, there are a few key qualities to look for:

Experience in the hospitality industry

First and foremost, you want someone with experience in the hospitality industry. This is an extremely important factor, as someone who is familiar with the inner workings of the hospitality industry will be able to design an interior that not only looks good, but also functions well from a hospitality standpoint.

Attention to every detail

Second, you want someone with an eye for detail. A hospitality designer should have a keen eye for detail and be able to create a cohesive brand identity that carries through all aspects of the design, from the website to the menus to the signage and beyond.

Proven track record of success

Last but not least, you want someone who is award-winning and has a proven track record of success. There are a lot of designers out there, but not all of them are created equal. An award-winning hospitality designer will have the experience and expertise necessary to help you create a successful hospitality business from start to finish.

Choosing a hospitality designer for your bar refurbishment project

When choosing a bar refurbishment designer, it’s important to select someone who has experience in the hospitality industry. A good designer will have worked on bars of all kinds—from neighbourhood pubs to high-end cocktail lounges—and can offer insights into what works and what doesn’t when it comes to designing spaces that customers want to use.

When choosing a designer for your project, it’s also crucial that you choose someone who specialises in the type of bar you’re refurbishing. If you’re turning an old brewery into a microbrewery and taproom, then the architect or interior design firm should be passionate about brewpub culture and industrial design trends.

What are the benefits of working with an award-winning hospitality designer?

Award-wining hospitality designers have the experience and expertise that is recognised as being the best in their field. This experience and expertise is necessary to help you create a successful hospitality business from start to finish. An award-winning hospitality designer will have an excellent portfolio that you can look through to get an idea of their style and see if they are the right fit for your project.

Confidence in the designer

You can have confidence in an award-winning designer because they are recognised by the sector as trustworthy, reliable and reputable.

Great reputation in their field

These designers will have a good reputation amongst their suppliers, contractors, and important stakeholders, such as the local council.

A talented design team

These design agencies also attract top talent, so you can be certain the entire project management team is the best you can get.

You could be a winner as well

Design agencies that are nominated and win awards may want to use your hospitality design project as part of their award entry or may help you with your award entry by supplying copywriting and photography assets to support a joint award submission.

Award-winning agencies promote themselves, and their projects

Ask your design agency if your project can be made into a case study, to share under your brand banner to further promote your hospitality project.

Award-winning designers work with other award-winners!

The best hospitality, graphic and interior designers will connect with clients and peers of a similar calibre and may introduce you and ask you to join to this valuable network of professionals to further support your project.

You are investing in the best talent

When you work with an award-winning hospitality designer, you are investing in the best talent that money can buy. You can be confident that they will bring their experience and expertise to bear on your project, and help you create a successful hospitality business from the start.

What types of work are considered “hospitality design”?

Hospitality design encompasses a wide range of design disciplines, including interior design, graphic design, branding, and digital marketing. When it comes to hospitality design, the sky is the limit—it can literally be anything that contributes to the overall look, feel, and experience of your hospitality business.

Who should be a member on the hospitality design project team?

A typical hospitality design team will consist of interior designers, a graphic designer, and a digital marketing specialist. However, depending on the scope and scale of your project, you may also need to bring in additional experts to help with interior design, such as an architect or a contractor.

Interior Designer

Your interior designers will lead a team of architects, engineers, and contractors to bring your vision to life. They will be responsible for space planning and creating a floor plan that meets all of your functional needs. Your interior designers will select the furniture and finishes that will be used throughout the space and overseeing the construction process to ensure that everything is installed according to their client’s vision.

Graphic Designer

Your graphic designer will create the visual identity for your hospitality business. This includes designing your logo, creating collateral such as menus and signage, and developing digital marketing assets such as website graphics and social media headers.

Digital Marketing Specialist

Your digital marketing specialist will develop a comprehensive strategy for promoting your hospitality business online. This may include creating and managing a social media presence, drafting various newsletters, developing targeted email campaigns, and creating engaging content for your website.

What questions should you ask your hospitality designer?

When interviewing potential hospitality designers, here are some questions you should ask:

• How much experience do you have in hospitality design?
• Can you share some examples of your work?
• What is your approach to designing a hospitality space?
• How do you integrate branding into your designs?
• What are some challenges you faced with previous projects, and how did you overcome them?
• Working with the best and brightest in their field

Working with the best and brightest in their field

If you’re looking to create a pub or restaurant that is truly unique and memorable, working

The bottom line is that when it comes to hospitality and interior design, you want to work award-winning hospitality designers are industry leaders who have been recognised as some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. They’ve worked on projects big and small, from multi-million pound hotel renovations to local bars and restaurant refurbishment. They know how to bring your vision for your business to life, no matter what size or budget it may be.

If you’re looking to create a pub or restaurant that is truly unique and memorable, working with a hospitality designer is the best way to ensure that your vision comes to life.