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42 | Kitchen & Bath Design News January 2015 smartphone to present fnal 3D im- mersive views of projects. Instead of handing someone black outline draw- ings on copy paper, they can stand in their old kitchen and, as they turn their head, see what the new kitchen will look like. It's pretty powerful be- ing able to have consumers see their dream live," he shares. If you need to collect a deposit or other monies at a meeting, a Square device attached to your phone or tab- let will facilitate this for you. It does mean you'll have to factor credit card charges into your pricing model, but you could increase your business with this client convenience. TECHNOLOGY FOR CLIENT PROJECTS You can't walk a trade show with- out seeing countless examples of technology-infused products. There are home automation systems, ap- pliances, fixtures, storage options and even countertops that engage a client's smartphone and tablet. Each expo seems to have more digitally in- tegrated releases than the last one, but have you ever hesitated to specify something because you weren't sure how the item's complexity or reliabil- ity would play out in your project? While users might upgrade their iPhone or Android every year, they most likely don't want to have to upgrade their range or toilet on the same schedule. There's a dizzying amount of in- formation to absorb, especially for the designer who doesn't see him or herself as a "geek." Then there's Joe the Plumber…will your general con- tractor's head explode if you specify a digital showering system? Their chal- lenge may be even greater than the designer's, as so much of their work is done in the feld, not at an ofce on a computer. "Plumbers increasingly need to be multidisciplinary, and require train- ing and comfort with mechanical and electrical installations," notes Cynthia Bachman, v.p. of Fixtures Engineer- ing at Kohler. The same could be said for the other trades you work with, including countertop fabricators, appliance and cabinet installers, elec- tricians and the general contractors who manage your jobs. Manufacturers understand that, as they embrace technology add-ons for their kitchen and bath products, they need to add on training for them, as well. "Kohler provides a variety of outlets to learn and practice with our products, from hands-on sessions to Web-based how-tos, and a very capable technical customer service team," Bachman shares. Be sure that the products you specify have tech training and knowledgeable customer service, too, and that the specialists with whom you partner take advan- tage of them. You'll need to do a bit of training on them yourself, as well, Bachman advises. Designers need to learn what a product does and does not do, she cautions. "The best way is to experience the product yourself. Un- derstand how a user interacts with it in the environment in which it will be used (e.g., a shower). Installation requirements are also important… understand the water, electrical and waste interfaces to the building infra- structure," she adds. Another option for the tech-chal- lenged designer is to partner with a technology professional. Technology design is a fairly recent profession – driven in part by the lightning speed, capabilities and prevalence of technol- ogy in our everyday lives – and one that might be an invaluable resource for you. David VanWert of VanWert Tech- nology Design in West Hollywood, CA has been in the feld for 15 years now. "When the iPad was launched in 2010, it made home automation systems that were typically only at- tainable by the rich available to the average homeowner. Now you can add music to any room in the home or control the temperature in your house from Zimbabwe for only a few hundred dollars," he notes. iPads and iPhones have also inspired shower- ing systems and appliance controls. They can be streamed through the medicine cabinet, showerhead or vent fan. That doesn't happen without some planning, though. What are the new, non-traditional requirements for all of these innovations you may be specifying? "Kitchen and bath designers, light- ing designers, architects, mechanical engineers, etc., design every aspect of your home very early in construction," VanWert counsels. "As technology can arguably be the most confusing as- pect of a home, it's very important to engage a professional to design these systems and coordinate with other trades early. This coordination will result in a much smoother process and greatly reduce added expenses and mistakes in the building or re- model of a home." LAST WORDS VanWert shares one fnal thought: "As things continue to progress into a more wireless world, your network is one of the most important aspects of a home." Where once you needed to check a client's electrical panel, today you might also need to check their Wi- Fi. And you defnitely need your own network of technology sources to stay ahead of the design curve – something to consider adding for your 2015 New Year's Resolutions. Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS is an indepen- dent designer in San Diego, the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work (Taunton Press), and a blogger, design journalist, seminar developer and in- dustry consultant. Bathroom automation is a new client amenity. Even the shower is getting a technology update, with programmable functionality to enhance the shower experience. Smart appliances can now be controlled from smart phones. Photo: Kohler Co. Photo: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Photo: Dacor Trend Spotting