The IDAK designer directory is a starting point for people looking for interior design professionals in Kenya. Use the published profiles to identify designers whose location, practice focus, and project examples appear relevant to your brief. Directory availability can change as members complete profiles and publication review.
Begin with your project brief
Before contacting a designer, write down the type of space, what you need help with, the location, the timing, and the budget range you are prepared to discuss. A clear brief helps you compare responses and makes it easier for a designer to tell you whether the project fits their practice.
Review profiles for project fit
Look for relevant residential, workplace, retail, or hospitality experience. Read the description instead of relying on a photograph alone. Check where the designer works, what services they offer, and whether the profile explains their role in each project. If you need a designer in Nairobi, confirm that they serve your area and can meet the practical needs of the project.
Ask useful questions in the first conversation
- Have you worked on a project similar in type and scale?
- What part of the process would you handle?
- What information do you need before preparing a proposal?
- How will fees, deliverables, revisions, and site support be described?
- May I speak with a recent client or see a completed project?
Confirm scope and terms
Membership or a directory listing can help you identify professionals, but it is still important to assess project fit yourself. Compare written proposals on equivalent scope, ask what is excluded, and agree on deliverables, responsibilities, payment stages, and change approvals before work begins. Keep decisions in writing.
For an initial message, include the project type, approximate size or number of rooms, location, what you want to change, your target timing, and whether you are seeking concept advice or support through implementation. You do not need a finished brief; a few clear facts help the designer tell you what to prepare next.
Ask each shortlisted designer the same core questions so you can compare the responses. A profile is a useful introduction, not a substitute for confirming availability, references, the written scope, and who will carry out each part of the work.
What a directory profile does not decide
A profile cannot tell you whether a designer is available for your dates or whether their approach will suit your project. Speak directly, review relevant work, and agree responsibilities and fees in writing. If you cannot find a profile that matches your needs, contact IDAK for information about the directory and its current listings.
Our guide to choosing an interior designer has a fuller appointment checklist. Designers who want to improve what clients see can read the IDAK profile checklist and the guide to adding portfolio work.
