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Mike Niven: From vision to visionaryAs a young man, Mike Niven was always interested in his surroundings. He noticed things, from the major architectural components of massive buildings, to the subtle placement of accessories in a room. He also "saw" the way things could be. DOROTHEA HELMS |
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 [ 2002-04-03 ] |
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"It used to make my mother crazy when I was in high school," says the president of the award-winning Mike Niven Interior Design Inc. "She'd often come home and find all her furniture reorganized."
Today, Niven is one of the most influential interior designers in North America, but at the time, he didn't realize his penchant for drawing, drafting and art were integral components of the vision he would build into a rewarding career.
"When I started looking into attending college," he says, "I found out there were two choices: architecture and interior design. I'm not a math person, so I chose design."
After a couple of years at art school and some time off to re-evaluate his priorities, Niven attended The International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto.
"They framed the artistic nature of design within realistic business principles. It made sense to me. We learned about working within deadlines and budgets, and about dealing with people and other professions."
Taking steps to achieve his interior design certification was a smart move on Niven's part. Since December, 1999, the term "Interior Designer" has legal standing in the province of Ontario. Only those individuals who meet strict educational qualifications and who are members of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario are entitled to call themselves by that title.
In 1991, after spending some time in the workforce in retail design, the Montreal-born son of an entrepreneurial father started his own business, as he says, "... knocking on doors with a portfolio in hand." Despite the recession, he won over clients with the visual appeal of his samples, and he worked hard to earn word-of-mouth referrals.
Niven feels his passion for design drives his success.
"It's the most incredible thing to dream up something and have it realized -- and get paid for it. I've been doing this for 11 years now, but when people instill that trust in me, I think -- wow! It still feels like play."
Niven has a gift for seeing the potential in a project before putting pencil to paper.
"When I evaluate a future design, I don't usually assemble partial components; I get an immediate whole picture in my head. Clients appreciate the result because I take their concept and achieve an enhanced outcome of what they had in mind."
Meeting client needs is paramount to business, according to Niven.
"I advise aspiring designers to take courses related to business -- anything from running a successful interior design office, to learning about Ontario's Building Code." Mike Niven Interior Design Inc. employs 10 people who find their work exciting and highly creative.
In addition to acclaimed projects in the United States and abroad, Mike's company has designed sales offices, lobbies and suites for some of the most prestigious builders/developers in the GTA, including Tridel (Quest, Triomphe, The Essex, Ovation at City Centre), Intracorp (Pantages Tower, Players Club), Monarch (Aqua on Queen's Quay), Context Development (Radio City) and H&R Developments (Old Mill Terraces). The full-service design firm also works with upscale private residential clients.
"Toronto builders are topnotch in marketing their properties. We're successful as designers because we're not stuck on any one style. We meld our vision with that of the client."
His forward-thinking designs for model homes and sales offices have been repeatedly honoured with awards from the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association.
The synopsis of Niven's advice for anyone considering entering the profession is universal for any entrepreneur: "You need to love it."
(Dorothea Helms (writer@wsws.ca) is an internationally published writer and business trainer. She and her husband own the communications firm WriteStuff Writing Services.)
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