Rafia Khan, Interior Designer

Rafia Khan

Interior Designer

Johann Kruger Design Studio

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, Business Management
Experience
15 years, 6 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :15 years, 6 months

Interior Designer at Johann Kruger Design Studio
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since June 2014

Key Responsibilities:-
• Meeting clients and discussing projects in considerable depth
• Carrying out room surveys
• Working from drawings provided by architects
• Developing initial concepts and taking concepts to proposed stage in 3d
• Developing mood boards
• Spatial planning
• Developing technical drawings using Auto Cad and schematic furniture layouts to determine practical layouts and to support execution
• Creating Scope of works and Time Sheet with the assistance of the technical team to ensure efficiency
• Assisting in preparing and maintaining documents along the project (Client Brief, Scope of work, Site Reports, Site Visit Reports, Meeting Minutes, Discussion Records, Room Schedule, Risk Assessment)
• Researching materials according to set budgets
• Maintaining regular contact with contractors to ensure efficiency and smooth execution
• Subcontracting relevant services
• Conducting Site Visits to ensure smooth execution
• Arranging purchase of furnishings, lighting, artwork and other relevant items
• Checking shop drawings to ensure that design standards are met
• Meeting with suppliers to update library
• Visiting exhibitions and keeping up to date with the latest trends
• Presentation to clients
• Creating aesthetically pleasing environment that represents the client’s lifestyle and tastes
• Ensuring customer problems are handled with efficiency
• Ensuring each client has an informative and positive experience

Interior Designer/Showroom Manager at Pier Import (Retail - Furniture showroom)
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • January 2011 to April 2014

Key Responsibilities as Interior Designer:-
• Assisting walk in customers
• Providing in store design consultation to customers
• Visiting the client for Design consultation - acquiring project brief and design requirements
• Working alongside Architects
• Preparing concept, sketches, schemes and spatial layouts for clients and working with the team to produce technical drawings
• Presentation of concept to clients and lead client meetings
• Producing documents (Design Brief, Time sheets, Fee Proposals, Scope of works, Meeting Reports, etc.)
• Generating reports from meetings
• Meeting with suppliers
• Updating library with new trends
• Designing furniture - from sketch to manufacture and end selling in the store
• Window display
• Styling and supervision of photo shoots

Projects Executed:
• Meghrabi Hospital (Abu Dhabi): Aesthetic design along with supervision of execution
• Number of villas in Dubai & Abu Dhabi, Designing & Project coordination
• Set designing for model shoot and Sabah Al Khair program on MBC
• Designed several types of furniture and supervised production

Key Responsibilities as Showroom Manager:-
• Demonstrating success in meeting sales goals and growing sales, keeping a full and consistent respect of the Discount Policy
• Managing, motivating and developing the sales associate staff to ensure attendance
• Proactive efforts in presenting new sales plans and programs to the Management
• Ensuring the Store and all displays are neat and tidy at all times
• Ensuring showroom and window displays are installed in a timely manner to showroom standards
• Maintaining showroom image to the highest standards
• Conferring with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand market and promote business
• Ensuring inventory records are updated regularly
• Updating and modifying existing templates used for showroom management and client presentation
• Improving and updating all templates used for sales, presentations and communications
• Ensuring that customers are extended the highest level of customer service at all times
• Producing a monthly report of objective set, results achieved and sales forecast to maximise sales opportunities with clients, the trade, designers and the local market
• Keeping myself and the sales staff updated with the technical knowledge of company products
• Providing input and recommendations to the Management on merchandise, requirements, promotional pricing needs, store layout changes and any other showroom and sales requirements
• Using strong consultative sales skills, negotiation and interpersonal skills (both oral and written), attention to detail, strong follow-up skills and motivation to make the sale
• Assisting Management with marketing campaigns, planning and implementation
• Overseeing accuracy and organisation of customer files
• Ensuring delivery of products are done in a timely manner
• Visiting trade shows to keep up to date with latest trends
• Follows company policies and procedures

Interior Designer/Senior Sales at Clara Foss Design (Furniture Store)
  • United Kingdom
  • July 2008 to October 2010

Key Responsibilities:-
• Assisting walk in customers
• Providing in store design consultation to customers
• Assisting the sales team
• Conducting site visits
• Carrying out client brief and discussing project in considerable depth
• Carrying out room surveys
• Developing mood boards and concepts for scheme
• Research work on surfaces and materials
• Developing colour and sample boards
• Advising client on interior design factors such as space planning, layout and utilization of furnishings and colour coordination
• Developing technical drawings and schematic furniture layouts to determine practical requirements
• Sourcing and planning for project. Examine and select finishes. Purchasing furnishings, art works and accessories
• Coordinating contractors for installation of furniture, arrangement of floor coverings, window treatments, paint and wall coverings and related items
• Working within client’s budget and timescales
• Creating aesthetically pleasing environment that represents the client’s lifestyle and taste
• Ensuring customer problems/inquiries are handled quickly and efficiently, with courtesy, fairness and equity
• Ensuring each client has an informative and positive experience

Education

Bachelor's degree, Business Management
  • at Westford School Of Management
  • March 2015
Diploma, Concept Design
  • at KLC School Of Design
  • January 2010
Diploma, Concept Design
  • at Solihull College
  • June 2008

Languages

English
Expert
Hindi
Expert

Training and Certifications

Furniture Designing (Certificate)
Date Attended:
May 2013
Valid Until:
January 9999
Certificate (Certificate)
Date Attended:
May 2013
Valid Until:
May 2013
Certificate (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2012
Valid Until:
February 2012

Hobbies

  • Traveling, Reading, Cooking, Music
    I have written short stories for a college magazine