Susan Mulholland

Susan Mulholland studied interior design at Northern Arizona University and is an NCIDQ certificate holder. She has more than 25 years of interior design experience in commercial and residential design. Her design philosophy includes sustainable design practices for all types of projects. Her experience in the industry includes working in healthcare, senior living, hospitality and corporate design. Her design studio Mulholland Art & Design Commercial Interiors is in Tucson, Arizona, where she has been helping her clients with consulting and design on purposeful interior projects for the past 17 years.

Learn more about Susan and the work she does at Mulholland Art & Design Commercial Interiors. Connect with her on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Articles by Susan Mulholland

• Time: How designers and clients see it differently

  Friday, September 07, 2018

  What do you tell your clients when they ask how much time it will take to do a particular project? Time is always an issue when a client is thinking about hiring an interior designer. We often charge by the hour, so if a project takes more time than clients think it should, they are less likely to hire you. Being upfront about your fees and how you work make for a good start to getting a client to understand how you view and use time.

• Understanding your design process, one step at a time

  Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  There are novice interior designers — ones who are just starting out in the field — and then there are novice clients — ones who have never worked with a professional interior designer until now. As with novice interior designers, novice interior design clients don’t usually understand how the design process works. These types of clients are not just limited to residential design. Commercial design has its share of novice clients as well. So, what are you supposed to do with these newbies? Educate them.

• The evolution of the office workspace

  Thursday, June 07, 2018

  The office. No, I’m not talking about the sitcom, I’m talking about the phenomenon defined as a place where we work. Since our work life has moved from outside to in, the definition of what an office is has been pretty consistent. Or has it? Where did this definition come from, and why are we seeing more and more companies rethinking their workspaces?

• Getting ready for ‘show’ time

  Monday, May 07, 2018

  Design is all about the next big thing. We are all obsessed with the idea that there is something new or better out there, and we just have to find it. This is where interior decorators’ and designers’ true passion resides. If you don’t believe me, just go to any of the design conferences listed in the professional interior design trade magazines. I have been practicing professionally for two-and-a-half decades, and I can tell you that no matter how many emails you get from manufacturers telling you about their latest product introductions, nothing beats going to the shows and seeing them in person.

• Multigenerational teams: Creating ageless collaboration

  Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  ​No matter what your age or generation you identify with, if you work in a creative field like design or architecture, you are part of a team. It doesn't matter if all your team members are working under one roof or if they belong to different companies or disciplines. Design is a team sport.

• Design collaboration is not design by committee

  Monday, February 12, 2018

  Have you ever heard that phrase "design by committee" when someone talks about a building or an object like a car or piece of furniture that doesn't quite make sense? It usually means there are some good parts and some bad parts, but overall it's just not good design.

• New year, new possibilities for designers

  Monday, January 15, 2018

  New Year’s resolutions, predictions and trends always dominate the early part of every January. We are all anticipating great things for the year ahead, regardless of what industry we are in.

• The silence is finally broken: Harassment is not OK

  Monday, December 04, 2017

  ​Since mid-October when the story of sexual harassment allegations were reported about famed entertainment icon Harvey Weinstein, we have gotten reports of other famous and powerful people who have been accused of similar acts. This situation seems to be an epidemic among those who are in the limelight and wield influence; the power among creatives has finally been broken.

• Human talent for creativity can’t be replaced by a computer

  Friday, November 17, 2017

  Since I was a kid, I was told I had a gift, and that I was lucky because I am creative. As I got older, I was always amazed by people who thought I was special because it seems like I can pull great design ideas out thin air.

• Project management: A key component to successful design

  Monday, October 23, 2017

  If you are a seasoned professional interior designer — someone who has been working in the design industry for 20 years or more — you are probably running your own business or a principal in a large firm. Your daily routines are less about doing design and more about project management.

• Why we must use evidence-based design in all types of projects

  Tuesday, September 05, 2017

  ​Evidence-based design or patient-centered design has been a focus in healthcare, behavioral health and elder care projects for quite some time. Education design has also used evidence-based design to further the quality of educational spaces for all levels of learning.

• Summer is ending — time to get back to work

  Monday, August 21, 2017

  August is a great month. The reason I say that is because it's the last blast for summer. As we approach the last days of hot weather and start thinking about what lies ahead, we realize that slowing down during the summer is OK. It gives us a chance to recharge and spend time away from our desks.

• Create healthier interiors using evidence‑based design

  Monday, July 24, 2017

  Our lives seem to always be going in a million directions, and we seem to be connected to every aspect of it. With our phones, computers and other technology-driven habits, it's no wonder we are facing major health issues — not just as we age but during our entire life.

• Why climate change is personal for interior designers

  Monday, June 05, 2017

  Last week, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change. We are now in the company of only two other major countries — Nicaragua and Syria — that are not a part of the agreement. This may be a political move by our president, but for many of us who have been working in the built environment, it's personal.

• Interior designers should not fear selling

  Monday, May 08, 2017

  As Star Wars Day just passed (May the 4th), it made me think of a comment I have heard from interior designers my entire career. When designers who have worked in a design or architectural firm decide to go into sales, they always hear the following comment from their peers: "Oh no, you are headed to the dark side." Here's my opinion on sales and why, as designers, we should not be afraid of it.

• Volunteer your talents: How design can make a positive impact

  Monday, March 27, 2017

  We have all heard that volunteering is good for your soul. It helps us create a connection that is outside of ourselves. Volunteering is all about sharing our gifts. If our gift is being a designer, why not share it with others who may not realize that what we do isn't just for those who have big pocketbooks? Our talents go way beyond picking paint colors and accessories. Our knowledge of interior materials as well as space planning and furniture can make a big impact on the lives of others.

• Impressions on designing for senior living

  Monday, March 13, 2017

  This is the time of year when conferences are the norm. Every month there is another advertisement in a design journal for a conference that has a unique take on a specific market. Do you remember the first design conference you ever attended? I started thinking about that when I decided to attend a new one for the first time.

• Think like a designer when planning the year ahead

  Friday, January 06, 2017

  Happy New Year! If you had the luxury of taking time off completely from Christmas to New Year's Day, then you have probably spent a lot of time the last few days catching up on all your emails, including thinking about what will come in the next year both personally and professionally.

• Why stress is causing interior designers to leave the profession

  Friday, November 04, 2016

  Everyone has known of a colleague who has left interior design because they were burned out. The one thing they loved more than anything suddenly became the one thing they hated the most. Our profession is probably one of the most stressful. We are always under some sort of pressure either by our clients or ourselves to create something that is unlike anything else done before. The pressure to be perfectly fabulous every time we start a project is overwhelming.

• Are you an interior decorator or an interior designer?

  Tuesday, September 13, 2016

  Why is this a question that seems never to go away? Even among members of the profession, the debate over what we call ourselves seems to be a source of turmoil. The fact is many of us who are practicing the art of interior design are both. Interior decoration or décor has been around as long as humans have been seeking shelter. From the earliest cave drawings to the many cultural identities and style periods throughout our history.

• Why designers should use the Principles of Universal Design

  Monday, August 01, 2016

  Have you ever gone somewhere with your extended family and noticed how everyone deals with the space? We have a variety of age groups using the same space at the same time. The idea that our built environments have unseen obstacles is why many who study human behavior and ergonomics believe that, as our population continues to grow and ultimately age, we need to view every space people use as a place where easy accessibility is necessary. This will become more evident in the next few decades, when we will see a noticeable increase in people who are over the age of 50.

• How can we make sustainable design an unconscious effort?

  Monday, June 27, 2016

  Sustainability is a word that is used a lot these days. Our built environment is constantly being evaluated for how sustainable it is. Architects and interior designers who are regularly practicing the principles of sustainability will tell you it isn't about the placard on the wall, the number of LEED points they can get or how many LEED platinum buildings they design. They do it because it is ethically the right thing to do.