The Goal of a Designer

“The goal of a designer is to listen, observe, understand, sympathize, synthesize, and glean insights that enable him or her to ‘make the invisible visible.’ ”- Hillman CurtisIn this, our annual design trends issue, the above quote couldn't be more apt. Why? Because for the first year, we've broken tradition. Our lead feature isn't about the top design trends, although you will read some within the pages of this issue thanks to an article by The Knot's Lauren Kay. Rather, it's about some of the talented, trending designers in the industry. These creative individuals are good at what they do precisely because they do listen. They do care. They glean insights from their clients and sources of inspiration, and they make wedding day miracles happen. To read about three of today's top designers, who've been in business 10 years or less, turn to page 8.Many wedding planners don't always think of themselves as designers. Tina Moran of Oh So Swank! begs to differ. She believes we all design in one way or another. What is the secret to design success? Tina shares her thoughts on page 26. For more ideas on success, we feature articles on developing a Super Vendor Team, creating client welcome gifts, communicating company change, and giving your events a wine upgrade. For our seasoned professionals, we explore what it takes to create a proper succession plan for your business and why it's important to get started early.We encourage you to take some time out of your day, pour yourself a cup of coffee, relax, and enjoy the latest issue of Wedding Planner Magazine. We know you'll find tons of useful information for inspiration and business success!