The ideal collaboration
Working together is, for me, more than a business arrangement.
It is a shared journey, one in which mutual respect and genuine appreciation come first. The finest results appear when client and designer truly understand one another — not only for the sake of the outcome, but for the whole process that leads there. In this column I want to say what makes a collaboration work, and why I now only take on projects that are shaped by these values.
In my career I have discovered that the work goes further than designing. It is about the people I work with and the road we travel together. As a designer I put my soul into every detail, from the first sketch to the last finish. That is what makes the work meaningful.
It is a privilege to work with people who understand what is actually valuable. These clients see that creativity is not only about a beautiful design, but about creating a home — a place where people feel safe and inspired. Their appreciation goes further than the end result; they also see the passion and the craft that go into every project.
Shared success comes out of mutual respect and trust. The best collaborations are with people who understand that quality asks for time and dedication, and who are willing to invest in that.
A good collaboration is not a transaction. It is a partnership in which everyone grows.
I prefer to work with people who value more than material wealth. There is a deeper satisfaction in creating something that contributes, in sharing success and respecting each other’s effort. Clients who value creative energy, and are willing to pay for it, are the ideal partners. The trust that we can build a real home together is indispensable.
What I feel most is gratitude for the many inspiring collaborations I have been part of. Those relationships motivate me daily to give the best of myself. For these clients I will go through fire, knowing that the effort is seen and respected.
From now on I say yes, with confidence, to positive and respectful collaborations. And saying no to everything that does not meet that is a deliberate choice. It is not about rejection. It is about directing energy and creativity towards projects that genuinely make a difference — for the client, for yourself, and for the world around us.
In the end it comes down to how well a project is done, and with whom. Together we can create something larger than ourselves, something that lasts and inspires. That is the aim: projects that are not only beautiful designs, but a reflection of mutual respect and shared values.
Mariska Jagt — interior designer and founder of The Home of Soul