In Between · 4 November 2026
A brief moment of hesitation at a hotel entrance can turn into a question that concerns more than one team. Is the guest unsure where to go, is the welcome point not visible, or does the waiting arrangement change at busy hours? Understanding the difference between spatial experience consultancy and interior design helps clarify who can contribute what to questions like these. When information flows openly between the architectural team, the operator and the consultant, the same observation can be discussed from several angles.
Reading the same space through different questions
When discussing collaboration, the first step is to make visible the knowledge each team brings to the table. The architectural team can explain the design intent, spatial relationships and project decisions. Operator representatives can describe daily use, service flow and situations encountered at different times. The project owner can describe goals, priorities and the resources available for the decision. These headings are a framework for discussion; responsibilities are clarified separately for each project.
In Between carries out independent assessment of how a space is perceived and used by its users. It does not prepare architectural design or implementation drawings, and it does not make decisions on the project owner's behalf. Its contribution is to bring findings and options about the experience into the decision process.
Examining hesitation at a hotel entrance together
Imagine a hypothetical hotel where some guests pause after entering before finding the welcome point. Rather than saying "the lobby doesn't work", narrowing the observation makes the conversation concrete: from which approach, at what time and under which conditions is the hesitation seen?
The operations team can explain the welcome arrangement at that time. The architectural team can share the sightlines and the design intent behind the plan. The consultant can consider the observed behaviour together with this information. Different options can then be discussed: the position of welcome information, the placement of temporary objects or the waiting arrangement. Which of these is appropriate cannot be said without examining the space. The purpose of the example is not to propose a solution, but to show how the same question can be approached with different information.
Record findings and recommendations separately
In meeting notes, observation, interpretation and recommendation easily blend together. "Guests wait at the entrance" may be an observation; an explanation of why is an interpretation that still needs testing. Changing the layout is only one of the options developed from that interpretation.
A short record format can support shared work: What was observed? What information is missing? Which option will be assessed? From whom is information expected for the next step? These questions make the basis of a recommendation visible before it turns into an implementation decision. When you cannot tie a finding to a conclusion, rather than closing the record you can note what additional information is needed.
Design and operation require different information
In Between addresses projects still in design through the R1 framework and operating spaces through the R2 framework. In the design stage, a journey that has not yet happened is discussed through scenarios; in a space already in use, on-site observation and current conditions become part of the assessment.
This difference also affects how the first meeting is prepared. In the design stage, it helps to state which decisions are final and which are still open for discussion. In an operating business, you can share when daily use changes and which situations the team observes again and again. Adding the date and currency of plans or photographs helps different teams talk about the same version of the space.
Six topics to clarify in the first meeting
- The core question and the areas to be assessed.
- The stage of the project and upcoming decision dates.
- The people who will provide current documents and information on use.
- Which teams the findings will be discussed with.
- The people who will assess options and make decisions.
- The expected next step after the meeting and the form of communication.
Bring these topics together in a short meeting note. For example, alongside who will send a photograph, you can note which question that photograph is meant to clarify. This turns a request for information into a task with a clear purpose. In projects that gather views from many people, it also helps to decide early where conflicting interpretations will be addressed.
Discuss the post-report step from the start
Discussing at the outset which decisions will follow a report makes expectations concrete. Some issues may call for re-reading existing information; others may require additional expertise or project work. What the next step is, and who will handle it, should be stated clearly.
At In Between, support after the report is available on request. You can clarify the scope of this support in the how-we-work conversation. When a recommendation needs to become a technical project or be implemented, the relationship with the relevant teams should be addressed separately.
Frequently asked questions about collaboration
Does a spatial experience consultant take over the architectural team's role?
In Between's role is independent assessment and decision support; it does not take on architectural design or the preparation of implementation drawings.
Is it useful for an operator representative to join the first meeting?
In spaces already in use, it can help to have someone who knows the daily operation answer questions. You can choose participants according to the purpose of the meeting.
Must all recommendations be implemented immediately?
First assess together the basis of each recommendation, the information needed and the order of decisions. You do not have to put every recommendation into practice at once.
Related article: What does spatial experience consultancy review?
You can share the stage of your project, the teams you work with and the core question you want to clarify. Contact In Between to discuss how a spatial experience assessment could contribute to your project.