In many ways, Louis Shuster could be called the quintessential Florida designer. After a nine year partnership, in 1990 he went out on his own and the company became Shuster Design Associates.

Florida, he says, is gaining prestige, not only for the top designers now working here, but also for the artisans and craftspeople who support the design community. Shuster frequently does work in his hometown, Philadelphia. "They want the cabinetry made in Florida and shipped there. It's the same with laminates and faux finishes. Work is going on here in South Florida that nobody else in the country is doing.

"Florida is a very inspirational place to work," Shuster opinions. "It's the climate, the architecture such as the Mizner influences throughout Palm Beach ... it's the Spanish influence.

When it comes to design, Louis Shuster means business. Last year, he says, was the firm's best year ever. "The economy is probably worse now than it was a year ago, and I've already superseded last year's figures." How does a design firm make money during a recession? Shuster ponders. "It's the same principles in design as in any business. You must be consistent at what you do. You must continually turn out good, creative work. You must provide good service. You must carefully watch the business by keeping in close. contact with your clients, your suppliers, and all of your vendors. It's that simple."

And that complex.

Louis Schuster, IDG ISID, a Philadelphia native who has been working in the interior design field in Florida for the past ten years, adds: "And I don't design for myself. I design for my clients. My jobs all have a very distinctive personality - and it is all about what the client is about; not what I am about."

Simply stated, Shuster believes that most people in design are primarily into the aesthetics of it, and not the 'business end.' "I think this is so clear to me because of the fact that I was a retailer; I have some law school background. One of the main attributes of my business is that I am a businessman as well as a designer.

"Today clients are concerned more than ever before with exactly how their money is being spent. The accuracy of the bookkeeping of the job and the billing are equally as important as the design.

"This is like a marriage. When you sign a contract with a client you are married to that client - whether it's a six-month project or a year or even a room that may just take a month. While the wives may seem to be more interested in the aesthetics of the job, the husband is ALWAYS concerned with the bottom line. What's it going to cost me? How do I pay for this? What are the services that you provide?

"And if you can appeal to both people throughout the time period, and satisfy both their needs, then you've got it made today. Unfortunately a lot of designers are unable to accomplish this. They can do one or the other but they cannot do both."

Shuster is flying high these days, fresh from his 'Best Commercial/Contract Design/Limited Budget' award at the recent IDG/DCOTA Designers of the Year gala. (Add this to dozens of others!) Shuster Design Associates was honored for work on  a dental office in North Miami Beach. "This inspires creativity... not only in design, but in architecture and materials. For example we are seeing a lot of terra cotta and unusual stonework that is indigenous to Florida. The look is catching on elsewhere.

"South Beach has absolutely revived Deco, and this has filtered into the design industry in lighting, in furnishings, in architecture."

In addition to his affiliations with IDG and ISID, Shuster serves on the Board of Governors of DCOTA and is also involved in Networking South, a group of top South Florida designers who get together every six Weeks to exchange ideas.

When he's not working, his first love is music. Just back from a jazz festival in Cancun ("I adore jazz!"), he has played the piano since he was six. It comes naturally. His brother is a professional drummer and his father had a 'big band' in his day. Another passion is classic cars (his is a '56 Thunderbird). But most of the long days are dedicated to design, beginning early in the morning at the office, and often running to 11 or 12 at night, either with suppliers, vendors, or contractors, at the DCOTA building, client contact, or visiting job sites. "There are no hours in design," Shuster adheres. "Any designer that is open from 9 to 5 in this industry, I don't feel can make it."

As the interview winds down, Shuster, often described as conscientious, businesslike, and professional, relaxes a bit. He has reached the point in his career and his life where he can afford to feel good about himself and all that he has accomplished. Giving much credit to his associates, and looking around the sunny open offices, Shuster's eyes twinkle: "I still get excited about coming to work."

IT WORKS FOR SHUSTER