Nathalie Abou Jaoude, Managing Partner at Abensal Lighting, is a seasoned interior designer specializing in hospitality and lighting design. With extensive experience in creating emotionally resonant spaces, she blends creativity and functionality, driving innovation and excellence across interior environments through her expertise in lighting solutions.
Efficiency is a crucial component for achieving success in any industry, more so in today’s market landscape when costs and consumer expectations are equally high. In such a scenario the concept of value engineering come to the rescue. Essentially, it’s a process through which project components are analyzed and optimized to reduce costs of essential while keeping the quality in place.
While Value Engineering has been around since the Second World War, its relevance in today’s business landscape is only rising. Companies are able to manage time, cost, and quality in order to optimize project outcomes, which is essential for success in today’s day and age.
However, navigating through value engineering is not simple feat. The criticality of balancing cost, keeping up the quality and meeting customer expectations through ethical means is easier said than done.
In a conversation with WER, entrepreneur and architect Nathalie Abou Jaoude, Managing Partner at Abensal Lighting, simplifies the concept of value engineering. She believes that navigating the challenges of value engineering requires a strategic and collaborative approach. She explains the importance of transparency in building trust, especially when presenting cost-driven modifications that resemble bespoke solutions. Nathalie also talks about long-term value creation, managing client expectations while preserving functionality & aesthetic appeal, and more.
Here are choce excerpts from a conversation with Nathalie Abou Jaoude about the fundamentals of value engineering.
How do you navigate the challenge of value engineering, where budget constraints often lead to cost-driven substitutions, while ensuring quality and design integrity remain uncompromised?
Navigating the challenges of value engineering requires a strategic and collaborative approach. At Abensal, we engage early with designers, consultants, and clients to understand the core priorities of the project, ensuring that budgetary constraints do not overshadow quality or design intent. Rather than offering direct substitutions, we work closely with our manufacturing partners to propose customized alternatives that retain the essence of the original vision. Our focus is always on preserving the integrity of both function and form, leveraging our industry expertise to propose solutions that are cost-effective yet uncompromising in performance, durability, and aesthetic alignment with the overall concept.
When project budgets are misaligned with initial specifications, how do you prevent value engineering from reducing product quality and maintain the original intent of the design?
When project budgets are misaligned with initial specifications, our role becomes one of mediation and intelligent compromise. We make it a priority to educate stakeholders about the impact of material or design changes on the long-term value of the project. Through technical support and design consultations, we strive to find options that honor the original intent without diminishing product quality. Our partnerships with versatile manufacturers allow us to create customized solutions that respect both financial and design constraints, ensuring the final and end result remains aligned with the project’s original vision, while delivering reliability and a high standard of finish.
How do you ensure transparency with clients when cost-driven modifications are presented as bespoke designs, even though they closely replicate existing products?
Transparency is fundamental to building trust, especially when presenting cost-driven modifications that resemble bespoke solutions. At Abensal, we maintain an open dialogue with clients, clearly articulating the nature and origin of any alternative proposed. We never position an off-the-shelf product as a custom solution; when necessary, we modify the shape and dimensions to prevent replication and avoid potential legal issues. Instead, we emphasize the practical reasons behind the substitution while ensuring the revised product meets the required aesthetic and technical standards. This honest approach helps us preserve our credibility, maintain strong relationships, and ensure our clients remain fully informed and confident in the products we deliver.
How do you address the ethical and strategic challenges of balancing cost reduction with innovation, especially when value-engineered solutions risk resembling existing premium designs?
Balancing innovation with cost-consciousness requires both ethical responsibility and creative problem-solving. At the heart of our approach is a strong commitment to originality and integrity. We take a proactive stance by collaborating with manufacturers who not only respect intellectual property rights but are also open to working closely with us on developing designs that are inspired—never copied. For us, innovation is about thinking resourcefully and adapting within constraints, delivering fresh interpretations that meet budget targets without sacrificing quality or authenticity. Our strategic goal is to create distinctive, fit-for-purpose solutions that reflect a thoughtful design process. By carefully navigating the fine line between inspiration and imitation, we ensure that every product we offer honors the value and impact of true design originality.
In an increasingly price-sensitive market, how do you align cost-cutting measures with long-term value creation, ensuring that financial constraints don’t compromise brand reputation or product integrity?
In today’s cost-sensitive environment, long-term value creation depends on our ability to think beyond immediate savings. At Abensal, we advocate for durable, high-quality lighting solutions that reduce maintenance and replacement costs over time, ultimately offering better value for money. Our client discussions focus on lifecycle costs rather than just initial expenses, reinforcing the importance of investing in reliable products. We see value engineering not as a shortcut, but as a disciplined process to deliver smarter solutions—ones that protect the integrity of both the brand and the built environment it serves. At times, we may have to forgo a project when extremely low budgets and compromised quality are imposed, as we remain committed to standards that ensure lasting value.
When value engineering forces design modifications due to budget limitations, how do you manage client expectations while preserving both functionality and aesthetic appeal?
Effectively managing client expectations during the value engineering process begins with establishing a foundation of open, transparent, and empathetic communication. We recognize that clients often have a deep emotional and creative connection to the original design concept, and it’s essential to acknowledge and respect that investment from the very beginning. Our approach involves taking the time to truly listen and understand the vision, priorities, and concerns of each client, creating a collaborative environment built on trust and mutual respect.
As we transition into exploring alternative solutions, we carefully and thoughtfully guide clients through options that retain the core values of the original design. Our process involves presenting well-curated mood boards, material samples, and functional prototypes, alongside detailed technical validation, to clearly illustrate how proposed adjustments can maintain—and in some cases even enhance—the integrity, functionality, and aesthetic coherence of the project.
Throughout this journey, our objective is not just to meet budgetary or logistical requirements, but to reassure clients that limitations do not necessarily mean settling for less. Instead, we frame these challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving and innovation. By demonstrating how thoughtful design adaptation can uphold the essence of their vision, we empower clients to feel confident and excited about the outcome. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver solutions that not only satisfy practical constraints but also continue to reflect and fulfill the client’s original aspirations.
