If you have a strong idea of how you want your project to be designed, and would like a designer to translate these ideas into reality, make sure you find someone who is able to listen. 

Sometimes it can be harder to listen than speak, and sometimes designers design for themselves; rather than interpreting the values and ideas of the homeowners they design for.   Creating a home or workspace is a very personal act, and while as architects we have the necessary training to create buildings, you are the expert in your own hopes and dreams for a space.  Make sure you find a designer who can listen well enough to lead this process and turn personal hopes into reality in a building project.