While most designers have at one point or another asked their clients to "sign on the dotted line," they may also find it useful to develop ways to create their own "design signature."

So says Susan Serra, CKD, president of Northport, NY-based Susan Serra Associates, who led the "Leaving Your Mark: Developing a Unique Design 'Signature'" seminar at last month's Kitchen & Bath Design & Remodeling Expo at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA.

According to Serra, not only will finding your own niche help you to create more effective designs, but it will also quickly build a strong referral base and lead to greater profits.

"The value of creating your own design signature is it makes the client feel good about their kitchen, and people will talk to their friend's and family about you and the project," she exclaims.

To that end, Serra says that designers have both tangible and intangible marks at their disposal to help them better build their client base.