How to become An Interior Designer

The key to great interior design is capturing the spirit of the client and the essence of the space.

• Interior Decorator
• Designer
• Decorator

What do Interior Designers do?

An Interior Designer would typically need to:

• Search for and bid on new projects as well as acquire key information about potential projects
• Discuss goals and requirements in detail with clients and develop design concepts to establish final briefs
• Conduct feasibility studies for projects while considering how space will be used
• Work closely with architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and builders to determine how the interior space will function, look and be furnished
• Be aware of building codes and inspection regulations
• Sketch preliminary design plans, including electrical and partition layouts
• Specify materials and furnishings, such as lighting, furniture, wall finishes, flooring, and plumbing fixtures
• Prepare final plans, using computer applications as well as oversee construction
• Put together and present ‘sample’ or ‘mood’ boards to clients
• Create a timeline for the Interior Design project and estimate project costs
• Place orders for materials and oversee installing the design elements
• Coordinate with general building contractors to implement the plans and specifications for the project
• Visit the site after the project is complete, to ensure that the client is satisfied with the way the project panned out
• Keep up to date with new developments in the design industry

Most Interior Designers work in offices and studios. Self-employed designers often work from home or in a studio. Technology has changed the way many designers work. For example, Interior Designers now use software rather than drafting tables to create two- or three-dimensional images.

Jobs tend to follow concentrations of activity in the broader construction industry. On-site work requires an appropriate dress, which may include a hard hat and overalls. At all other times, Interior Designers follow an appropriate dress code or one that has been specified.

Typical hours include regular extra hours but not shifts. Since the Designer's role is often integral to a larger construction and development process, flexibility with working hours is an accepted part of the job. Interior Designers may need to adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, including meeting with clients in the evening and on weekends.

Part-time work is possible, while self-employment and freelance work are common. Design directories are useful for identifying design companies to target with a speculative CV or personal call. Interior Designers would need to travel to clients’ design sites. Travel within a working day is frequent and absence from home overnight is sometimes required. Many Designers visit exhibitions and trade fairs to keep up with the latest trends.

Many Interior Designers work on a freelance basis or are self-employed, although it is uncommon to set up your own business without substantial experience and have built up a reputation and a list of contacts. The field has expanded through the restoration and maintenance of historically significant buildings.

Interior Designers are generally employed by:

• Architects
• Interior & Multidisciplinary Design Consultancies
• Commercial & Construction Companies
• Companies in the Hotel & Leisure Industries
• Local Government Bodies
• Retailers
• Domestic Customers
• Theatre, Television, & Film Companies

Professional associations and organizations are a key resource for Interior Designers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks great on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Working with deadlines and budgets can be stressful
• Adapting to the client’s style
• Volume of work depends largely on reputation

Entry into the field of Interior Design without a degree is possible if you have significant experience and creative flair. Competition for work experience is strong so it is important to be proactive when looking for opportunities. Many courses provide aspiring Interior Designers with the opportunity to showcase their work.

However, as few graduates are offered work from their degree shows, it is vital to network and take advantage of any opportunities. Make as many contacts as possible during your studies and work experience, as they may be able to help you get your career started.

A good way of making contact with established Interior Designers is by joining relevant professional organizations. There are many websites, such as Arts Thread, where an aspiring Interior Designer can showcase their work to employers and potential clients.

The demand for talented Interior Designers is steadily increasing, although competition remains fierce. Selection is often based on a portfolio that shows your design skills, as well as your capacity to get involved in a range of different projects. It is unusual for employers to offer traineeships, and speculative approaches are strongly advised.

Interior Designers usually need a bachelor’s degree with a focus on Interior Design, interior architecture, 3D design, spatial design, architecture, fine art, furniture design, graphic design, product design, or textile design. The course should include interior design, drawing, and computer-aided design (CAD). Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs in Interior Design are offered by accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, and independent institutes.

Applicants may be required to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability for admission to Interior Design programs.

Voluntary certification in an Interior Design specialty, such as environmental design, allows designers to demonstrate expertise in a particular area of the occupation. Interior designers often specialize to distinguish the type of design work they do and to promote their expertise. Certifications are usually available through professional and trade associations and are independent of the government licensing examination.

Licensure requirements vary by location. In some locations, only licensed designers may do Interior Design work. In others, both licensed and unlicensed designers may do such work; however, only licensed designers may use the title “Interior Designer.” In still other locations, both licensed and unlicensed designers may call themselves Interior Designers and do Interior Design work.

In locations where laws restrict the use of the title “Interior Designer,” only candidates who pass their state-approved exam may call themselves registered Interior Designers. Qualifications for eligibility to take the exam usually include at least a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and two years of work experience.

Postgraduate degrees are not needed, but specialist courses can enable you to move into interior/spatial design from another area of art and design. Taking a course in CAD or Photoshop may be useful.

Typically, Interior Designers spend the first five to ten years of their career developing and building on existing skills and knowledge, as well as gaining further experience. Beyond that, there is no definite or structured career path, and the extent and speed of career progression depend on the setting and your performance, aptitude, and dedication.

Newly qualified Junior Designers tend to work alongside more experienced colleagues. You'll typically be given responsibility for parts of a project and can also assist with gathering information and putting together 'mood' or 'sample' boards for presentations to clients. This can lead to increased responsibility, depending on your performance.

Specializations and further professional qualifications at Masters or PhD level can enhance your chances of promotion while moving from a larger Interior Design consultancy to a smaller one can mean more responsibility.

It's important to build up a portfolio as you progress in your Interior Design career. This helps both in terms of promotion within a company or consultancy and in attracting new clients if you are self-employed. The majority of established Interior and Spatial Designers showcase their work online. Freelance work for consultancies, practices, or individual clients is possible with experience, as is setting up your own business or becoming a partner in a consultancy.

Job prospects should be best in high-income areas because wealthy clients are more likely than others to engage in remodeling and renovating their spaces. Keeping up to date with the newest design tools, such as three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software, also will improve job prospects.

Large consultancies offer on-the-job training, and some provide courses on subjects such as negotiation, marketing (particularly branding), website creation, computer-aided design (CAD), and software packages such as Photoshop, Flash, and Illustrator.

Continuing professional development (CPD) courses, including training seminars, professional practice seminars on a range of subjects like business practice and regulatory matters, and workshops may be accessible to professional organizations. Members may be awarded a professional practice certificate to document this professional development.

Members of a professional organization may be required to undertake a certain amount of CPD each year to update personal and professional skills and network and share ideas. Further study provides the opportunity to experiment, diversify, or obtain specialist knowledge to progress as an Interior Designer.

Masters and PhDs are available in specialized areas of interior design. Art and design, or private colleges may also run short courses. It's important to research courses thoroughly to ensure they meet your requirements. Useful subjects include computer-aided design (CAD), green energy/eco topics, lighting or building regulations, and Photoshop.

Combining the efficient and functional use of space with an understanding of aesthetics - this is the job of Interior Designers. They make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They read blueprints and must be aware of building codes and inspection regulations, as well as universal accessibility standards.

Use of Software

Although some sketches or drawings may be freehand, most Interior Designers use computer-aided design (CAD) software for the majority of their drawings. Throughout the design process, Interior Designers often use building information modeling (BIM) software to create 3D visualizations of the final product, including construction elements such as walls and roofs.

Varied Roles to Play

An Interior Designer may work in a range of commercial, leisure, or domestic settings. Accordingly, they have varied roles to play.

Corporate Designers

Corporate Interior Designers create interior designs for professional workplaces, from small office settings to large-scale corporations within high-rise buildings. They focus on creating spaces that are efficient, functional, and safe for employees. They may incorporate design elements that reflect a company’s brand in their designs.

Healthcare Designers

Healthcare Interior Designers use the evidence-based design process in designing and renovating healthcare centers, clinics, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and residential care facilities. They specialize in making design decisions based on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients, residents, and the facility.

Kitchen and Bath Designers

Kitchen and Bath Interior Designers specialize in kitchens and bathrooms and have expert knowledge of the variety of cabinets, fixtures, appliances, plumbing, and electrical solutions for these rooms.

Sustainable Designers

Sustainable Interior Designers use strategies to improve energy and water efficiencies and indoor air quality. Sustainable Designers also use environmentally-preferable products, such as bamboo and cork for floors. They may obtain certification in energy and environmental design. Such certification indicates expertise in designing buildings and spaces with sustainable practices in mind.

Universal Designers

Universal Interior Designers renovate spaces in order to make them more accessible. Often, these designs are used to renovate spaces for elderly people and people with special needs; however, universal designs can benefit anyone. For example, an entryway without steps may be necessary for someone in a wheelchair, but it is also helpful for someone pushing a baby stroller.

Elise DeWolf is widely regarded as the “creator” of the Interior Design profession. She had her first commission in 1907, The Colony Club, which was the first women-only club in New York City.

Simplicity is the keynote to all true elegance -you achieve perfection as an Interior Designer not when there is nothing left to add but when there's nothing left to take away.

The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what’s in or what’s out.