Colors, textures, patterns, form and function — these are elements an interior designer considers when creating a beautiful design for a commercial or living space. But becoming an interior designer is not only about learning how to create an artistically pleasing space. An interior designer also works with clients to determine the best possible use of space as well as how the space should function, look and feel. They create a plan and timeline for how to complete the design project on time and within budget.
Interior designers may use a simple sketch to convey their ideas to clients, architects and construction workers involved in a project — but most likely, computer-aided design (CAD) software or building information modeling (BIM) software is used to create 3-D visualizations of the design. They also incorporate their knowledge of building codes, accessibility standards and construction practices into their designs to achieve their clients' goals.
A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer
Interior design professionals may specialize in commercial projects such as restaurants or hospitals, renovating homes for individuals or focusing on particular rooms or a design style. Specialization may affect what a typical day looks like for a designer, but in general these are the types of tasks they manage:
- Finding new clients and bidding on new projects
- Consulting with clients about their goals and design preferences
- Recommending materials and products such as lighting, flooring, furnishings and appliances
- Creating a design plan and estimating costs
- Calling vendors to research and order products
- Coordinating product shipments and overseeing installation
- Answering questions of people who come into a showroom or design room
- Researching new items or materials for current or potential new projects
The day of an interior designer may be filled with emails, phone calls and deliveries, and it might also require working some early or late evening hours. Clients may stop in for scheduled consultations or to see patterns, colors and materials picked out for a room or to find out about progress and deadlines. Visits to a client's home may also be on the agenda in order to clarify needs or to oversee installations. When clients' items do arrive, interior designers thoroughly inspect them to make sure they are not damaged or different from what was ordered. Then items can be scheduled for delivery and set up in a client's home.
Important Characteristics for Interior Designers
People who enjoy working with colors, materials and lighting may be well-suited for this career. They should be comfortable being creative, but also intuitive enough to put themselves in the shoes of the client, understanding their particular wants and needs.
Since there is never just one interior design solution, interior designers should be able to visualize more than one alternative and go into a project knowing the vision or plan may need to change. Managing multiple projects adds a layer of complexity which makes being detail-oriented a valuable skill to acquire beyond what is learned in interior design classes.
Typical Steps for Becoming an Interior Designer
Here's a overview of the education requirements involved in pursuing an interior design career:
- Complete a degree program. A bachelor's degree in interior design or another related field is typically needed, although a range of interior design programs are available from the associate degree level up to the master's. An associate degree could be a fit for someone who wants to pursue some coursework in the field while a master's degree could work for a person who already has a bachelor's degree in another area.
Interior design programs can help students learn about colors and materials, drawing and computer-aided design (CAD). Students may want to look for a degree program accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design or the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, if they plan to seek licensure or certification afterward. Interior design degree programs are available under a variety of titles, such as:
- Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design
- Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design
- Bachelor of Interior Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design
- Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
- Bachelors in Interior Architecture and Design
- Master of Interior Design
- A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer, Design Folly, http://poshsurfside.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-interior-designer, accessed October 2017
- A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer, Stephanie Weitkamp Interiors, http://www.weitkampinteriordesign.com/day-life-interior-designer/, accessed October 2017
- Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design, The New School, https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/aas-interior-design-programs/, accessed October 2017
- Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Sam Houston State University, http://www.shsu.edu/programs/bachelor-degree-in-family-and-consumer-sciences-interior-design/, accessed October 2017
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, http://www.rmcad.edu/academics/interior-design, accessed October 2017
- Certificate Renewal, Council for Interior Design Qualification, https://www.cidq.org/certificate-renewal, accessed October 2017
- Details Report for Interior Designers, O*NET OnLine, https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/27-1025.00#Education, accessed October 2017
- Interior Designers, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016-17 Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm#tab-9