Interior designers must understand technical aspects of construction like build-site analysis and building systems standards. [4] X Research source Designers require formal education and certification, and in some states, they require an additional license. To pursue a career in interior design, plan for 4 years of education and 2 years of work experience before certification. Interior decorators do not require formal education or certification to begin working.
Consider the program’s length, whether it’s online or in-person, the tuition cost, and the university’s location and size. Evaluate the program’s rankings, admission rate, and alumni network. Set up an appointment with a faculty member, admissions officer, or current student if you need more information to decide if the program is right for you. Ask about what classes are offered, the program’s specific niche or teaching philosophy, and the types of jobs students get after graduation. Be sure to study construction—to be a good designer, it’s important to understand what can be built and what is impractical. [7] X Expert Source MacKenzie CainInterior Designer & LEED Green Associate Expert Interview. 7 April 2020.
If you already have a degree unrelated to interior design, online courses that offer certificates or diplomas can give you the qualification you need to sit for certification exams. [8] X Research source You can also take online courses to learn new software or to step into a new specialty like industrial or healthcare design.
From free online tutorials to paid courses, there are lots of options for learning Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software like AutoCAD LT, SketchUp Pro, and Arcticid 23. Photography tools like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Capture are also great industry-standard tools to learn for manipulating images. To take your software skills to the next level, learn how to use client management programs created for design firms. Programs like Fugit, Ivy, and Co-Construct assist with sourcing, purchasing, client and contractor communication, and more.
An example of a material-sourcing decision: You need to choose between plywood and milled lumber for cabinets. Thanks to your sourcing knowledge, you know milled lumber is more durable, but your project has a small budget, so you choose plywood for affordability. [11] X Research source Look through design firm libraries, trade magazines, trade fairs, trade associations, and online databases to learn more about specific materials. [12] X Research source You can also talk to manufacturers and sales representatives to learn more about their products and how they meet standards. Bolster your sourcing knowledge with information on cost-estimating methods. Common methods are square footage assessments (based on the cost of materials for a given area), itemized budgets (based on estimations for specific material costs), and quantity takeoffs (based on both estimated material and labor costs).
Even as you experiment with different trends, remember to keep growing your cohesive style. [14] X Research source Browse design blogs, books, websites, and social media to keep up with industry trends. [15] X Expert Source MacKenzie CainInterior Designer & LEED Green Associate Expert Interview. 7 April 2020. [16] X Research source
Be innovative. Your portfolio doesn’t have budget or project timeline constraints, so you can show off your style through designs that represent what you’d like to do. If you don’t have real projects from work experience, imagine you’re working on a specific project. Create mood boards, color schemes, floorplans, and 3-D renderings that show your capabilities. Briefly tell the story of each real project in your portfolio. What did the client ask for? What were the key choices you made? Include quantitative results in your portfolio. If your cafe remodels helped increase the number of dine-in customers by 10%, or if the materials you chose cut carbon emissions by half, those are good metrics to highlight your capabilities.
Before you submit your portfolio for a job application, ask a plumber, electrician, and carpenter to review it to ensure your designs are practical and up to code. As you gain work experience, ask for input from more experienced designers to keep learning.
Identify the type of interior you’d best like to design. For instance, you can go large scale and design shopping malls as a corporate designer. Or you can go small-scale, designing houses, lofts, and cabins as a residential designer. Is there a particular style you’re drawn to? Having a sense of whether you’d like to do avant-garde, minimalist, or modern design (as just three of the many options!) can help guide you. Consider what types of clients you want to work with. For example, would you prefer to work with homeowners, corporations, or local governments?
Design firms are more likely to hire new designers for styling contracts rather than architectural contracts. [21] X Research source Use social media to keep up your network and maintain connections with people you meet in the industry. While you’re sharpening your creative skills, use your internship or junior role to also learn about the business/client side of interior design. [22] X Research source When you’re looking for employers, aim for licensed interior designers or architects who focus on interior design. [23] X Research source
If you’re in your final year of a B. A. and don’t have work experience, apply to take just the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX) and then take the other two exam parts (Interior Design Professional Exam and Practicum) after you complete your required work hours. [25] X Research source . Score above 500 on all parts of the test to pass. A score of 200 designates zero correct answers and a score of 800 means all answers are correct. [26] X Research source If you’re in California, take the IDEX by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC) instead of the NCIDQ to get certified. [27] X Research source
Nevada, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require mandatory registration to practice as an interior designer. [30] X Research source Gather the required materials including transcripts, a completed work experience section, NCIDQ verification, and application fee. There are no federal licensing requirements, so be sure to check what you need for your state. [31] X Research source
