Career And School Info For Interior Designers

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Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

This page incorporates research from CityTownInfo's interior design schools and careers section.

Interior Designer Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

Ambiance can make all the difference in a home or commercial building. Interior designers are skilled in combining furniture, fabrics, lighting, flooring, wall treatments, window treatments, fixtures, artwork and accessories to create specific moods and functions in spaces. Hotels, airports, restaurants, hospitals, retail stores, shopping malls, theaters and schools hire interior designers to create environments that boost profits, productivity and property value. Homeowners hire interior designers to create or enhance a living space to suit their lifestyle and comfort.

Decorating, which is a part of interior design, involves:

• Choosing a style and color palette that reflects a client's tastes or requirements.
• Establishing a cost estimate and timeline and for a project.
• Selecting components such as textiles, furniture, artwork and lighting that are appropriate for a space and within a client's budget.
• Sketching or using computer-aided design (CAD) to create a guide for placement of pieces in a space, paint colors and flooring.
• Overseeing installation of a design by working with a team to place pieces, apply wall treatments, hang curtains, etc.

In addition, interior designers frequently modify a space with architectural elements, including:

• Redesigning the layout of a space for improved traffic flow, use of light, etc.
• Planning and providing layouts for new construction or remodeling; incorporating stairways, entryways, elevators and other key elements.
• Incorporating architectural details such as arches, crown molding, built-in shelving, windows and fireplaces.

Interior designers work with contractors, architects and electricians, so a designer must be able to read blueprints and comply with safety regulations such as fire codes and building codes.

In-store designers sell merchandise in addition to providing design services. They provide the same kind of decorating guidance, though more from a distance, and choose design elements from a specific catalog.

Degrees and Schools

Most entry-level interior designers have a bachelor's degree in interior design from a four-year college or design school. Upon graduation, they qualify for a one to three year apprenticeship. Two- and three- year associate's degree programs are available through vocational and design schools, and graduates qualify as assistants to designers. Applicants to educational programs are expected to provide creative samples and have completed basic art courses.

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design and Council for Interior Design Accreditation accredit most schools.

Classes

Interior design students usually study:

• History of decorative arts
• Color theory
• Spatial planning
• Sketching and computer-aided design (CAD)
• Perspective and scale
• Textiles and lighting
• Furniture design
• Ergonomics
• Architecture
• Safety and ethics
• Business operations
• Commercial design

Online Classes and Programs

Interior design programs that are offered online offer flexibility and convenience. However, such programs are less likely to assist with apprenticeship placement, online credits may not transfer to brick-and-mortar schools or other online programs, and very few if any online schools are currently accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design or Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Employers hold such accreditation in high regard, so it is important to consider this when evaluating online programs.

Employment Requirements

A bachelor's degree in interior design is considered the minimum requirement by employers who are seeking apprentices. Companies who are hiring assistants for their interior designers often consider graduates of associate's degree programs. A portfolio is typically required.

Once an interior design apprentice has completed six years of combined education and experience including two years of postsecondary education, they are eligible to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification's licensing exam. Approximately half of the states in the U.S. require a license as a Certified, Registered, or Licensed Interior Designer. In order to retain their licensure, interior designers must take continuing education courses.

How to Evaluate Schools

Aspiring interior designers should consider asking the following questions when comparing two- and four-year programs:

• Location - Is a license required for interior designers in the desired state of employment?
• Accreditation - Has NASAD or CIDA accredited the school? Has an online program also been accredited by direct-learning organizations?
• Course offerings - Does the program offer a comprehensive list of courses to support specific career goals within the various applications of interior design such as residential, commercial or institutional?
• Faculty - Are the faculty who will be teaching currently working as interior designers in industry?
• Tuition and financial assistance - What scholarships, loans and work study programs are available? Does the school provide sufficient resources to students so they can take advantage of these resources?
• School and class size - Class size is important in courses where design is taught to facilitate interactive learning from teachers and fellow students. What is the student-faculty ratio in the various courses?
• Apprenticeships - Does the school offer assistance to students in getting apprenticeships or assistant jobs upon graduation? How successful is the program in placing graduates?

Career Highlights

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What Kind of Person Has This Career?

(Percent of people in the occupation who agree.)

Important Natural Abilities	% Agree
Oral Comprehension	81%
Originality	78%
Oral Expression	75%

Full List

Work Values	% Agree
Achievement	78%
Independence	78%
Relationships	67%

Full List

Areas of Personal Interest	% Agree
Self-Expression Or Artistry	95%
Starting And Leading Activities	72%

Work Style Characteristics	% Agree
Attention To Detail	95%
Innovation	95%
Integrity	92%

Full List

Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Personal Skills	% Agree
Active Listening	89%
Reading Comprehension	83%
Management Of Financial Resources	82%

Full List

Important Professional Knowledge	% Agree
Design	94%
Customer And Personal Service	82%
Building And Construction	79%

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Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Common Work Conditions	% Agree
Telephone	100%
Face-To-Face Discussions	96%
Electronic Mail	95%

Full List

Common Job Activities	% Agree
Getting Information	93%
Thinking Creatively	91%
Drafting, Laying Out, And Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, And Equipment	89%

Full List

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