Want To Know How To Become An Interior Designer?
INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS-HOW TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
“ A dream does not become reality through magic: it takes sweat, determination and hard work” (Colin Powell)
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is: How do I become an Interior Designer?
The honest answer to the question, is there is no overnight quick fix career path to get there!
We wish there was an Interior Design Genie that could grant you instant access to a design career but in the absence of that! we hope this blog helps you a great deal.
Whenever you truly take a look at the success stories behind any established Interior professional, you should note there is a serious amount of hard work, persistence and even some tears, that helped them to achieve ultimate career goals. The secret formula as we have seen time and time again seems to be quite simple: passion, determination, perseverance and effort!
If you are thinking about embarking on a career in design, the great news is there are lots of different opportunities within creative fields available to you. Firstly, it might help you if we take a closer look at the role of an Interior designer, it might not be what you think!
There is an absolute ton of work that goes on behind the scenes, long before we get to a clients ‘big reveal’ moment: think Climbing Ben Nevis…wearing heels…….in severe gale force winds..hail…sleet and snow……get the picture?….ok, we exaggerate a little, but seriously, there really is a lot of work, preparation, attention to detail and patience required. It all leads to the final project outcome: and when you get to the top of that mountain, how incredible is the view?….
A good starting tip for additional inspiration is to take a look here: www.learnhowtobecome.org
INTERIOR DESIGNER: WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Most Interior designers are educated in the history of design, the structural integrity of buildings, building codes, ergonomics, spatial concepts, ethics, psychology, computer-aided design (CAD) and much more. Some examples of activities an Interior Designer undertakes are as follows
Meeting clients to discuss their requirements and ideas.
Developing designs to suit clients' needs, their budget, and the type of building involved.
Preparing initial sketches and mood boards for the client to approve.
Advising on the use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture.
Working out costs and preparing estimates for the design as a whole.
Creating detailed drawings from the initial sketches, usually via suitable software packages.
Finding appropriate suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, wall and floor coverings.
Time Spent decorating a room (10%), time spent behind the scenes; planning, liaising, data gathering (90%)
WHAT SKILLS WILL YOU NEED?
Design skills and knowledge.
A thorough and meticulous approach, paying attention to small details, they matter!
Excellent listening and customer service skills.
Initiative: to effectively establish new ways of working as required.
The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure to deadlines.
Communicating clearly your design vision to trades, manufacturers and suppliers.
Good knowledge of building, materials and construction.
Emotional resilience, when things go wrong, and they do, the ability to resolve challenges effectively.
Business and marketing skills.
The skill to collaborate well with others and to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently.
Sales skills.
Organisational skills.
Networking skills.
Drawing skills.
WHAT ACCREDITATIONS ARE REQUIRED?
College: We recommend you take a college course to get started. Examples:
Level 3 Diploma in Interior Design
Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
A Level in Art and Design
University: You could take a foundation degree, or degree in a relevant subject for example: interior design, art and design, interior architecture and spatial design.
Entry requirements: You'll usually need:
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma.
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
If you are going to embark on a qualified accreditation there are a few options available to you.
We would advise you to:
Take an in-depth look at the course schedule and syllabus.
Invest time taking a look at the course outline and if the content will make you feel motivated and inspired to complete the full course.
Courses are expensive and take a great deal of your time and energy, requiring your full focus and commitment. Therefore be honest with yourself. If it is the career you want more than anything, brilliant! Go for it! but make sure you invest some time in the beginning to build your knowledge and understanding before you make that full commitment.
Take time out to have conversations with the right people, can you network for a mentor? Talk to the course teacher, could they become a real mentor to you?
Does the course have network links for your exciting new career that you could actually utilise once you qualify?
INTERIOR DECORATOR: WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Most Interior decorators are educated in colour profiling or have a natural gift, an ‘eye’ for design if you like. The majority of Interior Decorators work within the residential industry, whilst some work specifically with commercial only clients. Note: Additional training and qualifications may be required to understand commercial space design, for example; health and safety regulations and planning, building regulations knowledge to ensure the relevant compliance. Some examples of activities an Interior Decorator undertakes are as follows:
Meet directly with the clients to discuss their requirements and ideas.
Develop several decorative plans and present them to the client.
Present several big-picture options (including budget estimates) and ideas to the client, who can then select the idea they want to pursue.
Select a variety of decorative elements for a client’s home, office, or other space (such as a retail store). Working within the client’s budget.
Choose wall paint colours and finishes, furniture pieces, textiles such as rugs and upholstery, art to hang on walls or feature on shelves.
Determine where to place the selected furniture and fixtures, considering both the aesthetic and practicality, with particular emphasis on unity and flow.
Some fine-tune and rearrangement of the room or with client input will also be undertaken.
Budget and schedule management throughout the decoration process. This involves ensuring that decorations, furniture and remuneration stay within the client’s budget.
Managing schedules to deadlines is equally important, maintaining a steady workflow to meet client expectations.
WHAT SKILLS WILL YOU NEED?
Effective communication skills.
Colour theory.
Excellent listening and customer service skills.
Spatial planning awareness.
Business and marketing skills.
Sales skills.
Administration skills.
Organisational skills.
Knowledge of Interior Trends and Design Trends.
Drawing skills.
WHAT ACCREDITATIONS ARE REQUIRED?
Whilst there are no formal qualifications required to become an Interior Decorator, there are many short courses that could be completed to help with the nature of this role for example: ‘colour profiling’.
There are some truly outstanding Interior Decorators working in the industry today and the nature of this work is very closely linked to the role of Interior Design. There is always room for talented, creative individuals, no matter what their qualifications in the design industry. Know that passion and hard work will get you where you want to be.
RECOMMENDED COURSES AVAILABLE TO YOU:
UK:
GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS:
Pratt Institute | New York |https://www.pratt.edu/
Savannah College of Art and Design | Global Locations | https://www.scad.edu/
Florence Design Academy | Italy | https://www.ied.edu/
In summary, be patient and start slow! Do a lot of research, find the right courses for you. Other things to consider are:
Offer to complete work experience for free at a reputable design studio, where you can put your new skills into practice and gain invaluable insight from industry professionals.
Network with friends, family, local organisations, local businesses, local trade shows.
Start to build a portfolio, no matter how small, it is a must!
Stay up to date with interior trends: read as much and as often as you can!
Explore other career possibilities, design is not limited to just interiors i.e. Set Decorators, Retail Merchandiser.
If you are really serious about embarking on a career in Interior Design: what are you waiting for?
‘It always seems impossible, until it is done’ -Nelson Mandela
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Hello From Speak,
We relish the opportunity to create interior design inspired by nature. We love to maximise space, leverage colour, and blend architectural features with modern design.
Contact us to SPEAK about our in person bespoke interior design services or view and purchase one of our virtual Atelier Crafted eDesign services. We would love to hear from you and explore the rich possibilities! What can we accomplish together?