The Interior Design Portfolio Format

Trying to decide what format to put your portfolio together in? Creativity is always appreciated, but interior design employers do have a preferred portfolio format they want to see. Syracuse University and the American Society of Interior Designers asked over 500 interior designers, all in a position to hire, what they wanted. Here is what they said were their preferences in an interior design portfolio:

• The preferred format by interior design employers is an 11” x 17” size in a portrait layout.

• Keep the layout as consistent as possible. Avoid changing from portrait to landscape in your portfolio if you can.

• Show anywhere from five to seven projects within twelve to fifteen pages.

Niche Areas for Your Interior Designer Career

Looking for alternatives to the mainstream path of an interior designer career? If you're comfortable by the grill and oven, consider becoming a kitchen designer. As a kitchen designer, you'll work with clientele to plan the layout, appliances, and finishes for everything from a kitchen for the home to the industrial sized restaurant kitchen. Are frosted glass showers with mosaic tile overlooking a view from the cherry wood framed window more your style? Then consider concentrating your efforts to become a bath designer. Or perhaps you can envision creating a tranquil mood by playing off pewter hued wall sconces in the main hallway. In that case, focus your interior designer career in the field of lighting design.

Work Options for a Career in Interior Design

Thinking about a career in interior design, but wondering what work options you have to choose from? As an interior designer, you can work in a wide range of businesses. Here are a few places to get you started on ideas:

• As an interior designer, you can work for an architecture firm creating interior spaces, selecting furniture, lighting, fabrics, and finishes.

• Take your career in interior design to the showroom – the furniture showroom, that is. You can interact with clients to help select the pieces to furnish their office or home.

• Become a model home designer. Companies hire interior designers to create the overall look of a model home to attract homebuyers. It's an excellent opportunity to use your sense of design and creative flair.

• A career in interior design can be put to use at a lighting design firm. Not only will you be able to select fixtures, you'll be able to design them and create a subtle or dramatic ambiance in commercial buildings, homes, theme parks, and outdoor facilities.

The Scoop on What Salary Interior Designer Professionals Can Expect

Wondering what salary interior designer professionals can expect to make? According to the American Society of Interior Designers in 2006, if you're just starting out, the average interior design salary is $30,000 a year. After three to four years, you can add another $5,000 to your interior design salary expectations. If you're a project manager, you can command $50,000 to $55,000 a year. Hoping to make six figures? Start your own design firm or become a partner at a profitable design business and you can expect to make $100,000 or more. To command the highest salary interior designer professionals seek, get the best education, business background, and fine tune your designer skills.

Paying for Your Education – Look For Scholarships at Interior Design Schools

The cost of an interior design education can be astronomical. If you find the cost of tuition rather daunting, look for assistance in the form of scholarships at interior design schools. Most schools, both public and private, have money set aside specifically for their interior design students. Many interior design scholarships have requirements which may include any combination of a minimum grade point average, faculty sponsorship, essay submission, and design submissions. If you are applying to interior design schools that do not have scholarships, you can still look elsewhere. The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA at www.ifda.org) is one professional organization which has a number of interior design scholarships ranging from $1000 to $3000 in grant money.