Careers in Interior Design Tips
Read these 18 Careers in Interior Design Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Interior Design Degree tips and hundreds of other topics.
A Day in the Life Working as an Interior Designer
Ever wonder what a day working as an interior designer might be like? An interior designer working for a design firm will often spend a great deal of time multi-tasking between activities. A morning can begin with responding to emails and phone calls from vendors and clients. Then, the interior designer may have a brief meeting with the lighting representative to learn about a new product. Next on the agenda is spending some time wrapping up a project for a deadline. In the afternoon, there may be a project meeting with clients and a budget review followed by a trip to a project site where furniture is put into place, carpet is installed, and lighting is mounted. At the end of the day, someone working as an interior designer may return to the office to review floor plans and return phone calls before wrapping up a day's work.
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.
Louisiana State University Alum Gets His Own Design Show
Most graduates of an interior design program don’t expect to get famous from their interior design careers. But once in a while, an opportunity opens up and you just have to take it. That’s what happened to Louisiana State University graduate Kenneth Brown. Brown, who graduated from the interior design program at Louisiana State University in 1995, started his own design firm, Kenneth Brown Design. One day, Home and Garden Television (HGTV) asked Brown to guest host a few shows. The next thing he knew, he had his own design show called “reDesign” where he transforms homeowners’ living spaces, walking them step-by-step through the creative process. As of 2005, Brown has finished taping his first design show season.
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.
Louisiana State University Alum Gets His Own Design Show
Most graduates of an interior design program don't expect to get famous from their interior design careers. But once in a while, an opportunity opens up and you just have to take it. That's what happened to Louisiana State University graduate Kenneth Brown. Brown, who graduated from the interior design program at Louisiana State University in 1995, started his own design firm, Kenneth Brown Design. One day, Home and Garden Television (HGTV) asked Brown to guest host a few shows. The next thing he knew, he had his own design show called “reDesign” where he transforms homeowners' living spaces, walking them step-by-step through the creative process. As of 2005, Brown has finished taping his first design show season.
Louisiana State University Alum Gets His Own Design Show
Most graduates of an interior design program don't expect to get famous from their interior design careers. But once in a while, an opportunity opens up and you just have to take it. That's what happened to Louisiana State University graduate Kenneth Brown. Brown, who graduated from the interior design program at Louisiana State University in 1995, started his own design firm, Kenneth Brown Design. One day, Home and Garden Television (HGTV) asked Brown to guest host a few shows. The next thing he knew, he had his own design show called “reDesign” where he transforms homeowners' living spaces, walking them step-by-step through the creative process. As of 2005, Brown has finished taping his first design show season.
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.
Less Conventional Interior Design Career Options
Mainstream career options for the interior designer include working for an interior design firm, furniture showroom, or space planning in an architecture office. For a career path that delves into less conventional choices, consider these interior design career options:
• Visual Merchandiser – Design displays for retail stores.
• Home theater designer – Use the latest in sound technology to create theater spaces for residential environments.
• Feng Shui Designer – Use the principals of eastern philosophy to create positive energy in design.
• Set Designer – Create entire scenes and environments for film, television, and theater.
The Search for Interior Design Jobs
Job hunting for any profession can be a job onto itself. To look for interior design jobs, start by putting together a resume to highlight your skills, education, and any internships or work experience you might have. Then polish your portfolio to make it professional and show only your best work. Next, contact friends and colleagues to see if they know of any interior design job leads. Finally, make a list of firms you are interested in and send out a meticulous, proofread resume. Don't forget, you can always contact a design firm and request an informational interview to ask questions and learn about the business. Sometimes these contacts can turn into interior design job leads.
Trends for the Interior Design Career Field
Want to know what markets are becoming popular for attracting new business and clientele in interior design? In the interior design career field, new markets and opportunities are developing for those interested three areas of work:
• Green design – This interior design career field touts environmentally friendly design.
• Ergonomic design – Ergonomic design encompasses designing furniture and spaces that supports good posture and minimum strain on the body.
• Elder Design – This field of interior design covers designing spaces friendly for the older population and disabled.
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.
Boost Your Career With an Interior Design Course
If you're a working professional and want to boost your career with an interior design course, you can select from a wide range of coursework options. Continuing education for the interior designer is an excellent way of making sure you have the latest professional knowledge on hand. Here are some resources to find an interior design course:
• Check the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID at www.asid.org). They conduct ongoing continuing education courses for the interior design professional and give educational credits. Select from topics such as selecting antiques, sustainable design, and ergonomics.
• Go to the National Kitchen and Bath Association at www.nkba.org. They have professional certification and a kitchen e-course as well as continuing education to select from.
• Find a range of continuing education courses at the American Institute of Architects (AIA at www.aia.org). You can select from business design practices, lighting design, and interior topics.
Sources for Interior Design Career Information
Interior design can encompass a broad realm of career options from furniture design to space planning. To educate yourself on what path is right for you, check out these sources for interior design career information:
• Visit The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID at www.asid.org). This professional organization for interior designers gives you access to information on the field of interior design, career opportunities, salary information, and educational programs.
• Interested in kitchen and bath design? Head over to the National Kitchen and Bath Association at www.nkba.org. You'll find information on certification, continuing education, and the kitchen and bath design field.
• To get the started learning about interior design career information, visit All Art Schools at www.allartschools.com. On their Web site, you'll find articles with interviews, career information, and links to numerous interior design programs.
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.
Qualities You'll Need to Excel in an Interior Design Career
If you have an interest in an interior design career, you'll certainly need creativity, but that's not the only trait that makes a good interior designer. Because interior design encompasses a wide variety of tasks, including working on or managing design projects, maintaining budgets, dealing with clients, and meeting deadlines, you need to be competent at juggling multiple tasks. You also need good people skills to interact with clients, vendors, and members of your project team. Adaptability and good problem solving skills can also benefit you if you choose an interior design career because you'll need to switch from one task to another, solve spatial problems, and keep up on current trends.
Places to Find Interior Design Jobs
Are you getting started on your search for interior design jobs, but not sure where to look? Here are some sources to kick-start your job search.
• The American Institute of Architects isn't solely for architects. They also maintain job listings for interior designers. Check with the national organization (AIA at www.aia.org) as well as your local chapters for interior design job postings.
• The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID at www.asid.org) maintains a job bank database you can search. You can also post your resume and let a potential employer find you.
• Look for interior design jobs by signing up with Architectural Staffing, Inc. at www.architecturalstaffing.com. You can contact them or send your resume and they will look for openings that best match your background.
• Check out the interior design job postings at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA at www.iida.org). You can post your resume anonymously or search their database for employment.
An Interior Design Career in an Interior Design Firm
If you're looking for an interior design career, consider working for an architectural firm or interior design firm. In today's current economical client, the opportunities for employment, especially for junior level designers is high. If you're talented and dedicated, you'll have plenty of opportunities to pick the architecture firm or interior design firm of your choice. The outlook for the future is bright, too. Jobs for those considering an interior design career is expected to grow better than the average for most careers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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| Ray Lokar |
