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Interior designers are useful in many public and private spaces, including:
• Private homes
• Airport terminals
• Office buildings
• Theaters
• Shopping malls
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Schools
• Hospitals
When good design is created for a space, it can boost productivity, increase sales, attract a more affluent clientele, help people relax and increase a building’s market value. To accomplish all this, designers must know how to read blueprints, must understand building and fire codes and must make spaces accessible for disabled individuals or those who have special needs.
An interior designer’s focus is usually to decorate a space. This means choosing a style and a color palette, and selecting furniture, lighting fixtures, floor and window coverings and artwork to fit within the design plan. Interior designers also plan and design the architectural elements of a space, like crown molding, built-in bookshelves, windows or staircases. Interior designers sometimes work in cooperation with architects, electricians and building contractors. These professionals have specialized knowledge of structures and their uses, and their advice helps achieve functional design.
Most interior designers follow a four-part process when designing spaces for their clients:
1. Programming: meeting with the client to determine his or her needs and wishes for the space; determining the space’s use routine, or the client’s lifestyle; visiting the space to learn about its positive attributes and the challenges it presents
2. Formulating the design plan and estimating costs: using Computer-aided Design (CAD) to render spaces in more detail and to make changes easily; presenting the design plans to the client; making revisions if the client requests changes
3. Deciding the design specifications: choosing materials, finishes and furnishings; these design elements include flooring, furniture, lighting, wall coverings and artwork; working with architects or engineers if the space needs structural work; hiring contractors for technical work like lighting, plumbing and electrical wiring
4. Developing the project’s timeline: coordinating the contractor work schedules; making sure projects are completed on time; visiting the site after work has been completed to ensure the client’s satisfaction or to make corrections if they are needed
In addition to self-employed designers or those who work for design firms, interior designers can find work in furniture or home and garden stores. In these work settings, the designer will sell the company’s merchandise or design services. This involves assisting clients in choosing styles and color schemes, and finding coordinating accessories. Interior designers who do this work typically have more limitations than independent designers. For instance, they rarely visit the client’s home for design consultations, and they usually only provide their employer’s products and services to the client.
Some interior designers complete many different projects for their clients, but some specialize in only one area of design or one building type. Some design specializations include acoustics and noise abatement, security, electronics and home theaters, home spas, kitchens and baths or closet design. Building-type specialization is usually in either residential or commercial space design.
An interior designer’s workday involves a combination of time spent in the office and on job sites. Many designers need flexibility in their work schedules so they can schedule meetings at the client’s convenience. This may mean occasional night or weekend hours. Sometimes, an interior designer’s work is stressful; deadlines must be met, clients must be pleased and budgets tend to be tight. Designers might not spend much time in the office when they need to travel between showrooms, design centers, client sites and manufacturing facilities.
Salary Range: $
13,440 — $93,000
Education Level (minimum):
Associate degree in art, design or similar
Growth Outlook (2002 – 2012):
10 – 20%
