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The interior design field is competitive. A job that allows creativity and interaction with clients is appealing to many. Those designers that are most successful often have a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university or from an art and design school. There are also two and three-year programs that award an associate degree or a certificate in interior design.
Students in interior design programs learn about a variety of design topics in their coursework. These include:
• Computer-aided Design (CAD)
• Drawing
• Perspective
• Spatial planning
• Color and textiles
• Furniture design
• Architecture
• Ergonomics
• Ethics and psychology
However, formal training alone does not completely prepare prospective designers for the real world. After they have completed an interior design training program, new designers spend one to three years working as an apprentice in design firms under experienced designers’ supervision.
Many states in the United States offer professional licensure for interior designers. To be eligible for the license examination, candidates must have 6 years of combined professional and educational experience in interior design. After candidates pass the examination, they are granted the title, Certified, Registered, or Licensed Interior Designer (the title depends on the particular state offering licensure).
Another way designers improve their qualifications is by joining a professional organization. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the largest interior design organization in the United States. Interior designers with at least a two-year degree and work experience qualify for membership. Interior designers who are licensed or professional organization members indicate to employers and clients that they are dedicated to their craft.
Salary Range: $
13,440 — $93,000
Education Level (minimum):
Associate degree in art, design or similar
Growth Outlook (2002 – 2012):
10 – 20%
