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Interior Designers

 

Job Description

Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

 

Interests

The Arts - High scorers on The Arts scale usually:

• prize independence
• enjoy creative activities such as music, writing, entertainment, and art
• appreciate the artistic works of others in museums, theatres, and books
• actively seek opportunities for self expression

Business - Business people usually:

• see themselves as skilled with words
• seek careers where they can lead others
• enjoy convincing others to think the way they do
• can persuade others to buy their products

Crafts - High scorers on the Crafts scale usually:

• prefer to work with tools and objects rather than with people and words
• like to build things
• want to see practical results from their work
• enjoy mechanical activities
• like work that requires physical strength

 

Tasks

People in this occupation usually engage in these work activities:

1.  Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.

2.  Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, and purpose and function.

3.  Advise client on interior design factors such as space planning, layout and utilization of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.

4.  Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art works, and accessories.

5.  Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.

6.  Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.

7.  Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.

8.  Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.

 

Skills

People in this occupation usually describe themselves as having these abilities:

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

 

Knowledge

People in this occupation usually describe themselves as having education or training in these areas:

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

 

Education / Training

Because computer-aided design is increasing common, many employers expect new designers to be familiar with its use as a design tool. For example, interior designers use computers to create numerous versions of interior space design, making it possible for a client to see and choose among several designs.

Beginning designers usually receive on-the-job training and normally need 1 to 3 years of training before they can advance to higher-level positions.

Interior design is the only design field subject to government regulation with 19 states and the District of Columbia requiring interior designers to be licensed or registered.

A college degree, especially a bachelor's, is recommended for most entry level interior designer positions. A liberal arts education, with courses in merchandising, business administration, marketing, and psychology, along with training in art, is recommended for interior designers who want to freelance.

 

Instructional Programs

Interior Design - A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional planning, designing, equipping, and furnishing residential and commercial interior spaces. Includes instruction in computer applications drafting and graphic techniques; principles of interior lighting, acoustics, systems integration, and color coordination; furniture and furnishings; textiles and their finishing; the history of interior design and period styles; basic structural design; building codes and inspection regulations; and applications to office, hotel, factory, restaurant and housing design.

 

Wages

In 2016, the US annual wage range for Interior Designers was between:

$36,760 - $68,340

 

Outlook

It is anticipated that in 2022, employment for Interior Designers will number 61,900.

There will be an increase of 700 new positions annually (1.28%). This means that this occupation is growing about as fast as average.

 

Similar Jobs

This is a list of jobs in which the workers share many of the same Interests, tasks, skills, knowledge, and education/training as Interior Designers

Commercial and Industrial Designers - Develop and design manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.
Fashion Designers - Design clothing and accessories. Create original garments or design garments that follow well established fashion trends. May develop the line of color and kinds of materials.
Graphic Designers - Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
Set and Exhibit Designers - Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Floral Designers - Design, cut, and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage.