Lighting, texture, layout, and hues, if you think you have a knack with these creative elements then this blog is for you! If you are someone who is passionately willing to join the interior design field, you might have many questions like what are the key responsibilities of an interior designer? What are the best interior design schools? What are the various areas of interior design? What is the eligibility to enroll in an interior design course? What is the average salary of an interior designer? What are the prospects of an Interior Design course?
Before you get convinced in making a life-changing career decision, you need to know a few things about interior design that exists beyond these simpler concerns. Read the blog to learn the top 10 things in regards to pursuing a career in interior design.
1. Knowledge to differentiate between Interior Designer and Interior Decorator
We often mistake interior decorators with designers. As a professional, it’s crucial for you to know the exact difference between interior designers and interior decorators! The categories between the duo vary to a wide degree due to education, skill, and responsibility.
Anyone with decorating skill and creativity for colors, textures, fabrics can become an interior decorator. On the contrary, an accredited education of at least an associate or a fulltime bachelor’s degree with experience in the design field is required to become an interior designer.
2. Have a knack for Design
To excel in the interior design field, you need to have basic skills for spatial formations, textiles, colors, architectures. If you love modifying the interior spaces and get highly praised for the same, then interior design is definitely for you. The best step to succeed in a career is to follow your passion. If you love designing interiors, then go for it.
3. Interior Design is more than Fabric and Recreation
Fabrics, furnishings, setups, and shades! While these things are an integral part of interior design, yet, there still exist more elements that seem more like work and less like a creative venture. Interior designers need to be well informed about the history of design, the setup type of the building, spatial concepts, psychology, building codes, ergonomics, ethics including computer-aided drawing (CAD), etc. Education and experience are a must in becoming a successful Interior Designer.
4. Meager Payscale at the beginning of your career
The salary of the entry-level interior designer varies depending on the project that one works with. The salary of the newly graduated interior designers differs on the basis of education, industry experience, location, and the stability of the employer/corporation. For example, an interior designer working for a high-end architectural enterprise gets paid more than the one that works for the furniture company.
5. The necessity to be a People Person
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to the interiors of a home. The interior designers have to come across many clients with their particular choices for their homes. Being an interior designer, you should be able to understand the preferences of the clients and as well as their doubts. You should have the capability to please the clients and should be able to advise with any plan in particular that can bring out a promising result. While many clients have specific preferences in their minds while others don’t. So as a professional you should be able to balance your design ethics with the demands of your clients.
6. The need to Develop a Portfolio
The best way to get started with the industry is to create your portfolio. No matter how much knowledge and experience you hold, the best way to demonstrate your skills and interior design projects, your accomplishments in the job market is though a brilliant portfolio. An attractive and convincing portfolio attracts promising and lucrative opportunities with better paychecks. A portfolio not only showcases your skills but also serves as a proficient blueprint to convince potential clients with your capabilities.
7. Cut-throat competition in Interior Design Industry
Interior design is a rapidly evolving sector. The competition in the job market is cut-throat as Interior Design is one of the most sought after careers of the modern age. To thrive in this industry, you need to have the proper education and an unceasing desire to evolve with the trends and demands in the market. Being dynamic in every aspect, the industry expects you to open up for new learnings especially about the constantly changing interior design trends. Hard work along with creativity is required to stay ahead of the competition. It’s better to share knowledge and as well learn from your mentors and colleagues. The more you learn, the more you grow.
8. Getting hired through Virtual Platforms
While talking about getting employed amid the pandemic, interior designers can get hired from anywhere, irrespective of their geographical location. Due to the rise of the virtual technologies, interior designers can actually experience a rare and innovative world of virtual design! Nowadays, there are lots of high-end textile firms that assist the clients to get access to the best interior designers at the best value through virtual forums. Even though there is a wide range of free virtual design tools for the general lot, it’s the interior designers that hold a great advantage over them.
9. Mandatory learnings on Local Laws and Codes
Learnings on Laws and Codes may not excite you, but it is an indispensable part of the interior design strategy. Education segregates an Interior Designer from an Interior Decorator. Learnings on local laws, building codes, electricity, load-bearing walls, plumbing codes may decrease your enthusiasm, but it is crucial for you to have knowledge about the said subjects. An unwavering focus should be given to learnings so as to gain knowledge and develop skills that are required in a top-notch interior design professional.
10. Clients are always Superiors
You may be a well-educated, apt interior design expert with an excellent taste. Yet it does not mean that your clients should approve of your personal choices! Remember to listen and understand their needs first. Throughout your career, you will work with different people with varied preferences. You may design 100 different interiors for varied clients but you will never design a house of your own taste for any of them. Your task as an interior designer is to assist your client with one specific choice without making them feel inferior. After all, it’s about what suits their taste and style. Their comfort and satisfaction matter over your personal taste always.
If you are genuinely thinking about a career in interior design, then consider these 10 things before you actually jump into conclusions. The field is dynamic and the competition is cut-throat! But success is certain! All you need is a little determination and hard work to rise at the top!