INTERIOR DESIGN

WHAT IS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?

 

Interior designers are creative, imaginative and artistic. They also need to be disciplined, organized and skilled business people. Combining knowledge with aesthetic vision, interior designers work with clients and other design professionals to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, attractive and meet the needs of the people using the space.

 

As is the case with any career, the practice of interior design can be rewarding and fulfilling if hard work prevails. Excelling at interior design requires energy, technical proficiency, vision and dedication.

Interior designers work in a wide range of environments, including restaurants, hotels, stores, offices, airports, hospitals and homes. Surveys indicate that a majority of interior designers practice in several areas, although they tend to favor one or two. Many interior designers work primarily as residential designers.

 

Practitioners often contribute to design education as part-time educators or participants in studio critiques. Some interior designers become full-time educators, helping to train the next generation.

Interior designers also work as sales and marketing professionals in related industries. For example, an interior designer might be the sales and marketing representative for a major carpet manufacturer, providing product information to interior designers and architects.

 

AREAS OF DESIGN SPECIALTIES:

 

Commercial Interior Design - including office, retail, hospitality, restaurant, schools

 

Health Care Design - including hospital, health care facilities, health care residences

 

Residential Interior Design - including existing residences, remodels, and new home design

 

KEYS TO SUCCESS

 

As members of a service profession, interior designers’ fortunes depend on their ability to satisfy clients. Thus, they must understand artistic and technical requirements of a project, interpersonal communication, and management strategies.

Artistic and Technical Requirements

Interior designers must know how to plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client. Interior designers must also know about the materials and products that will be used to create and furnish the space, and how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make a space. In addition, interior designers must understand the structural requirements of their plans, the health and safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.

Interpersonal Communications
Interior designers must be comfortable meeting and dealing with many kinds of people. They must communicate clearly and effectively, as well as be attentive listeners. Because they often must work with architects, contractors and other service providers, interior designers need to be both good team leaders and good team players. They must be willing to negotiate and mediate when necessary to solve problems.

Management Strategies

Interior designers must have excellent time and project management abilities since they frequently work on more than one project at a time under demanding deadlines. Interior designers must understand business planning, and they need to know how to sell their ideas to clients, create informative and persuasive proposals and presentations, and maintain good client relationships.