The professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior designers. For the purpose of improving quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public, the professional interior designer:
- Analyzes the client’s needs, goals, and life and safety requirements
- Integrates findings with knowledge of interior design
- Formulates preliminary design concepts that are appropriate, functional and aesthetic
- Prepares working drawings and specifications for non-load bearing interior construction, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures and equipment
- Collaborates with licensed practitioners who offer professional services in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical, and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval
- Prepares and administers bids and contract documents as the client’s agent
- Reviews and evaluates design solutions during implementation and upon completion
Skills - Drawing
- Rendering
- Architectural principles
- Structural engineering
- CAD skills
- Space planning
- Budgeting<
- Self-motivation
- Research
- Good 3-D conceptualization
- Strong sense of color, shape and texture
- Ability to anticipate fashion/style trends
Avenues Interior designers usually work for design or architectural firms, department stores and home furnishing stores, or hotel and restaurant chains.
Occupations and areas of specialization CAD specialist, commercial interior design, display/exhibition design, hospitality design, product design, professional rendering, residential interior design, showroom management, space planning, specifications writer/journalist, stage design
Working conditions Interior designers generally work under deadlines and often work overtime to finish a job. Independent consultants, who are paid by assignment, are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones to maintain their incomes.
Potential earnings - Designer, engineering or architectural firm, average $40,710
- Designer, entry-level, average $30,000
- Designer, mid-level, range $35,000–40,000
- Designer, range $50,000–55,000
- Principal or partner in top firm, range $75,000–100,000
Employment outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of designers of all types is likely to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. Well prepared interior designers will have business skills as well as excellent skills in rendering, hand drafting and CAD, space planning, furniture and materials specifications, strong sense of color and shape, and 3-D conceptualization.
Marketability Excellent skills in rendering, hand-drafting and CAD, space planning, furniture and materials specification, a strong sense of color and shape, and 3-D conceptualization must be exhibited in an interior designer’s portfolio. Interior designers must pay attention to detail and establish a good reputation and work ethic, gain work experience and pursue certification.
Some Employers of SCAD alumni Beyer and Associates Inc.; Blue Design Co. Inc.; Boston Design Center; Boyles Distinctive Furniture; Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors; Brunschwig and Fils; Charleston Magazine; Cooper Carry; Corporate Concepts; CSD People Architecture; Culpepper, McAuliffe and Meaders Inc.; Design Continuum Inc.; Ellerbe Becket International; Ethan Allen; Expo Design Center; FRCH Design Worldwide; Furstenwerth + Bagley Design; G. Michaels; Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation; Heery International; Hirsch Bedner Associates Inc.; I.B.C. Designs; Intermarine Savannah; John Wieland Homes; Jones and Associates Inc.; Kohler; Lieber, Cooper and Associates; Open Plans System; NBBJ; Renaldo Design Co.; Reynolds Fisher; Rider Design Group; Scotland Design Associates Ltd.; Smith Group; Storey Kenworth Company; Taylor Woodrow Communities; Theriault’s; The Design Firm; Travis & Co.; Tuskegee University; Walter E. Smith; Winds Fashions; Wright, McGraw, Beyer Architects
Professional organizations/Web sites - (Contact the career services department for the user name and password.)
Periodicals, books and employer directories in the career services library - International Directory of Design: Interior and Furniture Design (2000). Penrose Publishing, San Francisco, Calif.
- Profile: The Sourcebook of U.S. Architectural Design Firms (2002). Construction Market Data, Norcross, Ga.
Sources - Occupational Outlook Handbook
- National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey
- National Council for Interior Design Qualification/Definition of Interior Design
- ASID Web site/earnings
General disclaimer The career avenues and occupations are not limited to the career options listed above. The skills outlined may be applicable to many different occupations that are not listed.
