Interior Designer
What is the work like?
Interior designers plan and organise the design and decoration of the inside of both new and existing buildings. This can include private houses and buildings such as offices, hotels, restaurants and shops.
Your work as an interior designer would typically involve:
- meeting with clients to discuss their requirements and ideas
- developing a design that suits the needs of the client, the available budget and the type of building
- preparing initial sketches for the approval of the client
- advising on colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
- working out costs and preparing estimates
- developing initial sketches into detailed drawings, usually on a computer.
You may also recommend people to carry out the work on site, and supervise their progress.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will need a high level of design skill. In practice this would usually mean completing an art- or design-based BTEC HND or degree. Several universities offer interior design courses - visit the British Interior Design Association (BIDA) website for a list.
Other useful subjects include fine art, 3-D design and architecture. Entry requirements for courses vary, so you should check with colleges and universities.
You will need a portfolio of examples of your design work to show to potential employers and clients.
The key to finding work is to get as much experience, and make as many contacts as possible. Unpaid work experience will give you the chance to develop your portfolio, make contacts and impress potential employers.
Competition for work experience is strong so you will need to be determined and proactive. You can find contact details for design companies and agencies from the members' lists of design organisations such as the Chartered Society of Designers, or from industry directories. See the BIDA website for details of specialist recruitment agencies.
As a starting point you could develop practical skills by doing qualifications such as the following:
- City & Guilds Level 1 (7722) and Level 2 (7822) in Design and Craft
- City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate (7922) and Diploma (7923) in Design and Craft
- BTEC National Certificate and Diploma courses in Art and Design
- ABC Diploma in Interior Design.
You can also do short courses in various aspects of interior design, such as upholstery, decorating techniques and Feng Shui, at many colleges.
The ABC Level 3 Award in CAD Skills for Interior Design is available at some colleges.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working as an interior designer, you could develop your skills and progress in your career by doing further training. You may be able to do relevant short courses at colleges or with private providers. You could also do postgraduate degrees and diplomas in specialised areas of interior design and related subjects.
It would be useful to join professional bodies such as the British Interior Design Association and the Chartered Society of Designers, as this would give you access to advice, opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD), and industry contacts.
Where can I go for more information?
London
SE1 1RQ
Helpline: 0800 093 0444
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Junior designers can earn around £15,000 to £20,000 a year.
- Experienced interior designers can earn up to and over £25,000.
- Designers with a lot of experience can earn over £45,000.
Freelance designers set their own hourly rates.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You may need to work long, irregular hours, which could include evenings and weekends.
You would usually be based in a studio, but would also spend a lot of time visiting clients and sites. You might have to spend short periods of time away from home.
As a freelance designer, you may work from home, share offices or rent a studio.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- creativity
- practical skills
- excellent organisational skills, for working on several projects at once
- drawing and computer-aided design (CAD) skills
- an understanding of building and safety regulations
- knowledge of products, properties of materials, and architectural history
- effective communication skills, for working with suppliers, contractors and clients
- the ability to work out costs and keep within budgets
- business skills if working freelance.
What opportunities are there?
You could be employed by retail outlets, interior design consultancies or architectural practices.
Some vacancies are not advertised, so it is essential that you make contacts, for example by attending trade fairs and joining professional organisations.
Many interior designers are freelance (either completely self-sufficient or under contract to a design agency) and build up their business through word of mouth, so there are limited formal vacancies and competition is strong.
You could use your experience in terior design to move into other related work, such as theatre set design, visual merchandising or exhibition design.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Design WeekCreative Review
mad.co.uk
Design Jobs
British Design Innovation
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