Other similar questions answered in this section are:
- How to Become an Interior Designer?
- How to be an Interior Designer?
- How to get into interior design?
- What does an Interior Designer do?
- Becoming an Interior Designer?
In order to learn how to become an Interior Designer, you have to understand the complete interior design process as well as the construction, financial and property development related issues. Possess knowledge and skills to conduct interior design development, project feasibility study, design applications, due diligence, organize project plan, setup project scope, project management, conduct meetings, contract documentations, construction administrations and understand property and project economics, i.e. construction cost, total project cost, project cost assessments, project budgets and etc.
Unlike other interior design programs and many are lack of, our interior design training combines theory and practical hands-on skill and work on real world interior design projects so you can get the best training
Before we find out, about how to become an Interior Designer, we should first understand…
What is Interior Design?
First, it is important to clearly understand that Interior Designer is not an Interior Decorator. Yes, in some ways, both deals with space and provide a certain level of decoration into a given space. However, being an Interior Designer or learning how to become an Interior Designer is much more then just decorating. Lets take a look what interior design is in more details.
Interior Design is a process that is both, a science and an art incorporating a large number of interrelated & interdependent parts that come together to respond to the demand and needs of an interior design development project and the goals and objectives of the client(s).
An Interior design Development project can only be successful when the Interior Designer i.e. the Interior Designer team uses his/hers design and creative problem solving skills to identify the problems, solve it and have met the intent of the design and the objectives of the project.
At Coursesoo Design Academy, our interior design courses are practical and hands-on providing you a training that reflects the real world practice of interior design
Interior design services is an industry where many businesses owners, entrepreneurs, individuals etc rely on to start and built their business. Comparing to many other professions, interior design is one of the best profession providing you job satisfaction, unlimited income potentials, job security etc. This is particular true when you operate your own interior design consulting business. You can pursue to be an Interior Designer around the year and through all market conditions – as long as you know how to change gears in your interior design business.
An Interior Designer must be ready to put their skills to test and sometimes need to make hard and swift decisions inorder to complete a project. Thanks for the internet and its technology, Interior Design training is now accessible to anyone and individuals who is interested in learning how to become an Interior Designer.
10 Steps on How to Become an Interior Designer
Step 1: Become an Interior Designer or an Interior Decorator?
Alot of beginning interior design students do not understand the differences between an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator. It is important to understand the differences in-terms of their individual role, their work, responsibility and career path etc. So, the very first step prior to the start of your interior design education and training is to determine rather you wish to become an Interior Designer or an Interior Decorator.
This is the time to do some research work.
Step 2: Select the Type of Interior Design training program
There are various training route you can choose from inorder to become an Interior Designer. ie: attending an in-class interior design training program such as at a college or University, online interior design training, self-study, mentorship, related interior design employment or combination of them.
If you are not sure if learning how to be become an Interior Designer is right for you or not sure if you wish to invest the require time or money in an education program, you can try a training program that is short with low tuition fees first. Once you have learn more about interior design and are interested in this profession, then you can invest more time and money in to learning how to become an Interior Designer.
Step 3: Start Your Interior Design Training
Once you have chosen the type of Designer you wish to be and the type of interior design training route you like to be enrolled in, you can now commence your education and/or training. It is recommended to select the combination training route as this method of training can provide you the maximum learning experiences.
Remember, if you have the passion and the persistence to learn how to become an Interior Designer, you can gain alot more during your interior design education process.
Step 4: Gain Work Experiences in the Field of Interior Design During Your Training Program
During your interior design program, it is important to start gaining real world experiences. You can start doing this by finding contract or part time employment in a related interior design industry rather that is an interior design sales rep, a junior designer, a drafts person or even as a receptionist in an interior design firm etc. Many beginning interior design students also start to provide freelancing work for clients.
Once you are able to find any type of real world experiences, you should not worry so much of the monetary return but more importantly, the exposure and experiences you can gain from it.
Step 5: Start Planning Your Career
Alot of things should be under consideration during your interior design education from trying to gain real world experiences to planning your career. As an Interior Designer, you are planning all the time. Planning is one of the important task for an Interior Designer rather that is design related tasks or project management tasks etc.
All beginning interior design students should start planning their career during their learning how to become an Interior Designer training program. Students should be thinking and planning how they see themselves 3 or 5 years from now and then 10 years from now etc within their interior design practice. This planning exercise may include opening your own design practice, becoming an interior design consultant, start an interior design product business, or focusing on commercial or residential projects etc.
The intention of this exercise is to kick-start your thinking about your career path and this initial career planning will change as you progress through your interior design journey.
Step 6: Create a Portfolio of Your Work
As you go through your interior design education, you will need to start putting together a body of work into a portfolio. This portfolio will then consist of documentation of your best work while in training. Most importantly, this portfolio will be presented to your future employer during a job interview.
When preparing your portfolio, you should include sketches, drawings, draftings, renderings, models and completed design projects. Also ensure your portfolio is at a size that is viewable.
Step 7: Work for an Interior Design Studio
Unless you wish to start your own interior design firm or consulting practice right out of your training program, for many, it is quite common to work for an interior design firm or related interior design industry inorder to gain some real project experiences.
Working in the real world with real practical project experiences should also be considered as part of your interior design training as well inorder to learn how to become an Interior Designer.
Step 8: Freelance as an Interior Designer
As you progress through Rather you are employed with an interior design firm or are working in a related field such as interior design product sales or furniture design etc, it is often a good idea to start freelancing on the side inorder to start gain consulting experiences and also starting to build up your clientele.
Freelancing is an valuable experiences as you will learn how to build client relationship, coordinate and manage projects, billing, marketing and running an interior design practice etc. Of course, freelancing will no doubt bring in more income but it can become very profitable as well.
Step 9: Start Your Own Interior Design Consulting Firm
Starting your own interior design firm or consulting business is one of the most seeked career path for many Interior Designers. Having your own interior design practice not only can provide you much personal freedom and design creativity, it can also be very profitable as well.
Another advantage of running your own consulting firm is that you get select your projects and client types. Moreover, you also to have your own clients and be able to build on that relationship into the future.
However, not all Interior Designers want to own their own firm but running a consulting practice on the side can also be very beneficial as well.
Step 10: Continue Learning and Upgrade Your Skills
Doesn’t how successful you are as an Interior Designer, always be humble, be a good communicator, build relationships and this can take you to unlimited potential in the interior design world. Moreover, never stop learning and upgrading your skills. Always remember, every project is a learning experience.
How to become an Interior Designer Summary
- plan, plan and plan your career
- have passion for interior design and becoming an Interior Designer
- always keep learning even after you think you have completed your training
- be humble, be persistence, be patience and you will succeed
- be a good communicator
- receive sufficient training with real world experiences and knowledge prior finishing your interior design training
- learn to build relationship and keep them
- learn management including project management
- enjoy working individually as well as in a team environment
- enjoy both the arts and the science
- learning how to be an Interior Design is not hard. Be patient, be persistent, be open minded and always have a beginner’s mind and you will be on your way to succeed as an Interior Designer
