What education is needed to become an Interior Designer inorder to practice interior design? There are various ways you can become an Interior Designer. For many, the obvious way is to first attend an interior design school, then after completing your education, work for an interior design office to gain the experiences. This is the most common route to become an Interior Designer. Lets first take a look at the different type of interior design schools that you can get an education needed to become an Interior Designer. After that, we can talk about the type of courses that should be taken inorder to become an Interior Designer.
University or College Education
If you are just straight out of high school, what education is needed to become an Interior Designer? Going to University or College to study and get an education in interior design is probably one of the common way to become an Interior Designer. Tuition fees at the University level can range from $5,000 – $10,000+ USD per year with minimum 4-5+ years of full time study. Therefore, a large amount of money and time investment are required for this type of education.
Most University level interior design education will focus on academics, conceptual thinking and theory based training instead of hands-on practical training or even fully solving design problem skills. Classes are more selective and diversified in an University environment. English literature, language course, social science courses, liberal arts courses and various other elective courses etc may be required as a apart of the interior design program.
To some individuals who is looking for possibility of a career change or wanting to learn an additional skill, this educational training route can be costly and time consuming especially when there are other obligations in one’s life such as family and a full time job etc.
Universities and Colleges offer primary offer degree programs.
Career School, Technical School or Vocational/Trade school Education
Technical or Vocational schools also offer interior design program and their training is normally focused on the more technical aspects of interior design such as technical drafting, building code study, building systems and etc. Therefore more practical and hands-on and less theory or conceptual thinking.
Tuition fees and time investments are usually much less compare to an University or a College. Tuition fees is usually a few thousand dollars (USD) per year. Normally, the time invested for the interior design education will be anywhere from 1 year to 3 years of full time study.
Interior design courses offered by technical or vocational schools are more focused and less diversified. Courses will primary be focused in the technical aspect of interior design.
Technical Schools or Vocational schools normally offer certificate, diploma and associate degree programs.
What education is needed to become an Interior Designer will depend on your finance and how much time you can invest into your interior design education
Special Interest Schools Education
These types of schools are neither the standard University or Technical schools and are usually smaller in size compare to University or Technical schools. Most of the time, Special Interest schools usually are private schools and tuition fees can be abit expensive ranging anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $10,000+ USD.
Interior design Program length is normally few months to 1 year long of full time study. Part time study may also be available.
Special Interest schools offer both certificate and diploma programs.
Online Education
With the internet and online Interior Designer education, becoming an Interior Designer is much more easier, less expensive and less time consuming. Tuition fees can range from less then a hundred dollar USD to a few hundred dollars USD with a flexible schedule part time or full time study. Program usually can be finished in from a few weeks, few months to 6 months.
When choosing online education to become an Interior Designer, beginning students should be careful when choosing any online interior design programs. Currently, many online interior design education are for interior decorating and not for interior design.
Online education can be a good start to try out interior design to see if you are interested in the industry as tuition fees and time required will be much less.
Online interior design schools offer both certificate and diploma programs.
At Coursesoo Interior Design Academy, we offer an affordable hands-on practical online interior design education program with a flexible schedule
Self -Learning Education
One of the most affordable and less time consuming option to become an Interior Designer is self-learning or self-studying. This learning method will provide the most flexibility in-terms of time investment and financial investment.
When beginning interior design students choose self-learning as their primary interior designer education and inorder to get the most out of your education, it is recommended to combine other learning method such as online learning etc to your self-learning education. This way, you can still maintain the flexibility and at the same maximize the learning of interior design.
With self-learning, students must carefully plan out their study materials and/or courses and to ensure the learning materials and courses will provide hands-on and practical training in interior design.
What Education is Needed to Become an Interior Designer Summary
- first, decide if you wish to become an Interior Decorator or an Interior Designer
- understand each learning method require different level of time and financial investments
- the least expensive training method are online learning and self-learning
- the most ideal learning method is a combination of learning methods
- ensure your interior design education consist of hands-on practical training
- online learning and self-learning is a good way to try out interior design as your investment required will be low
