What Subjects are Needed to Become an Interior Designer inorder to either start your own interior design practice or work for an interior design studio. The subjects needed will depend on your career goals and objectives in becoming an Interior Designer, the time frame you wish to invest to become an Interior Designer and where you are at interms of career, age and education level.
Lets assume you are still in high school or secondary school and wish to prepare your courses or subjects inorder to enter into a more professional interior design program after high school graduation. In this case, you will ensure you are selecting the following general introductory level subjects (but not limited to) either in school or outside of school:
- free hand drawing
- basic level 2D computer graphics such as Photoshop, Illustrator etc.
- basic level 3D computer graphics such as 3D Max or related programs
- manual drafting
- computer aided drafting
- fine arts such as painting courses
- history of arts courses
- art appreciation courses
- basic math courses
- basic general design courses
- advertising or graphic design courses (if offered in your school)
- interior decorating (if offered in your school) or introductory to interior design courses
Most of the courses above generally will be offered at the secondary high school level as electives. Some schools may not offer all of the above courses, but 2 main subjects you should be taking are art and drafting classes and they should be sufficient to ensure you are ready for any professional interior design education after high school.
You may, however, take additional interest classes outside of school during evenings, weekends or during the summer holidays. By taking these general level subjects, they should be sufficient for you to prepare enough require materials for a portfolio that will be required for applying to a interior design program. Therefore, selecting the right subjects and knowing what Subjects are needed to become an Interior Designer is important while you are in secondary or high school.
Once you have graduated from high school or already graduated from high school or having plans to change career and is ready to prepare studies to become an Interior Designer, there are basically 3 routes available for you take and each route will offer you different type of interior design courses and subjects. The following are the optional 3 routes needed to become an Interior Designer.
Becoming an Interior Designer – Route 1
Route 1 to become an Interior Designer is to enter into an University or college interior design program which you will earn a university Degree upon graduation.
If you wish to spend 4-5 years full time study at an interior design college, there will be quite many courses you will be required to take inorder to graduate and become an Interior Designer. This route can be very costly and long and not all college interior design education are equal. Interior design subjects and the quality of the interior design education can vary form college to college. Some good and some bad.
Most college level interior design subjects and education focus mainly in theory and none to not enough the real world practical skills. You will spend 4-5 years in learning interior design theory. As a result, finding a job in an interior design office or even trying to open your own interior design practice will be very difficult upon graduation. Therefore, you may need years of work experiences inorder gain the practical skills and knowledge to become a experienced and efficient Interior Designer.
If you do decided to enter into an interior design college, courses will be selected for you and these courses will include the following:
- general drawing and sketching classes
- drawings classes related to interior design
- manual drafting (basic level)
- computer aided drafting (basic level)
- 2D and 3D computer graphics (basic level)
- presentation graphics
- professional practice
- interior design studio classes (these are the most important classes and you must pass these classes)
- general math
- literature
- history of interior design
- history of funiture
- interior design theory
- color theory
- material and finishes
The above subjects are the most common interior design subjects you will find in most interior design college education. Again, most of these subjects focus heavily on interior design theory rather they are history classes, materials and finishes or design classes.
In some college, you may have core courses and an option in selecting your other interior design subjects or courses for your interior design program. If this is the case, you will need to be careful what courses to select as this will affect your skills and starting your interior design career upon graduation. Again, knowing what Subjects are needed to become an Interior Designer is very important and sure that you request an outline of the entire subject and course break down from your chosen college prior to entering into the program.
Becoming an Interior Designer – Route 2
Route 2 to become an Interior Designer is to enter into a technical institute interior design program which you will earn either a certificate or diploma upon graduation. An interior design program in a technical institute normally is between 1-2 years long and much less costly.
Again, there are advantages and disadvantages in going to a technical institute. A technical institute interior design program can provide you a more general real world practical skills to become an Interior Designer and can get you a job once you have graduated as you are more technically trained and will be able to produce. Technical skills are more of a focus at an interior design technical institute. However, technical institute will fall short on design theory classes which also are important subjects to become an Interior Designer.
Some of the most common courses and subjects you will need to take in an interior design technical institute are but not limited t the following:
- interior design studio classes (more technically oriented)
- general math
- professional practice
- computer aided drafting (advanced level)
- 2D and 3D computer graphics (advanced level)
- presentation graphics
- professional practice
- general drawing and sketching classes
- drawings classes related to interior design
- construction and building systems
- various other technical classes
My experiences with working with technical institute train Interior Design is that they are possess highly technical skills and can produce drawings and design very efficiently. However, some do lack the advanced level design skills.
Becoming an Interior Designer – Route 3
The final route would be learning through self-taught. Fortunately for most interior design projects, if you have the skills and knowledge, you are able to provide interior design services.
The self-taught interior designer route is flexible and can and will cost you much less. If you are limited in budget, time or would like to see if interior design is right for you, this route can be a choice. However, selecting the right course and the right school will be important.
Some of the subjects and courses you should consider when selecting them are:
- design studio classes (focusing on real world projects and skills)
- learn both residential and commercial design projects
- focus on interior design and not interior decorating
- design theory
- design process
- technical skills
- professional practice
- real world business & consulting practice
- sales and marketing
- computer aided drafting
- graphic presentation
- construction management and administration
- project management
- drawings and sketches
- design diversifications
- construction
Becoming an Interior Designer Summary
Becoming an Interior Designer is a skill. You must be proficiency in both theory and real world skills. If you fall short in either one, you will not be able to function competently and efficiently as an Interior Designer. This is especially true if you wish to start your own interior design practice and have your clients. For many aspiring Interior Designers, the goal is to start their own interior design office.
Therefore, you must understand that what route you wish to enter into to become an Interior Designer and this will based on your future goals and objectives as an Interior Designer.
Overall, no matter which route you wish to take to become an Interior Designer, selecting and enrolling into the right interior design subjects and courses will allow you to be skillful and knowledgeable. These skills and knowledge you gained will eventually provide you the critical base to future learning and most importantly, your self-learning.
Remember, your interior design learning will never stop rather that taking classes or learning through your job(s). It does not matter if you have 5, 10 or 20 years of experiences, you should and will be learning new things as you progress into your interior design career.
Tips:
- select your route to become an Interior Designer
- while in school, try to gain skills and knowledge in both design theory and technical skills and not just focusing in only 1 area
- determine how much time you have to invest into your interior education
- determine how much money you wish to invest in your education ie: a 4-5 years interior design education can cost you $anywhere from $20,000 – $35,000
- a 1-2 years interior design education can cost you anywhere from $5,000 – $20,000
- self-taught studies can cost you anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to $5,000 depending on your approach
- keep learning
