Interior Design

If you’re interested in becoming an interior designer, there are a multitude of topics worth exploring before you get started. From getting some formal educational training and becoming nationally certified to learning the marketing basics necessary to start your own business, there is a ton of knowledge available that all aspiring designers should take the time to discover before diving in. To help you get started with your research, below we’ve outlined some answers to a few of the most common and important questions we’re asked by aspiring interior design professionals:

What Do Interior Designers Do?

On the most basic level, an interior designer is hired by clients to help envision, design and execute beautiful, aesthetically pleasing and functional living or working spaces. Interior Designers are hired every day across the globe to meet a number of different client needs in a variety of spaces- from homes and apartment redesigns to the development of large corporate workspaces or trendy restaurant interiors. From working in AutoCAD or hand drawing sketches of beautiful design visions to shopping for furniture and selecting the perfect matching paint, interior designers work from start to finish to ensure that a beautiful, practical space is created for their clients. In the video below, course subject matter expert Irwin Weiner gives aspiring design students a comprehensive answer to the question, “What does an interior designer do?”

Read the Video Transcript

So when can I ask you what your design philosophy? It's a little bit over the map. I must be honest about this sort of essentially, it goes like this. I feel that I really want to understand what my client's needs are. I want to understand what they wanted to their home. And I try and make a balanced strike a balance between their taste, their budget, and what the structure that I'm designing for, putting it all together. Yeah, I didn't feel that I have one particular look, like a fashion designer who has that look and you come to me for that look there, how designers who feel that and that's great. Yeah, they have a very, very strong Look. I'm out of one joule Look, I come to you, it's very easy it up. That's great. I really feel that I want my clients to feel comfortable in their, in their environments and to work for them and feel very proud of and also wanted to reflect the personality. Yes, I think that's really important that it's not just your stamp on it because it's hard sometimes to separate your own taste from the client's taste. But, you know, there is that give-and-take and obviously seen how you work and there is that compromise. Sometimes there were enough battles that you didn't fight with the client, but there are some that you kind of get into it, but at the same time you will not compromise if you absolutely believe this is the way to go, right? I will tell out to look like what I feel very strongly about what it enforces this out. Yes. But I do want to I want them to feel comfortable in their home and sometimes I haven't had a client once they're quite recently. And she said to me, I said, Well, I want to make the hub, your taste and your style and die. And she said to me, he said, well, I've got my style, a quick note tests. I don't know what I like. So I said, Well, I'll tell you what, I'll walk with you through the design building and I'll show you some magazine pictures and just tell me what you didn't like. Yes. I'm going to enter through that process of elimination exactly I could do. I could really very, very quickly once you sort of felt more relaxed. And I really she could, she could kind of explain what, what you didn't like. I could kinda put it together and are really kind of understood it. You're going to go to kind of read between the lines. Yeah. It's much like plugging anything, whether it's seeing a play like it gives us something Shakespeare or whatever it was, you put a really kind of see all the different stores and all the plot lines that are going on. Yeah, and also we have such great resources at our fingertips. I mean, for instance, recently we've seen where clients or e-mail as things have pictures or certain websites like Pinterest. Pinterest, they have various websites. I'm just sitting with a client I in a meeting with an iPad. It's just such a useful tool. I'm going to just use it putting images on all the time. And I think that that's been a huge, huge acid. And of course, I also draw a lot, which is very helpful. And I really want to encourage that because yes, even if it's like a stick figure drawing, it's just an added dimension to one's language says, we speak now we have, we can draw and also of course, the instant Internet to access Google images or anything like that. It's really very, very helpful. Yes. I'm what do you think has great design? I mean, what do you love about the profession of intending to say? What I really like about what about design? I like the changes. I think that the change is very, very challenging, especially as one gets older, you feel that you're going to be displaced by a younger generation and you know, and it's it's, you know, when I was younger, I didn’t think there was going to happen, but now I'm old, I really feel that I'm, so that's a little bit of a battle and I think there should always be mindful of that. So I think being aware of trends and trying to keep up with what's going around it you have to base on one step ahead, ugly. Absolutely. And and really not sort of find tips and not just, you know. That's why I think one thing that's very important is keeping ahead and also seeing inspiration in many different places, whether it's a movie or whether it's particular photograph or an art exhibition. Even if it's fashion, may view some of the European fashions. For example, you will see a scarf that's from a French fashion house, for example. And they will put very, very odd colors together and they're not so hung up on colors like we are in the United States with She's not a color right now. I'm on how to green was not a color right now. Or this particular blues sort of Robin's egg blue is such a big thing that it's going about to date. So there's this whole sort of this whole marketing thing. Whereas having an open mind and really sort of try to step ahead and not look at things, whether it's furniture or fabrics or colors that also driven by trend and yeah. Marketing, yes. And do you have a personal style that you could kind of put into words saying what your own I mean, aside from the clients, what your personal style. I try not to share my personal scientists hitting set up kind of illness. Don't want even see it for myself. I don't want my clients. I really want to encourage because I want encourage my clients to show me they started to really sort of work with them and vibrate off their style. I, myself is generally though I would say is I like things that are interesting, things that are kind of sculptural. I think that more and more I feel that that's sort of a word that I tend to is that if iTunes have a particular shape and a particular feel, that that resonates with you. Yes, I'm thought-provoking. Provoking shouldn't be some that I've seen everywhere. It should be something that has a unique aspect to it. I was told in design school and many years ago that behind every piece of bad design is something really good. And I think that that's something to be very mindful ofs. So before we sort of just miss something and say, well, that's tacky, well that's kitsch. To say that Bill behind it, there was something really, really quite fabulous and what is the essence of that? All right, I'll take it and take it back to their roots. Go back to the essence and not just dismiss a whole period or a particular genre or particularly anything. I just really to be, to look and to really be more open, open-minded, and to think.

What is Interior Design?

From furniture styles and fabrics to color palettes and lighting installations, there are many different facets of the interior design field, all worth getting some formal training in before you launch a legitimate career and start working with clients. Interior design is generally a combination of both creativity and technical skills. Applied within various structures- both residential and commercial, these aesthetic skills come together to create beautifully-designed indoor environments.

Read more about what interior design really is.

How Much is an Interior Designer's Salary?

Average wage for interior designers in 2014 based on location

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for interior designers in 2014 was around $50,000.

However, as is true of all industries, level of experience, formal educational training, certification as well as geographical and local demographic factors all play a key role in determining how much each individual interior designer may get paid. So if you work as an interior designer with clients in a more metropolitan area for example, you can expect to make closer to $100,000 per year, whereas designers in more rural parts of the world will likely make closer to the industry average mentioned above.

Highest average salary for interior designers based on location

Not only that, the specific type of interior design work you do will have an impact on your salary as well. For example, interior designers who work in the architecture and engineering industry specifically have the highest annual median wage according to the BLS’s research.

Learn more about where interior designers make the most money across different sectors of the industry.

See how much you might get paid in your area.

Do I Need An Interior Design Degree?

No you do not. While some colleges and universities offer full, 4-year long undergraduate degree programs in the field of interior design, by no means are designers required to invest that much time and money into formal training in order to get started.

The large majority of working interior design professionals in the industry did not complete a 4-year degree program before getting started, and instead opted for equally comprehensive but less intensive interior design training courses instead.

For students of NYIAD, courses can be completed online and from anywhere in the world as long as students have access to the internet and some extra time they can devote to their studies. As soon as students enroll, they receive an email from the school with login information and a link where they can click to login to the online learning center and begin studying.

The course itself includes video, audio, and text lessons that can be reviewed at the student’s preferred pace. At the end of each unit, our students also complete a project that is then submitted to the school and evaluated by our network of interior design mentors. Without having to spend four years in school and tens of thousands of dollars, our course allows students to become certified, employable, well-trained designers in less than a year.

Read a full outline of NYIAD's interior design course curriculum.

Can I Get Certified In Interior Design?

In addition to an interior design education, many students also feel more comfortable and prepared if they also get certified by a larger industry organization.

While this is by no means required of designers looking to start a business, it is simply an industry credential that can be used to gain experience, showcase expert training and bolster a resume.

For those interested in pursuing the certification route, note that the NYIAD interior design course has been completely certified by the Designer Society of America, an industry organization made specifically for all professional designers and trade partners.

Average wage for inteior designers in 2014 based on location

With a membership of nearly 32,000 designers, showroom hosts and other industry members, DSA is a respected design community open to residential interior designers, space planners, kitchen and bath designers, re-designers, and the trade companies that serve them. Not only does membership help set apart more well-trained designers from the competition, but it also offers a multitude of networking opportunities, consultations, and individual promotion.

Every NYIAD Interior Design Student and Graduates is eligible for DSA's Residential Interior Design Qualification Certification (RIDQC).

Learn more about how to purse your interior design certification.

Do Interior Designers Need to Complete Internships?

Although interior designers are not required to complete formal internships as part of their educational training, working hands-on in the field is an invaluable experience that we highly recommend students take advantage of if given the opportunity.

When it comes to determining whether a certain career path is the right fit for you, there’s nothing like actually having the chance to try working in the field in real life to help you determine how you feel about a line of work.

Browse NYIAD’s guide on interior design internships or interior design apprenticeships.

What’s the Difference between an Interior Design Certificate and Diploma?

There are no requirements for interior designers to receive a college or university diploma in order to start their own business, get hired at design firms, or start working with clients. The only case in which a diploma may be required is if you're looking to do extremely large-scale design projects for commercial clients (think a large corporate office in a metropolitan area).

Essentially, asking whether it’s required for an interior designer to have a university degree is similar to asking whether you need a writing degree in order to be a writer. While investing in a college education in writing (or design) is no doubt a rewarding pursuit, it’s also expensive and time consuming- and countless writers have successful, rewarding careers without one. In creative fields such as these, it's more of a personal choice.

What Kind of Interior Design Job Opportunities Are There?

There are a multitude of niche interior designer jobs available to creative professionals looking to find the right fit.

One option for students to consider after graduating is to work under the guidance of a larger, already established local designer. Within this role, which is referred to as “design associate” you would handle specific projects under the larger umbrella in association with that firm’s name (like completing projects on their behalf). If this is a starting place that sounds right for you, we recommend that you approach the head designer of a local firm you’re interested in and offer him or her a proposal. It’s important that you emphasize your genuine interest in getting some guidance and supervision as well as describe why you wanted to work at this firm specifically.

Another career route involves working as a “resident designer” of sorts who works within a furnishing or home goods store. Within this role, you would work as a sort of “design consultant” who helps clients pick out pieces and arrange them nicely in whatever given space they’re looking to update, all the while helping the store you work for increase sales. Sometimes in this role, you’ll have an office or desk space within the store itself, but will often travel to clients’ homes to actually walk around the space and help develop a design vision before you help them shop.

Beyond that, one of the most common career paths chosen by NYIAD students is to simply launch your own interior design business. When running your own business, you will not be limited by the direction of upper management dictating who you work with and to what extent you’ll be involved. As the director of your own firm, you can find clients of your own, draw up your own interior design agreements and execute all the planning entirely independently.

What's the Difference between Residential and Commercial Design?

Residential designers are designers who plan and decorate spaces inside of client homes. Most often, residential designers also specialize in an additional niche of residential design. For example, you might be a residential interior designer with a specialization in kitchen decorating or custom furniture design.

Residential designers can also make larger scale recommendations to their clients- things like the addition or elimination of entire walls, installation of a skylights, maybe new flooring and floor design, trim work, an exciting light installation- the list goes on.

Read more about the difference between residential and commercial interior design

Commercial designers on the other hand plan and design business places- offices, small local businesses, restaurants, stores, etc. Similar to residential designers, commercial designers also often choose a specialization. For example, if you are a commercial designer and have been practicing for a number of years, completing different projects for different clients, you might find you prefer restaurant redesign projects, and declare it as your specialty.

What Should I Include in My Interior Design Resume?

In addition to developing an interior designer resume that lists where you’ve gone to school, when you graduated, which interior design certifications you’ve earned and any design projects you’ve completed in the past, it’s also crucial for you to create a beautiful portfolio showcasing your work. One of the most important things every aspiring creative professional needs to do when it comes time to apply for jobs or approach new clients is to develop a cohesive, organized interior design portfolio.

How to Make an Interior Design Portfolio

Traditionally, a portfolio like this would be some type of loose-leaf presentation you could walk through with your potential employers or your interested clients. This should include pictures of your work as well as any type of publicity write-ups or happy client testimonials you could offer for reinforcement of your capabilities and knowledge. It should also always include a copy of your New York Institute of Art and Design Certificate of Graduation at the end to reinforce the fact that you are a formally educated professional. Some designers use leather or plastic-bound portfolio cases filled with laminated copies of all these credentials.

If you’re more interested in modernizing your portfolio, you could also scan images of your sketches and develop a magazine-style layout of your process (sketches, layouts, finished work, etc.). With this method, you can create one collage-type layout, print multiple copies of it and have the ability to leave said copies with individual clients as you meet new people.

Finally, you can also digitally place your portfolio on your website, social media or blog if you’re active on any of these three. If you’re developing a website to showcase your portfolio, we recommend that you divide your work into categories differentiating all the different jobs you have completed, specifically featuring key whole-room and vignette shots.

How to Start an Interior Design Business

If you’re seriously interested in starting your own interior design business, it’s important to first develop the comprehensive knowledge necessary in order to call yourself an industry expert and start professionally consulting with paying clients. From historical design trends and color theory to furniture styles and fabrics, there is a multitude of information you’ll need to master as a capable, proficient designer in the industry.

Read more about the formal educational interior design training needed to start a legitimate career.

How Do I Find Interior Design Clients?

Once you’ve completed an interior design course or certification program and you’re ready to dive in and start working, it can be daunting to consider how you’ll actually find people around your area that will employ your services.

NYIAD’s interior design course has an entire final section of the curriculum entirely devoted to training our students on the marketing and business skills necessary to develop a working client base. In our Promotion and Sales Techniques unit for example, we talk things like developing a portfolio and creating your first professional website. Not only that, we’ll go over all the intricate details of effective marketing and promotion as we teach you to get your first legitimate business on its feet.

Read a full outline of the interior design business unit of our course.

How Do I Develop Interior Design Contracts With Those Clients?

Once you’ve developed all the marketing skills necessary to find new clients for your business, it’s also crucial for you to effectively draw up professional contracts with said buyers. Without this formal, written agreement, payment coordination can become sloppy and complicated, miscommunications can take place, and the business aspect of the transaction could quickly become incoherent and disorganized, making your life as a businessperson more complicated and potentially damaging your reputation among new clients.

Generally, there are 5 key things all designers need to consider when forming first letters of agreement. Browse a list of the best points to include in your interior design contract.

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