Interior Designer

Education and Training : Bachelor’s degree in computer science
Average Salary: About $46,000 annually
Job Outlook: Good

Interior designing is a very interesting and creative field. In this field you get the chance to use your creativity and imagination to generate wonderful living and commercial environments. An interior designer is one who plans the design to change or improve the looks of a space by using creative implementations and makes the maximum usage of the available space.
Interior designers follow some simple steps to achieve their goals. First of all, interior designers meet the client to assess their requirements. Once the requirements are discussed, the work area is assessed and the planning begins. The choice of curtains, flooring, wallpaper, lighting, kind of furniture and at times structural alterations are also a part of their work. The goal of an interior designer is to make the space look luxurious, cozy, and elegant while taking into consideration the client’s requirements and budget.

Education and Training Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in interior designing is required. Many training programs are available from professional design schools or from colleges and universities which usually take 2 to 4 years to complete. A diploma course in interior designing from some reputed institute is also preferred. Since all the work is done on computers today, familiarity with CAD software is also a must.

Getting the Job

Along with a degree for the job of interior designer, one needs to have creativity, patience, determination, punctuality and self-discipline. Keeping up with the present market scenario, willing to accept new ideas and being able to adapt to changing trends, and having good communication skills are a real plus for this job.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook, and Career Development

Per the US Department of Labor statistics the interior design field is expected to grow faster than the average through the year 2016. These statistics offer a positive outlook for those seeking employment in the interior design field.

Working Conditions and Environment

Interior designers normally work for 40 hours a week, but at times they need to spend some extra time to meet client’s deadlines. Sometimes they have to travel to visit the clients and their sites. If you are an interior designer in some large design firm, you will most likely have more predictable hours, a more comfortable work environment and state-of-the-art equipment. If you are self-employed then you will most likely have more flexible hours, but you will need to find your own clients and connections.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for an interior designer is dependent on the factors like the choice of industry, experience, and the location. Those who work for suppliers of building materials are likely to make less money whereas those in the engineering or architectural fields make very good money. Salaried employees working for some reputed specialized firms have higher, more stable salaries, in comparison to those who work in retail stores.
The yearly salary for an inexperienced interior designer is about $30,000, which can increase up to $55,000 after six or seven years of experience. Those with the most experience in this industry can make $100,000 or more.

Where to Go for More Information

American Society of Interior Designers
608 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002-6006
Tel: (202) 546-3480
http://www.asid.org

International Interior Design Association
13-500 Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL 60654-1104
(888) 799-4432
http://www.iida.org

New York School of Interior Design
170 E70th St.
New York, NY 10021
(212) 472-1500
http://www.schoolofinteriordesign.org/new-york/new-york-school-of-interior-design.html