Interior Designer Job Description Information

A career in interior design requires more than imagination. An individual must understand fire and building codes and how to read blueprints and architectural details. An interior designer may specialize in environmental, residential or commercial design, such as for restaurants or health care buildings. The designer may focus on kitchens, indoor gardens or closets. From concept to finished product---no matter the field---an interior designer needs the education, skills and licensure to be successful.

 

Designer's Role

• A designer combines aesthetics, function and safety to any project. The designer knows how to create plans that include furniture, colors and lighting to make any space---large or small---magnificent and pleasing to the eye. An impressive design can boost a designer's career, increase a building's market value or increase employees' work productivity.

Interior Designer's Duties

• The interior designer meets with clients to understand their wishes and needs, which is called programming, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This may include asking clients about their style preferences, such as contemporary, and their budget. The designer envisions a design plan based on the clients' budget and needs. The plan includes materials, lighting and furniture. Then the interior designer creates the plan using the computer-aided design software. The designer presents the plan along with the date the project will be finished.

Skills

• A designer brings diverse skills to an interior design career such as creativity, artistry and imagination, according to American Society of Interior Design. The designer must have excellent communication skills and the ability to clearly explain design choices and listen to clients' concerns. Also, an interior designer needs to be comfortable working with different types of clients and professionals such as architects. Knowledge about products and materials such as colors and textures is required. Problem-solving and negotiating skills are a must.

Education, Training and Licensure

• An interior designer should have an associate's or bachelor's degree. The program must be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design or the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Universities, design schools or colleges offer interior design programs, which take two to four years to finish.
  An individual with a bachelor's degree in interior design may enter an apprenticeship program, which takes about three years and offers work experience and mentoring. An individual needs a license to practice. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification offers a licensing examination. The qualifications to take the examination include a combination of at least six years of work experience and education.

Work Environment

• An interior designer may work for a design firm or be self-employed. The designer must meet constant challenges, such as staying within clients' budgets and meeting deadlines and clients' expectations. Typically, an interior designer's work schedule is flexible since clients may be available only during evenings or weekends. According to the BLS, the median salary for an interior designer was $44,950 a year in 2008.

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Interior Designer Salary Information

An interior designer can have great work schedules and a high salary scale. However, the success and average pay scale of the interior designer depend largely on the geographic work area and the experience of the designer. Interior designers have to start at the bottom, but with the right experience and contacts, they can make a name for themselves and bring home high-scale salaries.

 

Factors of Influence

• Factors that influence the salary scale of an interior designer include the geographic location of the practice, her position in the firm and her experience in the industry.

Self-Employment or Employee in Design Firm

• A facet of the salary of an interior designer depends on whether the designer is self-employed or an employee in a design firm. If self-employed, the salary may be higher, again depending on the success of the designer and her profile in the field. If working in a design firm, the experience and position in the firm determines the wages.

Salary of Designers

• The salary range of the middle 50 percent of interiors designers as determined by Salary.com in August 2007 was $29,030 to $41,425 for designers with less than two years of experience. For interior designers with at least eight years of experience, it can be $53,912 to $81,130.

Salary by City

• According to the research done by Payscale.com, the cities that have the highest salaries for interior designers are Washington D.C, New York and San Francisco.

Salary and Specialization

• The salary difference for interior designs can depend on their field of specialization, whether it's commercial or residential. Commercial designers who work for architectural and engineering firms typically have higher salaries than their counterparts in residential design. This is because commercial projects tend to be larger than residential projects.

Salary and Degree

• Interior designers who expect a high salary have to ensure that their skills are kept up-to-date. Earning potential increases with the proper design qualifications. For example, an interior designer should know how to use computer programs to create two- and three-dimensional images.

Registration and Portfolio

• The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) accredits interior design programs. All interior design educational institutes must follow the standards set by FIDER. When choosing an educational institution, make sure the program has FIDER accreditation. Another good way to see an increase in your salary as an interior designer is to register with the different state and national interior design boards and councils. Accreditation boosts customer confidence and helps validate the interior designer's skill. Such institutes include the American Society of Interior Designers and the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

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How to Become a Interior Designer

Professionals in this field design and furnish the interiors of commercial, industrial and residential buildings. They must be up on federal, state and local codes and able to wear many hats.

1. Understand that as an interior designer you will need to know more than how to decorate a space. For example, you will need to fully understand flammability and toxicity standards, be able to easily read a blueprint and know how to communicate with engineers, architects and clients.
2. Obtain a bachelor's degree in interior design from a college whose design program has been accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). Peruse FIDER's Web site (fider.org) for a list of approved programs.
3. Include computer-aided design (CAD) courses in your electives. As a designer you will be expected to know how to use computers to create your space designs.
4. Apply for internships through your school. Your contacts might lead to a future job.
5. Contact your state's regulatory agency to confirm its licensing requirements for interior designers. State-by-state information is located in the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Web site (ncidq.org).
6. Spend a year or two working in the field after graduation, prior to taking and passing the NCIDQ qualification exam. It is a prerequisite to your receiving a license. Take the exam even if your state does not require licensure. You will need to pass it to be accepted in professional organizations that are key to the success of designers.

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