Overview
Interior designers plan and specify the nature of an interior – how it is made, built and finished – as well as selecting the finishes, fittings and fixtures. While the interior design starts from the planning and specification of the structural work, the interior decorator comes in while deciding and planning for the external
Fixtures, fittings, finishes, veneers. There is a certain amount of overlap between the two types of work. The term ‘interior design’ is often interpreted rather loosely, and many who regard themselves as interior designers are really thought of as interior decorators by their highly qualified design colleagues. Interior decorators advise customers or clients on the choice of items needed. This may mean suggesting colour schemes, matching wall paper and curtains, sketching plans for room decoration, or advising on suitable fabrics for specific furnishing purposes. Interior Designers are responsible for the interiors of buildings while an architect is responsible for its shell.
All designers face frustration at times when their designs are rejected or when they cannot be as creative as they wish. Self-employed individuals are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones to maintain their incomes.
Nature of Work
Interior design can cover materials for floors and buildings, fitments and fittings and colour schemes along with electrical and spatial planning. Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of a variety of private homes, public buildings, and commercial establishments – hotels, shops, theatres, supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment centres and medical centres. They also plan additions, alterations and renovations. Keeping the client’s tastes, needs, function, utility budget in mind they develop designs and prepare working drawings for interior constructions, furnishing, lighting, ventilation, and finishes with an aesthetic appeal.
Interior designers have to work in association with the architect because the work involves technical issues such as electrical circuits, acoustics, plumbing, ventilation, heating, fire-fighting measures.
Interior designers must abide by the government/municipal/ other laws, building codes and standards. Today, the trend is for spaces to be planned by interior designers keeping the needs of eco-friendliness, conservation of energy and to meet accessibility standards for the disabled and the elderly.
Interior decorators may plan the work of papering and painting, deciding on suitable furnishings, give advice on colour schemes including carpets and curtains, wall coverings and fittings. Many interior designers incorporate the interior decorators’ functions.
Work Environment
Interior designers work in design firms, with architects or builders, civil construction/public works departments, regional/metropolitan development authorities, in private organizations, for hotel/ departmental store chains, etc. Interior designers can easily work on set designs for theatre, films and television, exhibitions and other major events where interiors have to be done up to portray
A theme.
An Interior decorator who has no technical knowledge of architectural and other technical details of construction may draw up schemes for colour/paint, furniture, furnishings, light fittings, wall-paper etc. He/She advise clients on colour schemes, matching wallpaper and curtains, sketching plans for room decoration, or advising on the most suitable fabrics for a particular furnishing purpose. In these roles, the title of Interior designer is a courtesy title rather than a job description. An interior decorator’s work could be described as a subset of the profession of interior design.
Interior designers work in studios or offices but must visit sites, clients and suppliers of construction materials, furniture, furnishings, veneers, wallpaper, lighting, ventilation/acoustic/etc., equipment. Increasingly, computers are being
Used to plan layouts that can easily be changed to incorporate ideas received from the client.
Hours of work depend upon deadlines and volume of work. Self-employed interior designers normally work longer hours while they are trying to establish themselves and cannot afford to hire assistants or clerical/administrative help.
Physical and Psychological Requirements
Artistic sence, creativity, a strong sense of colour, an eye for detail, a sense of proportion and balance, a vibrant imagination, an interest in science and technology, perseverance, the capacity to translate ideas on paper and in form are the basic requirements for a career in interior design. Interior designers should be interested in the social environment and community’s tastes, needs and customs and be able to get along well with people from all walks of life. Self-
Confidence, originality, the ability to recognise the needs of the customer and team work skills are important.
Specialisations
There may be interior designers who decide to specialize in the interiors of a particular kind of facility such as official residences, hospitals, hotels, offices ,etc.
Others may specialize in theatre or set design. Exhibition design is an allied specialization for an interior designer.
Study/Training
Most Interior design training is offered as two or three-year Diploma courses at polytechnics and maybe taken up after Class 10 or Plus Two. A science background may be helpful but it may not be insisted upon for admission. Training in interior decoration is more useful in the context of working with external details that come up after construction is over.
Sometimes interior design is a specialization in a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programme. A postgraduate degree in architecture also allows specialization in interior design for an architect.
Undergraduate programme in Interior Design of 5 years duration after 12th with Science is akin to architecture programmes. A few of them have come up in the last decade. Selection is usually based on merit and performance in an aptitude test.
Such courses are a blend of artistic and technical subjects. At the same time there is sufficient scope for linking study with actual working conditions. Students are taught how to use various types of materials and equipment in the best possible way. Technical details of the various stages of the building process are explained and a lot of practical work is expected to be done during the course.
Practical internships/projects should form an inherent aspect of training in interior design or interior design and decoration.
Employment Prospects
Interior designers may work with architects, have their own consultancies or work in design units within a large organization or have their own business Opportunities for gainful employment are innumerable if you have the talent, training, drive, persistence and good public relations, originality and with ideas that hold appeal for the customer/client. To set up one’s own consulting practice would require good contacts and prior work experience with clients and projects.
Interior decorators are employed by furniture stores, stores selling fabrics/furnishings or manufacturers of fabric, paint/wallpapaer/etc or those dealing in lighting equipment and techniques.
Initial employment may not be easy in all cities. Starting salaries range between Rs.3,500 to Rs. 7,500 though this range would vary depending upon the reputation of the training institution and where one is located. In the metropolitan centres it is comparatively easier to get work opportunities. Work experience is an important part of the learning process of an interior designer or interior decorator so they must be prepared to use the opportunity to learn with a good employer without being too fussy about the salary.
Careeer Progression
For better growth prospects Interior designers and decorators must be aware of new materials available in the market so as to use them to the best advantage and innovative ways. Constant upgradation through continuing education, reading and research, attending seminars and becoming members of professional societies is vital for success.
Advancement in the profession is mostly a function of the quality of work and personal networking by an interior designer. Many who have learnt the ropes of the profession with a reputed interior design firm move on to establish their own consultancies. In a large organization, there is always the opportunity to move on to bigger and more prestigious projects.
This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.