So You Want To Be an Interior Designer: Here's What You Need to Know
If you want to pursue an interior design career, there's no better place to start than at FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. Our Interior Design program focuses on three different subsets of design: residential, commercial, and interior product design. Our students learn how to integrate past, present, and future trends to create beautiful, practical, safe, and sustainable spaces for clients. Not only that, but the communication skills they'll hone here are imperative for success in these demanding interior design careers.
Any aspiring designers interested in pursuing an interior design career should have a good understanding of the responsibilities they'll take on and the general state of the industry. To help get you started, here are a few helpful facts about interior design:
The job outlook is positive but positions are competitive
While the predicted employment growth for this field is a bit slower than average, there is still reason to feel encouraged. Of the total 12,642 interior design firms in existence today, 29 percent of those firms were looking to hire designers from 2016 to 2017. This represents an increase of 4 percent just from the previous year alone. That means there are ample opportunities for skilled, hardworking, passionate, and ambitious designers.
Creating an aesthetically pleasing space is only part of the job
Of course, it's important to have an artistic eye and be able to design a beautiful space that suits your client's tastes. But these days, consumers have higher expectations for the conditions of their home. Many want to utilize eco-friendly practices that are environmentally responsible and visually appealing. Other clients need their homes to be easily accessible for those with disabilities or comply with complicated building codes. At FIDM, our courses focus on both sustainability and safety, so you'll be ahead of the curve once you graduate.
You'll have more responsibilities than you might think
When you're an interior designer, you'll have to do much more than choose paint colors and furnishings. You'll have to search for and bid on contractors, identify your clients' needs and desires, consider function and traffic flow, sketch design plans, decide on materials, furniture, lighting, flooring, and plumbing, create a timeline, place orders, oversee installation, estimate costs, coordinate with building contractors, stay in constant communicate with clients, and ensure overall client satisfaction. It's not a simple job, but it can be immensely rewarding because it gives you the chance to put your creativity and passion to good use.
You'll have several employment situation options
You might have a mental image of designing only residential spaces, but there are actually more opportunities at your disposal. You could work in the architectural or engineering sector, or design commercial spaces rather than working at clients' homes. In addition, around one out of every four interior designers was self-employed as of 2014, meaning that you might also work for yourself as a freelance designer rather than being employed by a firm.
If you've wanted to explore how to become an interior designer, getting a comprehensive education at interior decorating schools like FIDM will allow you to hit the ground running. We even offer fashion scholarships to qualifying students for our programs. For more information, click over to our Interior Design major page or contact us today. We'd love to help you get started on the career of your dreams.
Categories: Interior Design
