The Trajectory of Interior Design Courses

Interior Design is concerned with the décor of specified area of space, including the walls, furniture, light fixtures, windows, doors and everything in-between. Whereas some clients seek out interior designers for workspaces, others employ them for help with their homes. There are many aspects to the art of interior design, after all it is an art form. A qualified designer must take the surrounding architecture, a client's personal tastes, and the client's budget into consideration when conceiving a space.

If Interior Design appeals to your sense of purpose and craftsmanship, you will need to prepare. A number of reputable colleges, universities, and academies sponsor design programs geared towards producing highly qualified graduates. As with any other field, you will need the necessary training and practice before a firm or independent client will hire you. Regardless of where you enroll, you will more than likely begin your course of study with basic design courses. These courses will lay the foundations to advanced, conceptual courses and eventually fieldwork.

Seeking out the right school or university may be time-consuming. Explore the options in your area, but remember where you study will affect where you work. Often graduates are disseminated to companies and clients in the general area of the school. If the notion of living in a new city is appealing, research the available universities and the surrounding neighborhoods. The people living therein are going to be you future clients.

Upon graduation, you will have to refine your career path. Do you want to work as a contractor or with a firm? Some graduates prefer to work with a firm in their first few years, learning the basic guidelines and the requirements of agency life. Other graduates exploit internships and make their ways into diverse companies. Either way, it is essential you get your feet wet. The competition will be fierce.

The annual income of an interior designer can vary. As with most career paths, experience translates into higher fees and greater income. As your contacts and client list grows, so too will your bank account. Trust in your talents and the training you receives in your interior design courses. Although you will not make much money in the first year or two, you will be networking and honing your skills.

Home Interiors - Clients Guide No2 - That First Contact with an Interior Designer - What to Expect!

A floppy haired extrovert prancing around in some outlandish get-up, gesticulating wildly and being highly opinionated in a loud effeminate voice! Now let's throw all those TV stereotypes of what an Interior Designer is like totally out the window, in all my years in the profession I have never come across any designer that remotely fits this bizarre image... although some may have got pretty close (only joking!). On the whole we are surprising normal.

I am now assuming you have done your research and tracked down some names of Interior Designers or have been given some recommendations by others as who you could contact. It's now time to hit the phone and talk with someone about the project you have in mind. No need to have loads of numbers to call just two or three to start is more than enough. You should go straight to the top and ask for the Design Director or Owner of the practice.

Start with a very brief background about your property; size, age, location, condition etc, and then go on with what you are considering as a project and what the main priorities you wish to gain from it are i.e. more space, an extra room, up-grading and refurbishment of existing etc. Once you have passed on this general information sit back and wait for questions to be fired back to you. These again are going to be fairly general in nature just to get an overall feel for what you have in mind and also the time scale you are also thinking of working to.

A realistic time scale is an important issue for everyone here; you would not believe how many first inquires I get from people thinking that it will only take a matter of a few weeks to design and have built their new extension and kitchen! " I need it for Christmas" but we are already into October and have not even made a start yet... it's not going to happen with all the best will in world! It's worth you talking to a Designer just to get an initial feel as to how long the process from beginning to end is likely to take for your individual project - it's likely to be much longer than you think!

The subject of Project Budget may also come up in the conversation you have with the Designer, but to be frank this means very little at this stage. However, if asked by you the Designer is going to be pretty reserved above giving any kind of budget figures over the phone about a project he knows very little about. On the other hand if the question about budget is asked by the Designer to you he is just fishing and trying to establish if there is any miss match in expectations on your part. Most potential clients do not have any real idea of a budget for their project (and why should they), and those that do usually have totally underestimated the likely cost against their "wish list" of all that they want from it. We have to put this subject on the back burner for the present and come back to it at the appropriate stage of the project, and that will be after some Conceptual Planning & Design work has been carried out. Trying to put figures without some form of reference on paper can be just a complete waste of time and can just produces a logjam in allowing the project to progress.

What the Designer on the other end of the phone will be trying to evaluate from the conversation with you is; are they realistic in their expectations, is this a valid project, is this person a potential client or just a time waster! Sorry to be so blunt about it but what the Designer would like to offer you next is a free no obligation visit; if they think there is not the remotest chance of this project going ahead they will not make the offer. It's not that you have to pass some kind of test to qualify but it all boils down to business at the end of the day and how much bread they cast on the water.

Positively moving on - the Designer suggest to you that they really need to visit the property and see it in the flesh and have a much more in-depth discussion with you about your needs and requirement. It will also give them the opportunity to show you some examples of their work and tell you about exactly how they will carry out a project such as yours. Once they have had this meeting the intention will be to confirm back to you their Scope of Work and Fee Proposal (it is extremely unlikely this will be committed to at this first meeting). This should be a total free of charge visit without any obligation to proceed further. If you get a good vibe about this Designer you are likely to say "Yes" and make an appointment for them to come around and met you at your home.

THE FIRST MEETING

This should be a fairly casual and relaxed affair. The Designer will want to sit down with you and tell you about all what they have done for other clients, show you some examples of work and generally demonstrate their talents and experience. It's all done to put your mind at rest that this person knows what they are talking about, and if you feel this is the case then they have done their job so far. The conversation should now move on to "Your Project", giving you the opportunity to expand fuller your thoughts, needs and requirements from the project you have in mind. Why I say "in mind" is that it may well be that your ideas could be turned completely up-side down once the Designer has accessed the overall situation, but let's face it that's why you are talking to a Designer - fresh ideas and a clean pair of eyes! There have been many times when I have visited clients that think they have a clear idea of what they want and how it is to be done and then I go and throw a curved ball into the conversation. It's not to be controversial for the sake of it but to get them thinking in a new way about their project which ultimately leads on to a better end solution.

The Designer would have no doubt been given the guided tour of the house by you pointing out all the issues as you walk around. Don't expect instant solutions to be given by the Designer while you are on your tour, they will be absorbing everything in at a fast pace of knots and making some mental assessments for themselves - this is information gathering! They may pitch-in with some teasers ideas but will keep most under wraps to be pulled out later (after they have been appointed). What they don't want is you taking all there "free" ideas and then saying "Thank you very much and Good Bye" and never to be heard of again - it happens and Designer are very guarded about this situation. So don't expect any free design work, but what they will give you is some good free advice.

They will then talk about how they would carry this project out for you, explaining all the various stages that need to be gone through; depending on the individual requirements these will be tailored to suite, but usually breakdown into these four main stages:-

1/ Concept Design & Planning

2/ Design Development

3/ Detailed Design & Specification

4/ Implementation.

The aim for the Designer is to produce for you a document (Fee Proposal) that outlines exactly what they will be doing in each of these stages and what the associated fee's will be, also an indication of time scale. Hopefully from this you will be able to decide if you wish to proceed. This document is likely to be sent to you a few days following this first meeting.

In my next article I will be talking more in-depth about this Fee Proposal document and Design Fee's in general; the different kinds of fee structures and how they are arrived at. So look out for the third article in this Home Interior Clients Guide series by Christopher R Page.

Art of Interior Designing Solutions

Interior design is the art of applying the knowledge of interior space, with the manipulation of spatial volume and surface treatment application. Interior space design draws on aspects of environmental psychology, interior architecture design, product design and furniture design in addition to traditional decoration. An interior designer is a person who is an experienced professional in the area of interior design or one who designs interiors as part of their job requirements.

Modern Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmatic information, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the design direction, and produces graphic communication and construction documents.

After a design layout has been finalized, the interior designer will start specifying the materials, finishes, and furnishings required, such as furniture, lighting, flooring, wall covering, and artwork. Depending on the complexity of the design project, the designer will need to prepare drawings and submit them for architectural review which later requires approval by a construction inspector to ensure that the design is equivalent with all applicable building codes. If a design needed any structural work, the designer will need to work with an architect or engineer for that part of the project. Most designs also requires hiring of contractors to complete technical task such as lighting, electrical wiring or plumbing,. If required, the designer will select qualified contractors and write up work contracts.

Interior decoration is the art of decorating a rooms of house so that it looks attractive, easy to use, and functional well with the existing design architecture. The aim of interior decoration is to provide a unique "feel" in the room; basically it encompasses applying wallpaper, painting walls and other surfaces, choosing furniture and fittings, such as light fixtures, floorings and providing other decorations such as paintings, sculptures and carpets.

tejada graphic design

tejada graphic design

Interior Design as a Career Option in India

It may seem that all you need to be a good interior designer is a sense of aesthetics and a flair for design. That is a good start, yes, but it gets you about five feet forward in terms of your career. The first thing to do is to turn a latent, in-born talent into an effective tool. Just because you can figure out what looks nice and what doesn't does not make you a good designer or decorator. You may know how to use light and colour, how to synthesize architectural elements with design details and how to integrate space and design, but that is about five percent of the work. Most of the real work begins when you come to the execution.

Some formal education in the basic concepts of interior design is absolutely essential. There are many schools, which will give you a basic background course, and most of them are diplomas, but they are all very elementary in terms of the knowledge and the skills they provide you with. You could either pursue a full-fledged course at a reputed institute, preferably one with accreditation; or you could learn by working with someone who is a storehouse of talent. Work with the best, work for free if you have to, because it will be worth it. But regardless of where you get the education and for how long, the one thing an interior designer must always remember is that one is a lifelong student. Every day gives you an opportunity to learn something new about the trade and explore another aspect of its limitless potential.

If you have an eye for design, make sure that is turned into an artful skill, by practicing at every opportunity. Read everything you can, observe design aspects wherever you go...make mental notes and if possible keep a journal with points you pick up along the way. There is no substitute for hands on experience so get into it as early as possible. If you aren't paid for it, don't worry...learn all you can and explore every opportunity to test your know-how. Because it will tell you all you don't-know-how-to. Use your home and any space that is offered to you as a guinea pig. Work out your concepts and present your vision. Explore the dimensions of your own creativity before you ask others to entrust their money ,time and space to you.

Create a portfolio of your work. Try to do as many varied projects as possible. It will teach you all you need to know first-hand and also work as a showcase for your talent. Interior design or decor is about space planning, conceptual genius and a lot of hard work. While design is a major aspect, if you don't have fundamental business skills, you will never be able to succeed independently. When you strip it of the design and glamour accoutrements, what you have left is a lot of planning and time-management skills, labour management, client handling, costing analyses and execution abilities. If you cannot transform what is in your head into something that is concrete, you are perhaps better suited to the drawing board.

Research every aspect of your trade. Find suppliers, understand products and build relationships. These people will be your backbone. The stronger they are, the more upright your standing will be professionally. They can get you better deals, which means you can offer clients a better deal, and that is one way a new kid on the block gets business. Once you are familiar with different styles, concepts in flooring, wall coverings, soft furnishings, accessories and art you must find the suppliers who will actually deliver the goods.

While you are meeting clients, learn to do one thing. It will determine your success as an interior designer. It is not your ability to design. It is your ability to LISTEN. Understand your client. Find out what their lifestyle is. Discover what their likes and dislikes are. Find out what they need and desire. You will find that it may not necessarily coincide with what you would instinctively recommend. Which leaves you with two choices. If you can find a point of convergence, try to assimilate their wants into your presentation as much as possible. If you find no meeting ground, you are better off recommending someone who can deliver the goods rather than work on a project where you will derive no satisfaction, and the client will offer no appreciation. At the end of the day your designing style and their requirements have to meet halfway. For it to be a worthwhile enterprise.

A smart thing to do while you train to become an interior designer is to specialize. You could always diversify later, but initially it is a good idea to find a niche for yourself. If you would like to do residential interiors focus on that for a few years. If commercial spaces are your cup of tea, gain experience in such contracts. If you think you want to be left only to design and stay away from the rest of the madness, then stick to just designing. If organizational skills are your forte, turn to project management. Find out what your skills are and then start honing them. Until you reach a stage when you can start honing another skill.

A good interior designer should be able to work well with anyone from the architect to the civil contractor. If you just want to do your own thing regardless of their suggestions or requirements, the simplest project will turn into a nightmare. At the end of the day, if you, along with all the others involved in the project, including your client, cannot be a cohesive team, the whole thing will fall apart.

If your creative genius can be coupled with practical ability, you are well on your way to becoming a successful interior designer.

Learn the ABC of being a good designer

--Integrate concepts and styles to give a unified décor

--Maintain a sense of equilibrium. Balance is the key.

--Know your field. Know your client. Never presume to be bigger than either.

--Never stop learning--Never stop listening

--Innovate. Don't get trapped into predictable design.

--Never underestimate the value of good service. It tends to pay higher dividends than design.

--Time management and scheduling skills. Plan and execute.

--Coordination skills and being a team worker.

--Business expertise. Do an MBA if you have to but get your business concepts right.

--Patience--Eye for detail--Design Skills--Style

--Knowing the latest trends. Information keeps you ten steps ahead.

--Understanding different decorating styles, their uses and limitations

How to Get Your Career Started in Becoming an Interior Designer

If you are imaginative and creative with a good sense of color and spatial vision, then you might want to consider a career as an interior designer. Learning how to become an interior designer is not as complicated as it use to be. Most universities and local colleges now offer programs and a professional learning environment to help you get started in this career path.

So you think the market in this field might be saturated. Interiors of a house, office or any place needs to be designed and redesigned. These specialized professionals that help design and redesign our homes, hotels, and offices know there will always be customers who require their services. They can transform the work place or any living space in to something inviting and add in an aesthetic appeal.

As an Interior Designer you will need to be an expert in everything from textures, colors, furniture, art, windows and the finish of the interior. They have to conceptualize the entire design of the rooms so that the functionality of the rooms is maintained along with the beauty. The needs and ideas of the people must be taken into account while doing the interior of the buildings. Designers have to be careful about the color combinations as well as the furniture combinations in terms of beautification and functionality.

In today's times designers have to make use of technology to find out about the best possible design for your place. The technology is the CAD or the computer-aided design technology. This helps in estimating the costs and framing the sketches. This technology helps to monitor the implementation of design properly so that the requirements of the clients are met. CAD has made designing simple and commotion free. They have to determine the budget, time frame and the objectives of the project. Hence, CAD technology comes in handy to estimate and understand all these aspects and is a core component.

As an interior designer you may choose your specialization on a particular aspect. Their work includes a wide range of activity right from architectural details to choosing the right color and furniture. They can specialize in residential areas or commercial places.

You can pursue a Bachelors Degree course in Interior Designing for entry level jobs. Certificate or associate programs for 2-3 years will also help you get in to assistant positions in a design firm. Different states in the United States offer a license for practicing and you have to sit for the exam and pass it to get licensed as interior designer. However, before taking this exam, you can work as an apprentice to gain more experience and exposure in this field. You could also become a member of ASID - American Society of Interior Designers or ARIDO - Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario.

The prospect in this profession is increasing by leaps and bounds every day. Designers with experience and familiarity with CAD technology will never have dearth of work. Nowadays, designers having experience in ergonomics, green initiatives and environment friendly designing are getting exciting projects to work on. Job opportunities for interior designers are increasing as compared to other professions. Entry level designers could earn a very decent income right from the start. It is a brilliant profession for creative people who can blend their ideas with the knowledge of technology and transform them into tangible outcomes.

The Advantages of Getting an Architect to Design and Build Your House

One of the biggest decisions to take when you decide to design and build your own house is whether you need to engage the services of an architect or not. While most people do recommend it, there are others who would like to go through the entire thing without professional help. What they fail to realize is that there are many benefits that come with the territory when you opt to avail the services of an architect to build your dream home. Let us understand the advantages of getting professional help to design and build your house.

Advantage #1: "Professional" Help

The word professional itself says it all. The architect is a person who is qualified and certified in design and build homes. He speaks the language of home building much better than you. In fact, there are many times when we want certain aspects of the design to be changed after the construction has commenced. You may not be able to incorporate this ad hoc change if you do not have an architect to help you with it. Since he has more knowledge in this field, he will be able to see things that you, as a layman, cannot and hence be able to make the changes you want.

Advantage #2: Suggest options you would not have thought possible

Thanks to the advanced level of studies in this field, the architects will be able to provide you with a wide range of design options that can enhance the look of your house. Most often than not, these ideas cannot be conceptualized by us since we are not aware of how the vast number of construction materials that are available can be put to use.

Advantage #3: Design energy efficient homes

The main focus today is the need to conserve energy to the maximum extent possible. The architects will be able to help you design and build your house around this concept. A well constructed house should help you reduce the costs of electricity, water and heating bills. This can be possible only when you engage an architect in your endeavor. This will ensure you get maximum returns on the investment you make.

Advantage #4: End to End Solutions

Availing the services of an architect who knows his Ps and Qs will take a heavy burden off your shoulders. A good architect will be able to shoulder the entire construction project end to end, which means right from conceptualizing the design to giving the final touches to your house. This will enable you to distress to a great extent because your architect will co-ordinate with all the necessary people including the quantity surveyors, engineers, builders, sub contractors and interior designers. So, you need not worry about anything at all.

With all these advantages considered, don't you think it is a wise decision to go in for an architect to help you design and build your home? But yes, it is important that you choose the architect after great thought and consideration. The best way to choose them is by getting feedback from friends and family who have recently constructed a home.