Interior Design Degrees
The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is a professional degree that entails a meticulous design-oriented curriculum with a strong theoretical basis to fuse creative problem-solving competency with a mastery of the technological, aesthetic, and behavioral design elements.
Primary Interior Design Areas of Interest
The three main areas of interest in interior design are:
House decoration
Commercial design
Residential design
Interior design programs impart knowledge and relevant education on the following aspects of interior design:
Elements and principles of design
Interior planning
Architectural design and survey
Graphic techniques
Interior design degrees instill interpersonal skills as well as creative abilities on students. This is depicted by the organization and attentiveness that characterize interior design professionals.
When it comes to technical skills, interior design students must have the ability to make calculations as well as an accomplishment in design software applications. Some of the best interior design software programs include:
SketchUp
HomeByMe
SmartDraw
Virtual Architect Ultimate Home Design
Easyhome Homestyler
Floorplanner
Roomstyler 3D Home Planner
Interior designers are tasked with choosing the best materials and products required to create and furnish living areas. They must discern the combination and the interaction of factors, including color, texture, lighting, etc.
Core Courses for an Interior Design Major
If you intend to major in interior design, you will most likely encounter the below core courses:
Principles of Interior Design: This course covers the fundamentals of interior design – creating a design from concept all the way to implementation.
Computer-Aided Drafting: Computer and drafting systems are used to create designs and build drawings that will be shown to clients. CAD courses teach the usage of these systems.
Drawing and Perspective: This course teaches drafting drawings for interior plans, hence preparing you to communicate design proposals manually.
Designing Interior Lighting: This course covers light principles, creating specifications for commercial and residential lighting applications.
Architecture History: This course touches on the history of architecture.
Use of Color: A course on theory and color application
Professional Practice Courses: These courses prepare interior design students for professional aspects of the career field.
Upon completion of an interior design degree, the possible career options for graduates of interior design bachelors include:
Healthcare designer
Sustainable designer
Landscape decorators
Kitchen and bath designer
Exhibition designer
Corporate designer
Event planner
The Essential Skills Every Interior Designer Needs
Individuals who delve into interior design careers need specific skills to be successful. Pursuing a degree in interior design will equip you with the tools and experience that you require. The following skill sets are essential for a prolific career:
Trend identification
Trends are dynamic; they come by and disappear quite fast. As a good interior designer, you need to be ahead of the curve. You should be able to spot and predict trends for you to remain relevant and in-demand.
A creative eye and attention to detail
The first trait of an interior designer is creativity – it is a prerequisite for this job. Your clients expect that you design spaces for them. You will need a combination of point of view as well as adaptability. Your focus should be on both the little details and the broader picture to be able to create cohesive spaces.
Knowledge of sustainable practices
Clients nowadays are requesting eco-friendly features. For this reason, to be a successful interior designer, you need to have substantial knowledge of the desirable technologies and features. Most clients rely on interior designers for the best decisions; thus, knowledge is essential for satisfaction.
Excellent communication
As a good interior designer, you will be expected to possess excellent communication and listening skills. Besides your clients, you will also need to properly handle contractors and other professionals who will execute your designs.
Organization
To complete projects within time and budget, a good interior designer should be well organized. If you are characterized by the habit of taking too long or exceeding clients’ cost projections, then you are doomed to fail. You need to plan everything to the dollar and the minute carefully. Although unexpected delays and costs are inevitable in every environment, you need to create an allowance for these.
Sketching ability and computer knowledge
You may have visualized that being an interior designer, you will need to create your designs by hand. Nowadays, there are computer-based design software for creating visual representations of designs. You should be able to combine both hand sketching skills and computer design software to come up with superb designs.
The Bottom Line
Interior design is nowadays an independent discipline that entails the improvement of living conditions through the creation of an environment that blends aesthetic principles with ergonomics and anthropology.
Interior design boosts the functionality and interior spaces’ quality by blending creativity, technical elements, and visual sensitivity. It is affiliated to sister disciplines like industrial design, graphic design, and landscape architecture. Interior design is a rewarding career; you won’t regret pursuing an interior design degree.