How To Become An Interior Designer

Step 1: Take Art Classes in High School

Most high schools do not offer Interior Design courses. However, you can start developing your artistic abilities by taking art classes in high school.

Advanced art, graphic design, and photography classes help improve creative skills that you can use in your career as an Interior Designer. For example, understanding the basics of photography may improve your ability to take photos of your completed projects. Taking a graphic design course helps you learn the principles of design, such as alignment, contrast, and balance.

Step 2: Earn an Interior Design Degree

Formal education is not necessarily a requirement for Interior Designers. Some Interior Designers begin looking for freelance work without an advanced degree. However, most interior design firms prefer to hire candidates with Bachelor Degrees in Interior Design or a related field.

There are several other majors with skills that are directly transferable to a career in Interior Design. Other options include Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, and Advertising Art.

When majoring in a related field, your coursework should still include the Interior Design curriculum. Along with core Interior Design courses, common courses for Interior Designers include History of Interiors, Space Planning, and Computer-Aided Drafting. Interior Design students learn how to use software to aid the design process.

While you can choose a different major, completing an Interior Design program provides specialized training. You develop the skills and knowledge needed to professionally design interiors based on the needs of your clients or employers.

Earning a degree may also provide internship opportunities. The work that you complete as an intern can count toward your work requirements for earning an Interior Design certification later in your career.

Step 3: Offer Your Interior Design Services for Free

Finding employment as an Interior Designer without previous experience is difficult. To gain the necessary experience, many Interior Designers choose to offer their services pro bono.

Consider providing Interior Design services for free to family, friends, or even nonprofit organizations. This gives you a chance to practice your craft and gain real-world experience.

Step 4: Build Your Interior Design Portfolio

A portfolio is an extension of your resume, providing potential employers or clients with real examples of the quality of your Interior Design skills. Take extensive photos before and after every project, along with notes on the changes that you made to the interior. Compile the photos and notes into case studies for your portfolio.

You should only use high-resolution photos. If possible, open curtains to allow as much natural lighting into the room as possible. This helps prevent grainy or dark photographs.

Step 5: Start Looking for Entry Level Interior Design Positions

After completing several projects, you can start looking for employment at an Interior Design agency. The most common entry-level position is that of the Junior Designer. It is a collaborative position. Junior Designers typically work with a design team to complete projects for clients.

Depending on the Interior Design Agency, entry-level positions may include other titles, such as Interior Design Assistant.

Step 6: Start Looking for Clients as a Freelance Designer

If you struggle to find employment at an Interior Design agency, start looking for freelance work. In some regions, freelance Interior Design may be your only option, especially if there are no Interior Design agencies in the area.

There are several ways to solicit your services locally. First, you should build a website to showcase your past projects and provide contact information for potential clients.

After establishing a website, use social media, word of mouth, or paid advertising to start attracting clients.

Step 7: Pass the Interior Design Qualification Exam

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the industry standard for the licensing of Interior Designers. Some states require you to earn this qualification before working unsupervised as an Interior Designer in commercial spaces. The states and territories where licensing is required for commercial work include:

• Louisiana
• Florida
• Nevada
• Washington, DC
• Puerto Rico

Licensing is required in these areas when working on commercial spaces without direct supervision. This may include Interior Design projects for restaurants, hotels, malls, offices, and apartments. Without the license, you may not be able to call yourself a professional Interior Designer.

If you live outside of one of the states or territories that require licensing, you do not need to earn the Interior Design qualification. However, earning a license increases your career prospects. It is a sign of your commitment and dedication to this profession, which may increase your ability to gain promotions at an Interior Design agency.

You need to meet several requirements before sitting for the NCIDQ exam. You need to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Interior Design and two years of full-time work experience.

If you have a degree in a related field, you need to take the required courses to earn an Interior Design degree. This may take one to two semesters depending on the curriculum you completed when earning your degree.

For those with an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design, the work requirements include three years of experience.

Step 8: Continue Your Interior Design Education

While a Bachelor’s Degree prepares you for a career in Interior Design, many Interior Designers choose to continue their education to focus on specializations. Examples of common Interior Design specializations include:

• Retail design
• Sustainable design
• Set design
• Space planning
• Lighting design
• Residential interior design services
• Commercial interior design services

Specializing in one of these areas may require the completion of a certificate program or a Master’s Degree program. There are also many subcategories within each specialization. For example, subcategories of residential design services include kitchen design, bathroom design, and accessibility design.