The Profession
Interior designers enhance the quality and function of interior spaces, which leads to an improvement in the quality of life, increased productivity, and protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The professional interior designer helps to solve problems at home and in commercial spaces, by applying knowledge of art, construction technology, business, space planning, and furniture and finish selection. The person who enjoys the challenges of enabling individuals to adapt to their near environment possesses, or will acquire the following skills or abilities to: critically observe and describe, graphically describe in detail, visualize interior spaces, apply math concepts to practical problems, work individually and in groups, recognize and apply design theories, i.e., color, form, visually and verbally communicate, think creatively, organize work, solve problems, draw and sketch, manage time. (FIDER, 2005)
Career Opportunities include: residential interior designer, contract/commercial interior designer, institutional designer, kitchen and bath designer, home office designer, store planning designer, office designer, healthcare/daycare designer, hotel/restaurant designer, corporate facilities manager, healthcare facility manager, facilities planner, workplace safety/productivity manager, manufacturer's representative, sales manager, furniture designer, lighting designer, set designer, textile designer, interior design educator/researcher, design journalist.
Interior Designers are employed by interior design and architectural firms, corporate facilities management offices, governmental offices, trade showrooms, and exhibit design offices in museums, or they may work freelance.
Annual salaries vary significantly by geographic location, employer, and market condition. Average beginning salaries for entry level interior designers range from $22,000 to $40,000. Interior designers with 6-10 years' experience average $40,000-$60,000, while principals or partners in large corporate design firms typically earn $70,000-$200,000 annually.
For more information, visit:
American Society of Interior Designers www.asid.org
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER) www.accredit-id.org
International Interior Design Association www.iida.org
National Council for Interior Design Qualification www.ncidq.org