Interior designers create indoor spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also fully functional. Working in homes, public spaces, and workplaces, these professionals require a wide range of technical, creative and business-based skills in order to be successful. However, if you have no experience in this industry, how do you gain these skills and start a career in this exciting field?
In this blog, we take a look at the world of interior design in the UK. This will include a brief overview of what it means to be an interior designer, before looking at the ways you can get into this industry. Looking at the qualifications that may help you on your way, as well as the worth of specialist online interior design courses, this guide will tell you everything you need to know to get involved in interior design.
Put simply, interior designers are hired to make indoor spaces look more appealing and work more functionally. To do this they must work to specific client specifications and budgets to make both aesthetic and sometimes minor architectural improvements to a designated interior. Whether you freelance, run your own interior design business, or work for a larger company, you will be expected to work with a wide range of different tradespeople, from builders and architects to decorators, electricians, and home/officeware retailers.
When it comes to the day-to-day tasks of an interior designer, their remits can vary greatly. However, all designers in this field will need to be comfortable reading floor plans and blueprints. They will also need to be able to not only select styling and functional furniture and soft fittings, but also be comfortable with tasks such as developing lighting plans, selecting appliances, and devising colour schemes. Naturally, interior designers will also need to build strong links with trusted tradespeople, including builders, decorators, and upholsterers, who can help them carry out work.
As a rule, interior design can be split into two separate areas. Residential and domestic interior design and commercial design. As the names suggest, domestic interior designers work in privately-owned residential properties. This can include individual rooms or spaces within these homes, or the entire property. Commercial designers, on the other hand, work on a wide range of interiors used by businesses and the general public. This includes offices, hotels, public buildings such as libraries and community centres, and retail outlets. Highly trained and experienced interior designers can also specialise in more niche areas, such as historic building renovation.
Here in the UK, the average interior designer makes £25,863 per year. This is the equivalent of £12.93 per hour. While entry level positions (usually filled by those with a relevant qualification) start at around £20,000 per year, experienced interior designers can expect to earn up to £40,000 per year. Of course, these salaries will depend on the location you are operating in, your pricing, and how experienced you are. The graph below charts the average pay/experience curve for this profession.
According to research from market and consumer data giants Statista, the interior design market is growing globally. It is currently worth over $120 billion, up from $76 billion in 2013.
If you have ambitions to become an interior designer, there are two different areas you need to consider. The first one is the design qualifications you want to gain and the skills you need to build. We will look at these in the next section. The second area to consider is the experience you gain and the portfolio of work you can put together. Anyone can do this whether they have decided to undertake any formal training or not. Indeed, while qualifications can certainly help launch a career in this industry (and are typically recommended), plenty of interior designers have built successful careers simply through putting together a strong portfolio and gaining their own experience.
The best ways to do this include putting together samples of freelance work you’ve completed, be that off your own back or as an apprentices/when on work experience. If you have gone through formal training, samples can also be taken from any interior design courses you have completed. Finally, if neither of these apply, you can even put together a portfolio containing samples from briefs you have set yourself to fulfil. These demonstration samples can be a great way to show potential employers and clients what you are capable of.
While there are no specific qualifications you are legally required to have to become an interior designer, many professionals find it easier to get started in this industry after completing a specialist design course.
While you can opt for a full-time university degree in interior design, there is also now a range of more accessible online distance courses in this field. When you sign up for ICI’s interior design course, for example, you can gain a diploma in this subject in just 24 weeks. Courses are broken down into different units of study, covering everything from basic principles of design and decorative uses of colour, to effective use of furnishing/lighting and understanding building systems and components.
By gaining an official qualification in interior design, individuals looking to break into this profession are introduced to the essential skills needed to succeed. This usually not only includes the technical skills specifically connected to aspects of design, but also secondary skills such as design software training, and soft skill training in problem solving, critical thinking, and communication.
Many courses also incorporate practical coursework as part of the framework. As touched upon above, these more practical elements of learning can typically be used by students to start to build personal portfolios. These samples can help find work after you have gained your qualification.
Absolutely! As long as you are prepared to put the work in, commit fully to your studies, and opt for a reputable course provider (such as ICI), online interior design courses can be a great option.
Not only do you learn the basic skills needed to thrive in this profession, when you choose an online course you can also benefit from additional flexibility that is not always afforded by a university degree or an apprenticeship. With flexible payment plans, such as those offered at ICI, you can spread out the cost of your course in a way that suits you. Additionally, unlike rigidly-structured university degrees, distance learning courses can be completed at a time and place that best suits your own lifestyle. This gives you the option to carry on working while you learn. Finally, online courses typically take less time to complete than degree courses too. ICI’s diploma course can be completed in six months, compared to a three or four year university degree course.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
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