About interior--designing

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Interior Designing

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About interior--designing

Transcript of About interior--designing

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Interior Designing

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The Interior makes the homes look good and the Designers make itstill better.

What is Interior design?

Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space,

through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment.Not to be confused with interior decoration, interior design draws onaspects of environmental psychology, architecture, product design and

furniture design in addition to traditional decoration. An interior designeris a person who is considered a professional in the field of interior design

or one who designs interiors as part of their job.

Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmaticinformation, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the designdirection, and produces graphic communication and construction

documents. In some jurisdictions, interior designers must be licensed topractice.

In general, the interior of something refers to the space or part inside ofit, excluding any kind of wall or boundary around its outside. It has

different, more specific definitions in different contexts.

Interior decoration or décor is the art of decorating a room so that it is

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attractive, easy to use, and functions well with the existing architecture.The goal of interior decoration is to provide a certain "feel" for the room;it encompasses applying wallpaper, painting walls and other surfaces,

choosing furniture and fittings, such as light fixtures, floor plans andproviding other decorations for the area such as paintings, sculpturesand carpets.

Interior decorating is done professionally by certified interior decorators

C.I.D. It is considered a design field. An interior decorator is a veryimportant job.

There is a distinct difference between interior decorating and interiordesign. Interior decorating is generally focused on the interior items of aspace, such as furniture, accessories, finishes, and layout. Interior design,

on the other hand, involves manipulating the architectural integrity of theinterior space.

Interior design concerns itself with more than just the visual or ambientenhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the

uses to which the interior environment will be put.

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution. There is

the space itself--its dimensions and construction--with its potential andits limitations. There is how the space will be used--for work or leisure,entertainment or worship, healing or learning. There is the meaning of

the space, what it signifies--be it power, authority, security, wisdom,achievement, playfulness or serenity. There are practical considerations,

like ease of access, amount of light, acoustics, seating and places to storeor set things down. There are health and safety considerations, attentionto special needs and more.

For more information, see the definition of interior design developed bythe National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

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SpecializationInterior designers can specialize in a particular interior design discipline,such as residential and commercial design, with some developing

expertise within a niche design area such as hospitality, health care andinstitutional design. In jurisdictions where the profession is regulated bythe government, designers must meet broad qualifications and show

competency in the entire scope of the profession, not only in a specialty.Designers may elect to obtain specialist certification offered by private

organizations.Interior designers who also possess environmental expertise in designsolutions for sustainable construction can receive accreditation in this

area by taking the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)examination.

The specialty areas that involve interior designers are limited only by theimagination and are continually growing and changing. With the increase

in the aging population, an increased focus has been placed ondeveloping solutions to improve the living environment of the elderlypopulation, which takes into account health and accessibility issues that

can affect the design.

Awareness of the ability of interior spaces to create positive changes in

people's lives is increasing, so interior design is also becoming relevantto this type of advocacy.

Design Career and Job Highlights

One of the chief benefits of being a designer is that a very large number,

almost one third, of all designers are self-employed. That is almost fivetimes the percentage of self-employed people in other fields. Also, manypeople are attracted to designing because of the high level of creativity it

demands. Generally to be a designer you need at least a bachelor’sdegree and a master’s degree will be advantageous. The industry is

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showing signs of growth, but there is still very high competition for mostprojects, as there are many extremely talented and creative designers.The Design professions, Designers are innately creative people. They then

make use of their creativity, artistry, and knowledge of practical skills toturn their creative vision into plans for our Websites, clothes,advertisements, cars, media, and surroundings. Since designers are

needed in so many industries they usually generalize, focusing on onespecialized area like interior design, cars, company logos, newspapers,

clothing, theatre sets, merchandise displays, medical equipment, or manyothers.To be a good designer you have to take three things into account: 1)

What your client needs and has the resources for, 2) The primary functionof the design, and 3) How it will appeal to customers. Often the first stepis solid research of the preferred design characteristics like cost, safety

issues, availability of materials, size, etc.

The next step is to prepare a preliminary outline, such as a sketch,usually with the aid of a computer. You will then share your creativevision with the client or a product development team. Next comes a

detailed plan of your design, including very detailed drawings orblueprints, simulations, or a to-scale model. More and more designers

are using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to increase efficiency, create abetter model, and because computers make it easier to explore newpossibilities and design permutations. Computers are becoming more

popular because they allow for greater creativity while cutting costs.Industrial designers create designs and instructions that are readable by

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machines and that give directions to automated production tools usingCAD’s sister tool, CAID (Computer-Aided Industrial Design).Many designers are also involved in the business aspects of their job, not

jut the creative. They often have assistants to supervise. Also, manydesigners own their own business and so they have to be involved inclient development, networking, finding and renting space, ordering

materials, reviewing industry publications, and many other administrativeresponsibilities. Furthermore, as technology in computers and

communication advances, designers need to continually work to stayup-to-date and competitive. This is especially true for those designersinvolved in industrial or graphic design. Computers have allowed for

great advancements in the design industry. Advanced communicationsnetworks have increased the opportunities that were previously limited bygeography. Designers can form international firms or taskforces and can

work for clients all over the world. The Internet has increased theavailability of information, making research easier and better, and

designers have a much larger pool of supplies. This makes the logisticsof being a self-employed designer much easier, as well.

Types of DesignersThere are many types of designers who work in a wide range of industries.Some designers generalize and work in many different fields, while othersconcentrate on one specialty.

Commercial/Industrial DesignThis area helps develop manufactured products, such has automobiles,

airplanes, computers, kitchen appliances, medical equipment, automobileinteriors, office materials, etc. In addition to their creativity and artistry, a

successful commercial designer has to be able to assess the needs ofuser and have a working knowledge of marketing and means ofproduction. All of these skills are necessary to create an effective,

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appealing product. Commercial and industrial designers tend tospecialize in an area like home appliances or recreational equipment.Fashion Design

This deals with designing apparel. Many are self-employed in the form ofclothing labels, and many work for personal clients. Others work forparticular boutiques or department stores. These fashion designers are

very creative and innovative, while others stick to established trends forhigh-demand items. However, these small, self-employed designers are

in the minority. The majority of fashion designers work for big clothingmanufactures, making clothing and accessories for the mass market.Floral Design

This is a very diverse area, with many working in large shops and othersworking for themselves in very small, specialized shops. All floraldesigners, however, are involved in arranging all types of flowers into

designs. They make arrangements based on the customer’s order for alloccasions, from wedding bouquets to holiday wreaths, from tabletop

gardens to large terrariums. Aside from the artistic side of floral design,designers also have to be competent in assessing the customer’s needs,the type of occasion, the availability and cost of flowers according to

season, materials of imitation flowers, and issues of time and delivery tomake sure the flowers look their best. Also, in small flower shops manydesigners also have to do their own accounting and arrange supply and

delivery, which requires business know-how. Many floral designers alsogrow their own flowers, which expands their responsibilities even further.

Graphic DesignThis is an extremely large area of design. Basically, graphic designers

resolve communication problems using visual solutions. By studyingculture, context, and social issues they develop designs that willeffectively communicate to meet the needs of their customer. They use a

number of media, from print to computers to film, and so many graphicdesigners specialize in one area. Some have expertise in visual layout for

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magazines or computers, others create promotional displays, othersdesign the credits for movies, and others design logos, others designsigns for the government. There are many areas of specialization.

Computers are instrumental in almost all areas of graphic design,however, especially in the ever-growing technological industry: designingWeb pages and multimedia projects.

Interior DesignThe perennial goal of interior designers is to combine from and function.

They improve the quality of interior spaces by increasing efficiency,safety, and beauty. Interior designers can work on all types of projects,like residential homes, shopping malls, retail stores, hospitals, hotels,

theaters, or restaurants. With such a wide range of work, most interiordesigners specialize, for example one designer might focus onbusinesses while another might focus on residences. Many specialize in

even more specific areas, like airplane interiors or kitchens. A successfuldesigner has to take many things into account, like the customer’s

preferences, cost of materials, and functional efficiency. Also, there aremany federal and local guidelines and building codes. Plus, if designing apublic space, it is necessary to ensure that everything is accessible to the

disabled and elderly. Keeping all those in mind, a designer thenconfigures the interior structure, such as molding, windows, and built-infixtures; furnishings, such as furniture and floor coverings; lighting that

is economical and pleasing; and accents like rugs and wall-hangings.They coordinate colors, styles, and materials to create a visually pleasing

and comfortable space. Computers are extremely useful to interiordesigners as they allow for exact and accurate models and also allow foreasy adjustments to the whims of customers.

Visual Merchandise DesignAlso called window-dressing, visual merchandize design is the art ofmerchandise display. Many designers work for large businesses,

arranging merchandise in retail stores or designing window displays.Working for the interior of retail stores involves dressing mannequins,

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creating table displays, arranging props and accents, and organizingclothing placement by color group or style. To make promotions andstyles uniform and to maintain the “look” of a store, most large retail

chains employ designers at the corporate level in a central designdepartment. The designs are distributed to individual stores, andindividual managers or regional designers adapt the designs to meet

individual needs.Set Design

This area of design makes sets and exhibits for movie and televisionstudios, theatre productions, or special exhibitions in museums ortrade-shows. Designers who work with television or theatre need to study

scripts and consult with writers and directors to ensure that their designis in line with their artistic vision. They also need to research make suretheir design is historically accurate in architectural details and fashion.

They then provide the models for the actual construction, making surethat it is feasible and functional. Designers of special exhibitions need to

confer with museum curators or trade-show sponsors to make use of theavailable space, create an effective theme, and control flow of humantraffic. Also, if working for a museum a designer may have to consult an

art specialist to ensure preservation and security of museum objects.

Working Conditions

Designers face many pressures in their work. They are creative people bynature and so they often don’t have traditional office environments. They

may work in their own home or in that of their client. They often travel tothe location of their work, whether it is a showroom, a client’s house, oran office under construction. Many designers do not have fixed incomes

but are paid by project, which creates pressures to finish a job quicklyand get new clients. Further frustrations are caused when designs arerejected or don’t turn out as planned, and sometimes creativity just

doesn’t seem to come.

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Designers may work at many different places under many differentconditions. Manufactures, large design firms, or corporations usuallymake for a very stable working environment in terms of regular and

reasonable hours in a comfortable office setting. Designers who workfreelance or who work at small firms usually work according to whateverindividual contract they have at the time, making adjustments to their

client’s need, which makes for a less stable environment. They may haveuneven working hours, with varying workloads and more evening and

weekend hours. Designers who are self-employed or who work asconsultants often work longer hours in a smaller and simpler offices.Hours and conditions depend not only on the type of firm, but also on

the type of designer. Industrial and graphic designers and interiordesigners generally work quite regular hours, but may have to work extrahours or weekends to meet the demands of a particular project. Set and

exhibit designers, however, often have much more uneven schedules,working long hours under pressure and having to make quick

adjustments. Fashion designers often operate the same way, having towork very long hours in preparation for a fashion show, or traveling tothe site of a show. Floral designers mostly work regular hours in small,

agreeable working conditions but large events like wedding may requiresome extra hours. Merchandise designers may work regular hours in acorporate job, but those who work in actual retail stores often have

irregular hours as they do most of their work when customers are out ofthe store. Also many designers, especially those in interior, merchandise,

and fashion design, have to deal with equipment transportation, samplebooks, heavy displays, supervising construction, and many otherresponsibilities.

Becoming a Designer

Though different types of designers require different personalities and

skill sets, creativity is common to all designers. It is necessary for

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designers to seek for beauty and balance and have a sense of theaesthetic. Also, since they spend so much time dealing with customersand complex projects, they have to have good communication skills and

analytical thinking that leads to problem-solving. And even thoughcomputers have had such an impact on designing, most designers,especially those in fashion, have some kind of artistic training that enable

them to make sketches and plans.The amount of schooling needed depends on the type of design. However,

it is important to keep in mind that schooling isn’t always the decidingfactor in getting a job. A sampling of a designer’s work in the form of aportfolio is usually the most important.

Fashion designers generally have an associate’s degree or bachelor’sdegree from a reputable fashion design college. It is also imperative thata potential fashion designer be conversant in patterns, accessories,

trends, fabrics, and the fashion industry as a whole. Set and exhibitdesigners usually have 4-year degrees as well, and often a Masters in

Fine Arts as well. An important credential for set designers ismembership in the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.For floral designers, many people enter the profession by gaining

on-the-job experience rather than formal schooling. Professionals lookfor trainees, generally people with at least a high school degree who areeager to learn and very artistic. However, formal schooling is beneficial,

especially for people who want to own their own businesses or hold amanagement position. Many vocational schools offer short (less than a

year) courses in floral design. Community colleges and universities oftenoffer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in horticulture, floral design,ornamental horticulture. Also, to become an accredited floral designer, a

potential designer needs to pass an examination given by the AmericanInstitute of Floral Designers.Two- and three-year programs at professional schools are also offered

for many other types of design. Degrees from such programs usuallyqualify graduates to become assistants to designers. Four-year programs

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at colleges and universities supply graduates with a Bachelor of Fine ArtsDegree. These degrees involve a more rigorous and varied curriculum,involving mechanical drawing, sketching, art history, design principles,

and other skills applicable to the various areas of design. Most designers,especially those who want to work independently, are recommended tofind programs that have a strong liberal arts core that will teach business

management, marketing, psychology, and art. Also, architectural skillscan be very helpful to designers, especially those in interior design. The

National Association of Schools of Art and Design offer many designdegrees in areas like art, interior design, industrial design, graphic design,and fashion design. They accredit over 200 schools, many of which

require at least a year of studying basic design and art before admittingstudents to the bachelor’s degree program. Admission to the programmay also require a portfolio of samples and sketches.

Another professional organization for designers is the Foundation forInterior Design Education Research. They also offer bachelor’s degrees in

the areas of architecture, art, and home economics in over 120 schoolsand programs. Though most designers have some formal schooling,fledgling designers receive a lot of hands-on experience in the first few

years of their career. This experience is very important for them to gainpromotions to positions of more responsibility like chief designer ordepartment head. They may even establish their own firm. Many

designers, after a few years of experience, work in academia asprofessors at design schools or universities. Many of these continue to be

involved in “fieldwork”, however, as consultants or freelance designers.

Industry and Job Outlook

As they economy expands, more people are demanding the skills ofdesigners, and analysts anticipate growth for the industry. Competitionfor positions, however, will continue to be fierce, as there are many gifted

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and competent people who want to be designers. Ingenuity, persistence,and more formal schooling will set apart those who will succeed.

Graphic design has the highest projected growth rate. As more

businesses look to the Interned Web for information and as theentertainment market (including television, video games, movies, and

advertisements) expands, there is more and more call for graphicdesigners.There is also increasing demand for interior designers, especially for

offices, retail stores, homes, and establishments specializing in care forthe elderly. Floral design has a relatively high turnover rate due to a lack

of advancement opportunities, which leads to new jobs.The area of industrial design will continue to grow rapidly as theimportance of safety and quality of products grows. As customers want

everything to be cheaper, more comfortable, easier to use, and astechnology becomes more important in every field, industrial design is avery important industry. A few areas of design, however, do not show this

rapid growth. New jobs for merchandise displayers will come from thenatural turnover caused by workers who retire or move to different

professions. The industry of clothing manufacturing is slowing, whichmeans that growth in fashion design is also slowing. And the area ofexhibit and set designing is very small, so even though there is a lot of

growth there will not be a lot of job openings.

EarningsThe range of income for industrial and commercial designers was$25,000 to $85,000, with the average being about $60,000 in

architecture, engineering, and other associated industries.

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The range for fashion designers was $22,000-110,000, with the averagebeing about $50,000. The majority of designers earned between $35,000

and $75,000. The range for floral designers was $13,000-30,000. Theaverage was about $20,000. Median earnings were slightly higher for

grocery stores than florists. The range for graphic designers was$20,000-65,000. The average was about $36,000, with the majorityearning between $28,000 and $49,000. Earnings were slightly higher for

those in advertising and specialized design services than those ofprinting and media publishing services. Annual earnings were shown tohave a direct correlation to the level of responsibility by the American

Institution of Graphic Arts. At the top of the chain are graphic designerswho have their own firm or a partnership in a firm. They earned around

$90,000. Under them are the creative chiefs of design departments in bigcorporations or design firms who earned about $85,000. Next arefreelance designers who work independently, who earned about $55,000.

Senior designers or supervisors earned about $50,000, while thestaff-level designers below them earned about $40,000.

The range for interior designers was $21,000-70,000. The median was$39,000 with the majority earning between $29,000 and $53,000.Earnings were very slightly higher for architectural and specialized

services, and slightly lower for furniture stores.The range for merchandise displayers was $15,000-40,000. The medialwas $23,000 and the majority of professionals made between $18,000

and $29,000. The range for set and exhibit designers was

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$18,000-63,000. The median was $34,000 and the majority earnedbetween $25,00 and $46,000.

DESIGN SPECIALTIES

Designers often specialize in one or more specific types of interior

design. Some designers specialize in only residential or commercial (or,contract) projects, but many designers do both residential and

commercial projects of various kinds.

Residential

Residential interior design focuses on the design, professional designteam coordination, planning, budgeting, specifying/purchasing andfurnishings installation of private homes, including the specialty areas of

the kitchen, bath, home theater, home office, and custom product design.Interior projects include new construction, renovation, historic renovation

and model homes, with expertise in universal and sustainable design.

Commercial/Contract

Commercial, sometimes also referred to as contract, design focuses onthe design, professional design team coordination, planning, budgeting,specifying/purchasing and furnishings installation of interior

environments used for commercial, government or educational purposes.

Many designers specialize in one or more of the following areas ofcommercial design.

EntertainmentEntertainment design brings together the use of interiors, lighting, soundand other technologies for movies, television, videos, dramatic and

musical theater, clubs, concerts, theme parks and industrial projects.

Facilities Management

A facilities manager develops schedules for building upkeep and

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maintenance, addressing safety and health issues and lighting andacoustics needs. A facilities manager also plans and coordinates officemoves or expansions, and serves as project manager during construction

or renovation.

Government/Institutional

A government designer is familiar with the very specific needs andrequirements associated with working with government agencies, such as

military bases, federal buildings or government offices. An institutionaldesigner focuses on projects such as child care, educational, religious,correctional and recreational facilities, fire and police stations, courts,

embassies, libraries, auditoriums, museums and transportation terminals.

Health Care

Health care designers create environments for hospitals; clinics;examination rooms; surgical suites; mobile units; hospice care homes;nursing, assisted living or long term care facilities; or any other health

care environment.

Hospitality/RestaurantHospitality design focuses on environments that entertain or host thepublic, including nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, hotels, city and

country clubs, golf facilities, cruise ships and conference facilities.

Office

Office design focuses on the public and private areas utilized by

corporate and professional service firms.

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Retail/Store PlanningRetail design and store planning concentrate on retail venues, includingboutiques, department stores, outlets, showrooms, food retailing centers

and shopping malls.

APPROACHES

The following are not design specialties but rather approaches to designthat cut across design specialties.

Sustainable DesignAlso referred to as "green" design or "eco-design," sustainable design is

concerned with the environmental/ecological, economic, ethical andsocial aspects and impacts of design.

Universal DesignAn extension of "barrier-free" design, universal design employs products

and solutions originally developed for individuals with disabilities to

increase ease of use, access, safety and comfort for all users.

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Eligibility for admission of Interior Decorators

DIPLOMA IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Duration: 2 Years

Eligibility: 10th Pass (with minimum of 50% marks)

Awarding Body: SNDT University - Mumbai

CERTIFICATE COURSE IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Duration: 1 Year

Eligibility: 10 + 2

Awarding Body: State Board of Technical Education and Training

- Andhra Pradesh

DIPLOMA IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Duration: 1 Year

Eligibility: Anyone with creativity and flair

Awarding Body: HAMSTECH Institute of Fashion & Interior Design

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What do you need to become an Interior Designer?

Ideally, in today's marketplace, you need flexibility when it comes to

visualising how to plan the redesign of any project. If youstick too rigidly with time honoured traditions and refuseto budge, you will find that what you can offer and

provide to your customers becomes very limited. Youalso need to be very knowledgeable about products,suppliers, customers and how fast the marketplace

moves.

In recent years, the design marketplace has becomefuriously competitive. There are so many would be

designers, home design magazines, TV programmes, DIY stores, design

courses, etc, etc that unfortunately when there is such a glut of availableproducts, ideas and information, it narrows the options of unique andinnovative ideas because nothing is new.

If you are going to choose a career in design, you need to enter into it

with a large degree of flexible thinking and some projection of what youthink you can offer a highly competitive market, that it hasn't got already.

How do you choose the right learning course?

The interior design industry is simply based on current fashion trends soit won't last as it is defined in the short term. Short courses that offer you

'professional qualifications and your own interior design business inweeks' are very misleading and are not advised simply because youcannot possibly hope to learn all that you need to know in such a short

time. I am still learning after 15 years! The learning is ongoing and if youare doing it properly, you continue to learn over years not weeks or even

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months because there is always something new to learn especially as thesubject relates so much to history and where design originated from.

However, short practical courses where you can add to your skills bylearning how to make soft furnishings, stencilling, painted furniture,painted fabrics or decorative paint effects are always worthwhile.

Courses that offer qualifications also need careful consideration too andare not necessarily the best. Currently, qualifications to become a

designer or run a business as a designer are not necessary or requiredespecially if you have a raw talent and passion for creative design. If you

are already good at it, then a qualification won't make any difference toyour ability as it's already there.

Qualifications suggest that a high standard of learning and workmanshipare offered and guaranteed but is it really possible to guaranteesomeone's work based on what they have studied on a distance learning

course or short practical course. The answer is no, so don't be fooled ormislead by the words 'qualification'. They really don't mean that much.

Whichever country you live in, before you enrol on your chosen course,try to research the market a little first to find out what kind of problems,

if any, the industry is experiencing. Knowledge is power and it will be ofhuge benefit to you if you know how the market works before you startup in business.

Degree courses are much longer term and better for the more serious

career minded but you need to think about how you are going to fit intothe marketplace after you have done your degree. You also need to weighup very carefully, how many work options a degree course will offer you

after you have graduated. The UK textile industry has been in decline foryears and is still in chaos. You need to know what you could offer andexpect from working in this industry if you studied a degree in textile

design for example. Ideally you would be told the current economic

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problems and begin your degree on the principle of bringing in new ideasto boost the flagging textile industry.

There are thousands of highly creative people working successfully withinthe industry without degrees or any other form of training. They arenaturally artistically talented and creative and have gone on to live their

dream. I believe the secret of their success is because they've got aunique product or idea, have found a niche and captured their market.

This is exactly the same as I have done and I did not take a degree toachieve it.

If you are embarking on a learning course with the idea of starting abusiness, you need that course to contain detailed training about runninga business (See our distance learning course). Without this basic insight

into how a business operates, you are effectively wasting your time andmoney because unless you know how to set up in business, work out

costs, plan advertising and promotional materials, study market highsand lows and find customers and trade suppliers, you will not be verysuccessful.

It's all very well becoming an interior designer but turning knowledge intoprofit requires business learning.

When you request details of any learning course, do

make sure that the prospectus answers all yourquestions about what you can expect to gain fromenrolling and what opportunities such a course can lead

to in the long term. Make sure all of this is in writing andfind out what kind of ongoing support you can expectwhen the course ends.

You do have to be realistic in the sense that any course

can only teach you the academics, it cannot turn you into

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a successful business person or celebrated designer overnight. This isonly achievable after several years of becoming established and havingmany happy customers.

If the market is saturated, does that mean that I won't findwork as an Interior Designer?

No, there is always work and opportunity and again it comes back tobeing flexible. With all the TV programmes and home design magazines,

people are far more confident at rolling up their sleeves and having a goat redesigning and decorating themselves.

The problem is that the camera lens does not pick up on key importantconsiderations such as room preparation, size and perspective of room,amount of natural light and period and style of house. Without

considering these vital factors, many people get it terribly wrong andthen consult the interior designer or house doctor for advice on putting it

right.

'The other problem with so many TV lifestyle programmes on renovating,

DIY and interior design is that they are very misleading and mostly theyare now purely for entertainment value. This means you cannot take themtoo seriously. The expenditure involved in some of the projects shown on

TV must run into thousands of dollars plus behind the scenes there areteams of handymen and decorators all working together to get the job

done within the time scale. In real life, this just doesn't happen. Budgetsmust be very carefully worked out to the last cent and a lot of time anddiscussion is involved as well as periodic re-evaluation of the work as it

progresses.

Don't believe all you see on the television, it simply doesn't work like that.

In the UK, and as a direct result of these programmes being watched bysuch a large audience, DIY accidents have rapidly increased resulting in

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death and serious injury to many people who thought the job looked soeasy that they could do it without seeking the help of aprofessional. It is a very serious issue and part of being a

designer requires that you recognise work that you cansuccessfully undertake while other work be left to thosewho are professionally qualified and insured to carry out

such work.

Many people enrol on design courses but lose interestand enthusiasm for putting into practice the ideas andtraining that they have learned.

Some people find that they are just not cut out to run a business whilstothers prefer the stability of a regular paid job.

Then, as with every profession, there are the bad and the good designers.The bad ones obviously don't last long while the good ones carry on to

reap the rewards of their profession.

So, although the market is highly competitive and saturated, providingyou are prepared to be flexible and diverse, there is room for everybody.

What does the term "Interior Designer" mean?

Broadly, it means offering advice and suggestions for colour schemes,

room planning, soft furnishing styles, fabrics, sourcing products,decorative design ideas and altering the layout of any room in the homeas well as carrying out any practical interior decoration such as paint

effects, stencilling, re upholstering furniture or giving a face lift to tiredlooking furniture. You can offer one, some or all of these services and

still refer to yourself as an interior designer or popular in America is theterm, house doctor.

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For myself personally, interior design is about well thought out colourschemes, room planning, period home style, painted walls, hand paintedfurniture, hand drawn stencil designs and my own painted fabrics and

soft furnishing ideas. I don't like wallpaper or printed fabrics so I don'tinclude these as part of my service to customers.

I have therefore built a speciality interior design business, found a nicheand have an endless supply of customers (and students)!

Do I need to be creative and artistic to become an InteriorDesigner?

Yes, you do need a certain amount of creative flair and artistic licence.

Many people are drawn to the ideal of becoming an interior designerbecause of it's glamour image . As I spend a lot of time holding apaintbrush and wearing an apron, I have yet to discover how anyone finds

the profession to be glamorous!

What other practical skills do I need to become an InteriorDesigner?

On a good learning course you will learn the importance of developing atrained eye for visual detail, how to spot potential, develop creative flair,work with practical problems and build up a library of resources as well

as learn about colour, lighting and space and how to use it. All theseskills can be easily taught and easily learned plus you can always receive

help from our end if you are stuck with a particular problem.

The other most important skills I believe are vital are large amounts of

motivation, enthusiasm, commitment and passion for the subject you arelearning about.

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If you are going to be offering a service and working with the public, youalso need good people and communication skills.