When you walk into a room and cannot help but notice how beautiful it looks, it’s probably the work of an interior designer. This person creates a design and carries out minor cosmetic upgrades to living spaces to make it a reality. Having an eye for different materials and patterns that work together is vital to being an effective designer. However, just picking out nice patterns and making a beautiful room is not all they do. Refer to this interior designer job description article to learn more about what these professionals do.
What Does an Interior Designer Do?
An interior designer job description will state that they need to be able to create beautiful, warm, and inviting spaces. They have expertise in working from blueprints, communicating with clients to see what kind of space they would be happy with, and following building and structural codes. The role of an interior designer in the design process is to set timelines for projects and give an estimate of how it will cost. In addition, they will keep the client updated. Technology helps these professionals to do their job more efficiently by using computer software programs. It allows them to manipulate the virtual space as a representation of what the physical space will eventually resemble.
The median interior designer salary is $48,840, and most positions require a bachelor’s degree. These professionals can work for a firm or are self-employed. While most designers work full-time, they have flexibility in their schedule. They may have to work evenings and weekends depending on what their client needs.
Interior Designer Job Description for Resume – Responsibilities
It’s clear from an interior designer job description that they have an artistic flair. However, they have more responsibilities than just that. Use the bullet points below as starting details for your resume or portfolio.
- Meet with clients and conduct a needs assessment to analyze their requirements for the space.
- Reconcile these needs with the constraints of the space and structural considerations.
- Develop 2-3 design plans using computer software that the client can select from.
- Choose the materials in the space, from lighting to paints and accessories.
- Give an estimated project cost and a deadline for completion.
- Work with different suppliers to gather the right materials for the design job, preferably at discounted prices.
- Work as part of a team of architects, engineers, and construction managers to track work progress and completion.
Resource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Interior Designer Required Skills
- Communication skills. Part of the interior designer job description is working with clients.Understanding what they want in a space is the most important thing they will do. Having the communication skills to interact with customers who have diverse needs will create designs that they could only imagine.
- Budgeting skills. Each client will have their own budget. Interior designers need to be able to complete the project on the finances provided.
- Artistic skills. Developing designs and imagining how they would work in a currently existing or new space is essential for interior designers. Completing designs with things like complementary colors and matching materials will improve the final look of the room.
- Detail oriented skills. Seeing how the whole design will fit together while paying attention to the specifics will create designs that are symmetrical and neat.
How to Become an Interior Designer
There is a difference between an interior decorator and designer. To be a designer, you must earn at minimum an associate’s degree. Experience is not necessary, but at the beginning of a career, the designer will be of the junior rank. Even with education and experience, the most important characteristic is to quickly create quality designs. There are different industries for them, from furniture companies to architectural firms.
Education & Training Requirements
For interior designer careers, the recommendation is to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in design. For more advanced positions, a bachelor’s degree would be the requirement. To get admitted to an interior design program, many students will submit a portfolio of their work. While majoring in a design field exposes you to concepts such as complementary colors and material selection, it’s not a requirement.
A student who is interested in interior design should go to a school accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. There are further accreditations if you are interested in a specific area. For example, the National Kitchen & Bath Association certifies programs that offer classes with these design concentrations.
Some states require licenses to practice as an interior designer while others do not. The Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) offers the licensing after a certain amount of education and experience. There is a group known as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) that give state-specific information on licensing requirements.
Work Experience
There is no experience requirement to become an interior designer. However, you can advance from junior to senior interior designer. A designer needs to practice for two years before they can sit for their licensing exam. If a job pops up and you do not have the adequate experience, though, there are a couple of options. Doing design work for a charity or non-profit provides a valuable way to build a portfolio. In addition, you gain experience while also showing your commitment to philanthropy and volunteerism.
There is about a $26,000 difference in the median salary between junior and senior designers. Of course, other career paths can lead to a job as an interior designer. For example, you can start as a furniture designer, exhibition designer, lighting designer, and kitchen designer. All of these jobs will provide essential experiences and knowledge to build expertise as an interior designer.
Work Schedules
The most common industry for interior designers is specialized design services. Approximately 25 percent of these professionals are self-employed. These people will have different schedules as they have to manage a business in addition to working as a designer. As far as the interior designers working conditions, the majority work full-time.
A typical day for an interior designer is to make a list of projects they need to accomplish. The day starts at about 8:30 AM by checking e-mail. The person then goes to a client’s house and installs necessary design updates. In the afternoon, they look at blueprints for the electricity in a residence and creates a draft of the design in CAD. The day ends at about 6 PM. It is normal for designers to work at odd hours to suit the hours of the client.
Career Prospects
The employment growth for interior designers is predicted to be 4 percent through the year 2024. This number is dependent on economic growth. Designing spaces is an extra expenditure, not necessary, and thus people will not spend money on it if money is tight. Designers will have the opportunity to work in new construction such as new apartment complexes or health care buildings. Specialization in multiple areas can increase work opportunities.
Their median salary is $48,840. The highest paying industries with a high concentration of designers are architectural and engineering services and residential building construction. The states that higher the most designers are California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.
Conclusion
An interior designer job description will always emphasize the ability to create sharp designs and satisfy the needs of the client. Earning a bachelor’s degree in design or a related field provides valuable experience. Maintaining a portfolio and connecting it to various social media and other networking channels can increase awareness of your work.