Deciding to pursue a new career can be both exciting and daunting, especially one like interior design. An interior designer is creative and logical at the same time. They face the challenge of creating a space that is aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time. The good news is with dedication, lots of learning, and hard work, anyone can become an interior designer. (Image Credits: Francesca Tosolini)
It’s a competitive profession and there’s a long way to go to become an established designer. But the journey is definitely worth it if you’re passionate about it. If you are lost in the world of interior design and don’t know how to start, we’re here to help.
Do Your Research
Give yourself a kick start by doing your research. You may know the basics, but there are things you probably still don’t know that will be helpful. Many people don’t know the difference between interior design and interior decoration. Ask yourself the most basic of questions: what is interior design and find the answer by doing your homework. Research and learn all you can about it by referring to reliable resources from blogs, schools, and other references. Remember that researching never ends, read about different styles, histories, and schools of interior design.
Learn Interior Design – Find a Path
The next step is about learning how to do interior design, whereas the first was learning about interior design. There are different ways to get all the education you need about interior design. For example, you can take a course and get a certification or you can go to a school and earn a degree. Some firms require a bachelor’s degree in interior design, but that doesn’t mean a certification isn’t useful as well.
A degree is long years of school where you will learn a lot about the core of designing, reading a blueprint, and drawing. A certificate might teach you different things like trends, fabrics, and furniture design. Choose what is suitable for you and be sure to read more about the course work and what you will learn, whether in a course or a school.
Specialize
There are different specializations that you choose in interior design. Is there a specific style you’re more interested in? Are there areas you would like to design like hospitals, offices, residential, hotels, or others? Are there aspects of interior design you are better at than others? Find your niche and make it a starting point to launch your career. If you find yourself good at something or leaning towards it, stick with it. Or, you can do different styles and areas and switch up between them, you have the flexibility.
Build a Portfolio
Building a portfolio might be the most important step in your career. Some schools require a portfolio before even applying there. You can build a portfolio regardless of your lack of clientele. Imagine rooms, design them in 2D or 3D rendering, and add them to your portfolio.
You can design for friends and family for free or a small fee just to practice. Feel free to ask them to recommend you or give testimonials of your work if they praise it. You will be putting everything you learned into practice and your skills of drawing and designing into work.
Get Hired
A lot of experts recommend you start in an agency or firm, rather than in freelancing. Working with people who know the profession well will protect you from making mistakes that might negatively affect your career. You will have the option of taking advice and asking questions that will help you learn. You will also be more aware of the estimated duration of finishing a full project and the effort exerted in it. During your period in a firm or agency, you will know more about your strong and weak points and how to use them.
Get Clients
Getting clients, dealing with them, and advertising your brand might be the hardest part of becoming a freelance interior designer. During your time at an agency, you can build a good reputation for your work and learn how to gain clients and interact with them. You can use social media outlets to market yourself.
Remember that your clients are friends. You should know how to communicate with them effectively. Once you have fully learned from working for an entity and made a rapport, you can start being a freelance interior designer.
Interior design is a career worth your time and effort. There’s a great satisfaction that comes with finishing a project and listening to your client’s happy feedback. Start today by doing your research and paving your career path. Eventually, you will be thankful you made your dreams come true.