Interior Designers plan and design or redesign attractive
and useful interiors for homes, hotels, ships, hospitals, office
buildings, pubs, theatres, retail establishments, and other commercial
structures. They may be involved in planning the interiors of new
buildings or remodelling old ones. Architects are responsible for
the outer shell of a structure. Interior designers often work from
blueprints, make detailed floor plans, and draw furniture to scale.
They shop in wholesale markets to locate furnishings and accessories,
and, when necessary, design original pieces to be made to order.
They often work closely with both building and landscape architects.
Interior designers identify, research and creatively solve problems
pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.
Interior decorators help enhance the aesthetic appearance of the
interiors of homes and buildings through decoration and coordination.
They would be hired to purchase new furniture, drapery, and art
work and help the client choose coordinating colours of paint, wall
paper, panelling and flooring and to make a wide variety of other
interior decisions. Interior designers may double up as interior
decorators, but the reverse is not possible unless the interior
decorator trained as an interior designer and decorator.
Interior designers must be knowledgeable about the materials and
products that will be used to create and furnish the space, and
about how texture, colour, lighting and other factors combine and
interact to give a space its "feel" or "look". They must also understand
the structural requirements of their plans, the health and safety
issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.
Interior Designers usually work directly with clients and must consider
their requirements, tastes, preferences, and budget. They must keep
form, colour, scale, and arrangement in balance, and keeping in
mind the utility, construction, economy, and client satisfaction.
The skill set
A natural aptitude for art is necessary and the ability to work
as part of a team. An eye for colour and detail, a sense of balance
and proportion, and an appreciation of beauty are critical for interior
designers. While flair and creative ability are initial requirements,
one would need to build a lot of other things such as design drawing,
verbal and visual presentation skills.
Interior designers have to be familiar with the nature of woods,
textiles, other material and fixtures and decorating products such
as paint and wallpaper. They should be interested and knowledgeable
about the historical periods that have influenced the development
of furniture style and room design, regional trends in design preference,
etc.
Since computer-aided design is increasingly common, employers expect
interior designers to be familiar and comfortable with the use of
computers as a design tool. Being well-read, open to new ideas and
influences and being quick to react to emerging trends is useful
for interior designers. Self discipline, persistence, good business
sense and sales ability are important especially for those who wish
to freelance or run their own businesses. Ability to meet deadlines
and budgets of clients is critical. Interior designers must be comfortable
meeting and dealing with many kinds of people. They must communicate
clearly and effectively, as well as be attentive listeners. Having
to work collaboratively with architects, contractors, and other
service providers, interior designers need to be both good team
leaders and good team players. They must be willing to negotiate
and mediate when necessary to resolve problems.
Training Programmes
Interior design and decoration diploma courses are offered at polytechnics
to students who have completed their secondary school (Class 10)
or plus two (Class 12) examination. Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
programmes may include interior design/ interior decoration as a
specialisation.
Bachelor's degree programme in Interior Design is offered as 3-/4-/5-year
programmes after plus two at select institutions in the country.
Admission to the 5-year undergraduate programme in Interior Design
at the School of Interior Design, Centre for Environmental Planning
and Technology [CEPT] at Ahmedabad is open to students of science
at plus two, through aptitude tests, interview and weightage for
academic record. All eligible candidates appear at the first level
test. This consists of three papers: Visual Perception & Logic (2
hours), Imagination & Design Exposure (2 hours) and Creativity and
Colour Perception (2 hours). Candidates shortlisted on the basis
of merit in the first level test are called for the second level
test which is in the form of the personal interview. Interviews
assess motivation, interest to pursue academic programme in Interior
Design, exposure to built environment and participation in the extra
curricular activities. Candidates may bring a portfolio of representative
works, original transcripts, certificates of merit as well as certificates
of extra curricular activities at the time of the interview. There
is equal weightage for each of the three first level tests, interview
and plus two scores.
Prominent Institutions
- School of Interior Design, Center For Environmental Planning
And Technology[CEPT], Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, University
Road, Ahmedabad - 380009
- Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design,Vallabh
Vidyanagar-388120
- National Institute of Design,Paldi, Ahmedabad-380007
- Apeejay Institute of Design, (affiliated to the Guru Nanak
Dev University, Amritsar),54 Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
M B Road, Near Batra Hospital, New Delhi-110062
- Faculty of Science, University Of Madras, Centenary Buildings
Chepauk, Triplicane P O Chennai- 600005
- South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, Behind Lady Shri Ram College,
Lajpat Nagar -IV, New Delhi-110024
- Rachna Sansad School of Interior Design,278, Shankar Ghanekar
Marg, Prabhadevi,Mumbai-400025
- Premlila Vithladas Polytechnic, SNDT Women's University, Sir
Vithaldas Vidyavihar, Juhu Road, Santa Cruz W, Mumbai -400049
- Exterior-Interiors (P) Ltd,Asia Pacific Head Office,8, Mullen
Street, Kolkata-700020 www.exterior-interiors.com
Exterior-Interior (P) Ltd has campuses in Hyderabad, Secunderabad,
New Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Kolkata (Salt Lake) Guwahati, Mumbai,
Chennai, Bangalore, Calicut and Cochin, etc.
[Listing is indicative, not exhaustive]
Prospects
A fresh interior designer must accept jobs that offer basic practical
experience and put up with long hours and difficult clients. Years
of experience and training are necessary in order to advance, so
patience is very important. Interior designers must expect a long
and hard struggle on the road to success.
Interior designers also teach. They may specialise in furniture
or lighting design, or in residential interiors of a particular
type of structure or facility such as office premises or restaurants
and pubs, etc. They may work in architecture firms, set up their
own design studios or work in a large interior design firm.
Since the employment of an Interior Designer may be considered a
luxury expense, job opportunities improve in prosperous times. Downturn
in the economy leads to a sharp decrease in the work opportunities.
Competition is very keen in this occupation, as there are more applicants
than available job openings. To succeed one must possess a combination
of talent, personality, and a healthy competitive sense.
