Interior Designer
Tasks & duties
Interior designers may do some or all of the following:
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discuss design ideas and provide advice to clients
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analyse clients' requirements
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plan and design whole building interiors, rooms, shops, residential and leisure spaces
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plan interior infrastructure such as lighting, air-conditioning and communication cabling
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prepare drawings, samples and decorating instructions
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make any necessary changes to the designs or drawings
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advise on hiring tradespeople
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design furniture or fittings
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work with architects and other contractors at the early stages of designing an interior space
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help manage projects
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keep up to date with trends and legal requirements in interior design
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run their own businesses
Specialisations
Residential Interior Designer
Residential interior designers work for private clients to help design interiors for existing or new homes. They may also work for kitchen and bathroom design companies.
Commercial or Contract Interior Designer
Commercial or contract interior designers primarily work for companies, designing public spaces. They may specialise in designing for certain types of industries, such as:
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hospitality (hotels, restaurants, health clubs)
- health care (hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices)
- professional services (law offices or financial institutions)
- retail (shopping malls, stores, galleries)
- government (schools, offices)
- transportation (airports or cruise ships)
Skills & knowledge
Interior designers need to have:
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knowledge of past and present styles of architecture, design and decorating
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knowledge of building materials and regulations
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the ability to analyse client requirements and fit the design to a client (ergonomics)
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design, drawing and presentation skills
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communication and problem-solving skills
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basic maths skills
Entry requirements
To become an interior designer you need to have a degree or diploma in interior design. An architecture, interior architecture or industrial design qualification is also useful.
Secondary education
To enter tertiary training, Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA Level 2 is needed.
Useful subjects include:
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art and design
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art history
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English
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graphics
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computing and technology
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maths
Many tertiary providers require design students to present a portfolio of work when applying for a place on a course.
Tertiary education
To become an interior designer you need to have a degree or diploma in interior design.
Design Institute of NZ website - read more about design course providers
Training on the job
Skills are gained on the job. Interior designers may attend workshops, courses and seminars to keep their skills up to date.
Registration
Interior designers can apply for a professional licence under the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme. The Department of Building and Housing recognises their professional competence at three levels:
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Design 1 (houses)
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Design 2 (complex commercial or residential buildings)
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Design 3 (large or publicly important buildings)
Applicants will be assessed on their work history, professional references and qualifications. They will have an opportunity to present their design portfolios during a face-to-face assessment with the Licensing Board.
The licensing scheme is currently voluntary, but will become mandatory in November 2010 for those who want to lead design projects.
Useful experience
Useful experience includes:
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any work related to rebuilding or refitting building interiors
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industrial design or other design work
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architecture or architectural draughting work
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civil engineering
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work in interior decorating or textiles
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overseas travel
Video
From just a job on you tube
Related courses
Interior and Environmental Design
For more information, please refer to Career Services.
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