Finding your perfect place in an interior design career. You have options.
Accessing your skills. What are your best skills?
● Space planning
● CADD drawing
● Coordinating fabrics
● Colorization
● Assembling presentation materials
● Working with homeowners
● Project management
You will become aware of your skills in part by your grades in your classes!
Do others comment on your apartment, home or outfits you put together? I can walk into someone’s home and know if they have “it” or they have hired someone. Most of us in the biz feel we were born with a skill set.
Most designers are either residential or commercial. You can do both but residential is easy to fall into as someone can ask you to help them and in states that don’t require licensing, you can just start working! There are professional insurance plans. You might be working on set design and someone asks you to come over to their home.
What is your preference?
● Commercial buildings – offices, retail stores, apartment buildings-now you are into building codes
● Hospitality
● Health care
● Institutional design-schools, government buildings and transportation facilities
● Sustainable design
● Residential homes
In a small town, you may start in a boutique or hardware store. In a larger city, there are more options. A contractor or architect may need help. Stores need displays.
In addition to your skill set, the type of design you go into may depend on your financial needs. Full time work may include a salary and health insurance. Building your own firm requires you to cover all expenses. Licensing varies by state. You may want to incorporate or set up an LLC.