Becoming an Interior Designer

Becoming an INTERIOR DESIGNER Here is the completely updated guide to today’s interior design careers—a clear and concise survey of the interior design field covering: History of the profession Educational preparation Interviews with designers Certification and licensing The design process Where the jobs are Owning your own firm Design specialties Residential Commercial Sustainable design Corporate Hospitality Retail Healthcare Institutional Entertainment Restoration and adaptive use “Becoming an Interior Designer is the go-to book for an inside look at the profession of interior design today. The advice from a broad range of practitioners and educators about the professional requirements and business of interior design make it an invaluable tool for those contemplating an interior design career. The added bonus is Christine’s ability to draw out from her interviewees the common passion for improving quality of life, which is a rarely referenced quality of a successful interior designer.” —Suzan Globus, FASID, LEED AP, 2007 ASID National President

Preface ix Acknowledgments xii 1 An Introduction to the Interior Design Profession 1 What Do Interior Designers Do? 2 What Do Interior Designers Do? 3 Is Interior Design for You? 11 History 17 Sustainable Design 21 What Do You Feel Is the Impact of Sustainable Design on the Profession? 27 Professional Associations 32 Interior Design Registration and Licensing 36 How Important Is Certification by Examination and Licensing of Interior Designers Today? 38 Why Did You Become an Interior Designer? 42 2 Educational Preparation 55 High School Preparation 59 Choosing an Educational Program 62 How Did You Choose Which School to Attend to Obtain Your Education in Interior Design? 63 Four-Year Educational Preparation 72 The Importance of Internships 77 Two-Year Associate Degree 78 Postgraduate Education in Interior Design 80 NCIDQ Examination 82 Continuing Education 84 How Important Is Interior Design Education in Today’s Industry? 92 3 Where the Jobs Are 99 Career Decisions 103 Independent Design Firms 107 What Motivated You to Start Your Own Design Firm? 110 Architectural Offices 112 Furniture Retailers 116 Office Furnishings Dealers 119 Interior Design on a Global Stage 121 Facility Planning and Design 124 Sole Practitioner Work Environments 124 Job-Seeking Tools 130 Can You Describe the Optimum Portfolio for a Job Applicant? 134 What Do You Look for in Hiring a New Designer? 139 What Do You Enjoy Most About Working in the Firm You Are in Right Now? 143 4 Design Specialties 149 Residential Design 150 Aging in Place 153 Commercial 156 Sustainable Design 158 What Do You Feel Is the Impact of Sustainable Design or Design for Seniors on the Profession? 160 Corporate and Professional Offices 166 Hospitality 174 Entertainment and Recreation 180 Retail Facilities 183 Healthcare 186 Senior Living 192 Institutional 195 Restoration and Adaptive Use 201 Related Career Options 202 What Advice Would You Give Someone Who Wants to Be an Interior Designer? 212 5 The Design Process 223 Project Development 224 Programming 230 Schematic Design 232 Design Development 235 Contract Documents 239 Contract Administration 241 Project Management 244 Working Relationships 246 What Is the Single Most Important Skill an Interior Designer Needs to Be Successful? 247 6 Interior Design as a Business 253 Business Formations 255 What Motivated You to Start Your Design Firm? 257 Marketing Methods 260 Contracts 264 Interior Design Revenue 270 Legal Issues 272 How Important Is Certification by Examination and Licensing of Interior Designers Today? 275 What Is the Greatest Business Challenge for Interior Design Firms? 278 7 The Future 285 What Do You See as the Future for the Interior Design Profession? 285 Interior Design Resources 297 Cida-accredited Interior Design Programs in the United States And Canada 299 Interior Design References 310 Interior Designers 312 Index 317