Interior Design
Make Your Mark on the World

Are you creative? Do you have a flair for decorating? Do color and texture intrigue you? Do you admire a building’s architecture, both interior and exterior? Do you find yourself thinking, "This space would be great if..."? Do you find yourself often rearranging your house or room? Then interior design may be a great career option for you.

When people think of interior design, they often think of fabrics, furniture and paint colors. While this is certainly part of interior design, there is much more. Interior design is the process of creating human environments. This can include houses, condos, offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, retail stores, and more. Almost any building can benefit from the expertise of an interior designer.

Interior design is one of the few professions that offers a way to use creativity in the business world. Designers are able to use their ingenuity to design furniture, textiles, and space. Creating objects and spaces that people will use ensures that designers will not become starving artists.

The Function of Space
Knowing the function of a space is critical to good design, as it determines the size and shape of the space. For example, when developing office space, the designer will talk to managers, administrative assistants, and receptionists in addition to the president of the company. It is only through discussions with everyone who will use the space that the designer can understand what the client needs.

Developing a Floor Plan
Once the first phase ends, the work of designing the space begins. The designer must develop a floor plan that will accommodate the client's needs and conform to building codes and federal, state, and local laws. During this phase, the designer must make decisions regarding the priorities for the client's space. The designer may draft the floor plan by hand or by using computer aided drafting (CAD). The use of CAD adds flexibility to the design process and allows the designer greater ease in revising or altering the original design. Once the designer develops the floor plan, it is shared with the client for approval or revisions. The design will go through a series of revisions, depending upon the client’s suggestions and requirements.

Selecting Furniture and Finishes
Once the structural elements of the space have been planned, the designer's attention turns to furniture and finishes. Selection of furniture and finishes can be one of the most exciting parts of the project. Shopping at the Chicago Merchandise Mart with the client can lead to many different and exotic finds. One of the largest retail spaces in the world, the Merchandise Mart is packed full of furniture from around the world. Fabric and floor and wall covering companies also maintain showrooms there.

Installation
The next stage of the designer’s job is the installation. The designer may oversee the physical completion of the job or a project manager may be hired. In either case, it is the designer's responsibility to be sure that the design is being implemented correctly. The designer must remain available throughout this final stage so that the contractor can ask any questions that may arise during construction.

Build Your Career
Interior design is one of the fastest growing professions in Illinois and across the United States. A designer can be self-employed or work in an interior design or architecture firm. In addition, many designers work for furniture manufacturers or home furnishing stores. It is also possible to specialize in a particular kind of interior design, such as kitchens and baths or the interiors of historic buildings. Though some designers specialize in the field they most enjoy, many others work in all areas of residential, commercial, and restaurant design.

Where you can go is based only upon where you’d like to be!

Editorial provided by Gretchen Frickx, Harrington College of Design, Chicago.