How to become an interior designer?

“Not every interior designer gravitates towards the importance of design."

Thinking about entering the interior design industry? Interested in becoming an interior designer? Well, the first thing I can suggest you do is to look beyond the aesthetically beautiful interiors, construction plans, material selection, and mood board and ask yourself one question I believe is fundamental to this industry. “What is the purpose of interior design?” I mean, really, how does an aesthetically beautiful interior benefit someone? Take a moment and actually think of this question.

How does an aesthetically beautiful interior benefit someone? 

Let me scratch the surface and ask, what’s the importance of an interior designer if less than 10% of the world population can benefit from it? (Fisher, 2009). How is interior design meaningful in any way when most of the world's population is living in poverty?

After reading a recent article by Jill Pable  –“Socially benefit design”, it really made me think. There was a remark that changed my perspective and brought my thoughts back to reality. 

- There are currently more than one billion people all over the world who is undergoing great suffering from poverty, sickness, homelessness, etc… and for these people, interior design doesn’t mean much especially when their priority is to find their next meal.

Sadly, not enough designers understand the weight and the positive impact they can have on the lives of their community.  

During my reading, the works of Eve Blossom stood out. She is the founder of Lulan Artisans, a high-quality textile producer. She is one of the interior designers who understood the power of “designing with a purpose”. Pable calls it “Socially benefit design”. Blossom started her company to design and create a high-quality textile that was made available to the western markets. By doing so,  she guaranteed 650 locos (from Laos and Taiwan) a fair wage so they wouldn’t be lured into prostitution to make a living. She set the captives free. She contributed to putting an end to one of the world’s biggest problems (Human Trafficking).

She made a difference! That’s designing with purpose.

Now, to answer your question on how to become an interior designer, there are a few ways others may promote but as a designer who pursued higher education, I am a true advocate of learning the interior design fundamentals and foundation in an educational setting.

In my opinion, the media has distorted the public's perception of interior design. Know that the industry is a professional trade just like dentistry, accounting, marketing, etc. As a designer who has obtained a one-year certificate, a three-year diploma and completed a four-year degree in interior design, I want to answer your questions and clarify any confusion. 

• Should I get a one-year certificate, three-year diploma or four-year degree in interior design?

Based on my experience, a certificate doesn’t come close to the knowledge and skills you build within a degree program. In a degree program you explore all types of interiors, residential, retail, hospitality, office, public facilities (recreational centers, gyms, spas, etc..), healthcare, education, and transportation). By the time you complete a bachelor's degree, you will not be limited and know how to tackle any sector of design. 

CERTIFICATE

Most certificate programs only cover residential design and basic design skills. The certificate I completed was issued by the Interior Design Institute of Canada, which consist of dominantly theory-based lectures. I learned about interior design history, interior design styles, scale, colour, textiles, furniture styles and basic drafting skills. 

DIPLOMA

The three-year technical diploma is great but may limit your career growth as most interior design and architect firms internationally require a bachelor's degree.

During the 3-year program which I completed at Dawson College in Montreal, Canada, I learned so much! I developed both technical and creative skills that I didn't have since I have a background in sciences and finance. I learned to tackle residential and commercial projects such as retail, hospitality, recreational, wellness and community centers. I even learned how to design elevators, doors, light fixtures, and furniture. The majority of the courses in the program were hands-on which enhanced the learning process. 

DEGREE

The transition from a technical college diploma to a university degree was very challenging. It does take dedication and motivation to reach the final stage. The degree program was substantially and prominently theory-based. It required hours of weekly readings and essays. I was required to complete term papers on environmental economics, design theories, design perspectives, globalization, and many other topics. The main project that is concentrated in the 4th year is a thesis research paper. After completing the research phase, I finally had the chance to put into action my technical design skills and integrate evidence-based design into an actual project. All this to say is that the degree program is much more enriching, credible and valuable than a certificate in interior design. 

My advice to you is:

Know what you want to do. Don't confuse interior decorating with interior design. Research different schools in your area that offers an interior design program and take a look at their course outline. Go to the open house or request a visit. I share all this with you because I've seen many people drop out of the program simply because it's not what they expected. I don't want you to waste your money, time and energy! 

If you've done your research and you know without a doubt that interior design is for you, I want to wish you the best of luck and congratulate you for taking this step. The education part is a lot of work but I can testify that it is SO WORTH IT in the end!!!!