Find UK courses - part time courses, undergraduate, postgraduate courses

What would you like to learn?

* mandatory
Advanced search Find a course provider

Interior Designer

Interested in Interior Designer? Click on the links below.

Interior Designer

Interior Designer Career Details

Interior designers plan and organise the design and decorating of interiors in people’s homes, offices, hotels, shops, public buildings, ships and aircraft. Interior design may involve altering an existing interior, or working on a new building.

Interior designers work with the client or architect to develop a design that suits the building and the client. Interior designera have to consider the purpose of the building, the cost of the project and the time-scale.

The interior design process involves preparing initial sketches and showing the client samples of fabrics, fittings and furniture. The designer or draughtsman/woman turns the sketches into detailed drawings, usually on a computer. Many interior designers also recommend people to carry out the work on site and supervise their progress. They may be involved with supplying the fittings, flooring, decorations and plants.

Working Environment

Working hours can be quite irregular and might involve working evenings and weekends.

Designers are usually studio based, but may also spend a great deal of time visiting clients and sites. They might have to spend short periods away from home.

Freelance designers may work from home, share offices or rent a studio.

Interior Designer Related Skills

Interior designers need:
  • a combination of creativity and practicality
  • excellent organisational skills for working on multiple projects
  • drawing and computer-aided design skills
  • an understanding and knowledge of building and safety regulations
  • a high level of technical knowledge about products, the qualities of materials and architectural history
  • effective communication skills for dealing with suppliers, contractors and clients
  • to be able to cost designs and work to budgets
  • business and communications skills (especially for freelance).

Interior Designer Career Opportunities

Because many designers work freelance, either finding their own work or under contract to an agency, there are limited formal vacancies for interior designers and competition is very strong.

Employers include retail outlets, interior design consultancies, or architectural practices.

Success for freelance interior depends on building up reputation and a client base.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Interior Designer related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Interior Designer? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Interior Designer? Take a look at Postgraduate Interior Designer courses, Undergraduate Interior Designer courses, Adult learning Interior Designer courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.