Interior Design : Why it is a great career option

By RC Dalal

Interior design is an art form just like any other art. It is all about creating the best form of a dwelling place which is filled with emotions and love. Many people think that designs can only be displayed on tangible surfaces, such as paper or canvas, whereas any space can be turned into a work of art with a little creativity and imagination.

Interior design impacts, influences and affects our world in many ways and in many different aspects; from the local cricket fields, to the most upper class hotel rooms in the city centre, to your very own kitchen.

Importance of interior design

A good interior designer will not only make a space look and function better, it can have a significant impact on mood and wellbeing. The application of uplifting colour schemes, well-designed furnishings and furniture and the thoughtful manipulation of light and space can all make a real difference to how we feel about and in an environment.

Moreover the public spaces such as schools and hospitals, can benefit most from creative interior design. Here it has the potential to improve health and productivity. It is also an invaluable asset for businesses. An office interior, for example, can help to raise the profile of a company and boost staff morale as well. And it goes without saying that shops, restaurants and leisure venues that are inviting and stimulating inside will potentially draw in more customers, and therefore increase profits.

In all cases, interior design can be used to reflect status, ambition and taste, this is especially true for residential interior design and also increases the value of a property.

Design is all around us, everything man-made has been designed, whether consciously or not’.

It’s up to us to think 'how can I use good design to make the world around me better?'

The Designing field also gives wings to imaginations ending up into some out of the box products.

The evolution and the importance of Interior design as a career option.

Many years back interior decoration was considered to be career for aspiring girls getting into matrimony or bored housewives as it was something interesting to be done with their homes. While this interior decoration course has now transformed into interior design which is more structured and which also lets you play with every element in a construction right from climatic conditions to the layout of the furniture making it more energy efficient to making it more soothing and to serve the purposes with a very aesthetic touch.

Interior Design as a career option is a fantastic option which allows you to play with all the elements of fashion and design in your own home be it colour or texture. It is very good for every individual who looks at playing with different art forms and with a very creative flair.

The latest developments in interior design as a career and what are the new teaching techniques.

The most interesting part of interior design as a career is when an institution like us which specializes in fashion and design are also offering similar programs in one year and three year specializations. This opens a whole new platform for students to choose between a simple basic level program or a professional interior design program specializing in any one or two programs of interior design.

The teaching techniques have changed, though a lot of work is still done by the skilled labours but the teaching has become more practical. It has not only taken the creative side of design and aesthetics but also the importance of durability of materials and how energy efficient the same can happen.

What are the innovative courses in this field?

The innovative courses are plenty and some of them are Furniture Design, Landscaping and Residential Design among others.

Job prospects

This industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Wherever there is a construction and a development in real estate the opportunities for interior designers increases. There are a lot of brands investing and the entire industry is getting more organized. With the introduction of international brands in the market, the bar for competition has raised. Specialized profiles like interior design residences, id boutiques, id cafes, landscaping.

The scope of employment opportunities for interior designers is extensive. They can be employed by architects or architectural firms, builders, public works department, hotels and resort chains, hospitals, town planning bureaus, regional and metropolitan development works, private consultancies, studios and theatres and exhibition organizers. Interior design also offers excellent opportunities for those who wish to be self-employed, or prefer working part time. In fact, it is one of the few professions where one can operate from home with minimal investment.

Pay scale in the field

There is plenty amount of pay feasibility in the industry of interior designing .Life for the newly starting interior designers is very hard because reputation and experience takes a while to build. However, once you get past the initial years, the career prospects are huge. From starting up your own firm and taking on various different projects. An interior designer can also be  hired by big architectural firms to cope with the large project load .After an experience of 1 year, interior designers ranges between Rs. 30,000 to Rs.40,000 per month and after gaining an experience of 5 years, it can range from  Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 3,000,000 per annum. After 15 years, it all depends on the number of clients he is working for and how much specialization he/she acquires.

Tips aspiring students should go about in making a career in this field

• The most important thing what an interior design aspirant should look out for is an institute which specializes or gives them an edge and experience with live projects into various kinds of elements of the study.
• Eyes can be trained, taste can be cultivated but a basic flyer of creativity is required in every aspiring student of design.
• One who wants to enter this field must be hard working as life for the newly starting interior designers is very hard because reputation and experience takes a while to build.
• One should have excellent management and communication skills.

What does the industry look for in a fresher?

The industry looks at innovative students, someone with a spark, someone who would want to bend the rules and yet follow the simple baseline of interior design not only being aesthetics but energy efficient.

Young entrepreneur in this field

The course offers an extensive training on various live projects where a student after completing the program can actually haunt their skills and come to know as to what areas they are cut out for. This can become as simple as taking various assignments right from furniture to interior space design and be a consultant to the same. Also a lot of other brands look for consultants where they advise people to use the products in the existing layout of the interior designs.

Future of the industry

Future of the industry seems very bright as already a lot of money has been spent on infrastructure and building constructions. And wherever there are four walls it creates a space which needs to be used and that space is made more comfortable by an interior designer. 

Change is an eternal phenomenon, and nothing is constant ever. And same stands true for the world of interior designing too, where every designer strives to convert your dream of a beautiful space into reality.

About the author:

Mr. RC Dalal is the Executive Director of JD Institute of Fashion Technology. The institute offers courses in Fashion and Jewellery Design.