Explore the dynamic and rewarding field of interior design, where creativity meets expertise. Learn about training options, software proficiency, portfolio development, and potential careers in this exciting industry.
Key Insights
- Interior design is more than just decoration; it involves understanding building codes, safety issues, and structural requirements and requires technical training in software applications such as computer-aided design and building information modeling.
- With interior design training, you can work on luxury home interiors, commercial properties, film and TV sets, or specialize in sustainable designs. Teaching and writing about design trends are also options for trained designers.
- A quality interior design program will cover foundational principles of design, software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe InDesign, and Photoshop, and professional skills like communication and project management.
- There are multiple training methods for learning interior design, including in-person classes, live online courses, on-demand pre-recorded sessions, and self-directed courses with mentor support.
- The difficulty of learning interior design depends on your prior experience, the training program chosen, and your attitude towards learning. The most challenging parts may vary from person to person.
- Free online tutorials can offer a peek into the world of interior design, but for comprehensive learning and certification, formal training programs—whether self-paced or full-time—are recommended.
What is Interior Design?
The field of interior design is at the intersection between creativity and knowledge. Interior Designers create useful and attractive spaces where people live and work. Designers need to understand how to use textiles, color theory, and space planning, as well as structural requirements, building codes, and safety best practices to create spaces that are as beautiful as they are functional. Successful interior design produces a space that is a joy to inhabit.
Unlike interior decorating, which is concerned mainly with reflecting taste and fashion, interior design goes beyond decoration to include ergonomics and sustainability. In addition to understanding how to capture and convey a look, Designers also need technical training in software applications like computer-aided design and building information modeling. They must also consider building codes, safety issues, and structural requirements as they work closely with architects, engineers, contractors, furniture makers, businesses, and homeowners.
What Can You Do with Interior Design Training?
Interior Designers work with clients to plan the structure and look of the interior spaces of luxury homes, apartment buildings, and commercial properties. Designers like Alvar Alto and Lina Bo Bardi create spaces that reflect the surrounding environment. Kelly Wearstler is the Queen of Maximalism with opulent hotel designs. Joanna Gaines helped to popularize the rustic farmhouse style through the Silos project, a commercial development in Waco, Texas.
Learn Interior Design
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
Interior designers also work on sets for films, television, and live theater. Others specialize in eco-friendly and sustainable designs. Rather than focusing on structures, some designers work with colors, lighting, or furniture design.
Teaching is another option for someone with interior design skills. This can take the form of interior design courses at schools or training programs, or workshops for potential clients. Interior Designers also write books, articles, and blogs and create videos on design trends and principles.
What Will I Learn in an Interior Design Class?
Students learning interior design study the foundational principles, which include balance, proportion, scale, emphasis, and harmony. They also take courses in AutoCAD for preparing and reading drawings, SketchUp and Adobe InDesign for creating design plans and sharing them with team members, and Photoshop for working with images. Students also learn professional skills like communication and project management.
Courses also prepare students to work with clients, listen to their needs and desires, and articulate plans successfully and professionally. Programs are designed to help students develop their creativity, artistic ability, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills to prepare for a professional career in interior design.
Creating an interior design portfolio is another crucial aspect of preparing to work as a professional Interior Designer. High-quality training programs offer mentorship programs to help students assemble their portfolios and present them to the best advantage in their job search.
What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn Interior Design?
Students seeking interior design training can choose between in-person, live online, self-directed, or on-demand options.
In-Person
In-person classes meet face-to-face in a physical classroom or computer lab. An instructor in the room leads the course, and students sit at desks or tables around the space. Participants can interact with the leader and other students to ask questions, get help, or network. Students do need to travel to the class location and either pay for transportation or parking.
Live Online
Live online classes run simultaneously with an in-person class, with some students present in the classroom and others joining through a video conferencing platform. The live online option allows participants to interact with the instructor and other students just like an in-person class, but they can log on from anywhere with a stable internet connection.
On-Demand
On-demand classes are pre-recorded video sessions students can watch on their own schedule or rewatch the videos if needed, but there is no access to an instructor or mentor. On-demand classes are available through a subscription to a platform like Skillshare, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning.
Self-Directed
Self-directed courses are similar to on-demand sessions in that they are under the student's control. The big difference is that self-directed classes provide additional support and guidance from instructors or mentors to allow students to get help with assignments or ask questions.
Choosing the Right Training Method for You
When you are planning to take a course, consider how you learn best and choose a training option that meets your needs. If you like interacting with an instructor and other students face-to-face, an in-person class is a good fit for you. This setting is a good way to connect and network with other students. But you do have to spend time traveling to the location, and if you live in a small town or rural area, in-person classes may not be offered.
Live online courses have all the advantages of in-person classes combined with the convenience of logging on to the class from anywhere with a strong internet connection. Students join through a platform like Zoom or Teams and can participate in class the same way in-person students do. This option can save time and let you take a class from home or work if you want to.
On-demand and self-directed courses are similar in that the lessons are pre-recorded, so students can watch them wherever and whenever they want. The difference between the two options is that self-directed courses provide mentorship students can access when needed, and on-demand courses usually do not.
How Hard is It to Learn Interior Design?
Whether or not interior design is difficult to learn depends on several factors. One is your level of experience with interior design skills. Also, the training program you choose can affect how hard it is for you to learn interior design. Traditional degrees, certification programs, and bootcamps can be difficult depending on your experiences and personal challenges. Finally, keeping a positive and confident attitude can make all the difference when learning something new.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Interior Design?
Again, that depends on your personal preferences. If you love the design aspects of a project—choosing colors or working with spaces—but are nervous about learning the technical tools that designers use, selecting a training program that provides mentors to help you can make that easier.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Interior Design?
Answer in about a paragraph. Should distinguish between how long it takes to be comfortable experimenting with Interior Design and how long it will take to learn Interior Design at a professional level.
If you have the time to devote to full-time instruction, it can take four years to earn a bachelor's degree or two years to earn an associate degree, and a certification program takes about a year to complete. A self-directed interior design course lets you learn at your own pace and work around a full-time job or family responsibilities. You can earn a certification on your time frame.
Can I Learn Interior Design for Free Online?
You can find free tutorials on interior design online, including some free videos on relevant tools like Adobe Photoshop or how to use AutoCAD. Free resources can help you begin to understand what interior design is, but you will not be able to master the skills needed to start a career as a professional Interior Designer relying solely on free materials.
What Should I Learn Alongside Interior Design?
Other skills to add to your design playbook might include building information modeling, technology-integrated design, or building and accessibility codes. Autodesk’s Revit is a powerful BIM tool popular among architects, engineers, and construction and interior design professionals to create intricate 3D models that can automatically update as changes are made.
As The Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more prevalent in modern living, designers must understand how these Wi-Fi-enabled elements fit into a design. People want innovative and intuitive spaces, and interior design professionals should be able to provide that to clients.
Another area to study alongside interior design is where to find building and accessibility codes. Each jurisdiction has its own set of codes that must be followed for a building to pass inspection.
Industries That Use Interior Design
Georgia is the number one state for film production in the United States, and the largest movie studio by square footage is located in Atlanta. Interior Designers who specialize in set or production design have a good chance of finding work in the industry. Hospitality is another major industry in Atlanta, with nearly a thousand hotels and many bars and restaurants in the region.
Atlanta is also a center for global healthcare and the home of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare companies hire interior design experts to make sure the space is practical, accessible, functional, and up to code. Interior Designers working in the healthcare industry ensure spaces are attractive and inviting so patients feel fewer anxious and more welcome. Interior Designers support healthcare workers and patients to ensure everyone can do their job and get the care they need.
Interior Design Job Titles and Salaries
Designers work in a wide variety of industries, including interior design. Some designers work with hand-drawn sketches and illustrations, but others create digital assets using tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, AutoCAD, and Revit. Designers earn between $76,000 and $94,000 a year.
CAD Designers use software to create technical drawings for complex projects. These designs may be: surface modeling (2D), 3D images, or solid modeling. CAD Designers work on engineering, architecture, and construction projects as well as products like electronics, fashion, cars, or medical equipment designs. These designers earn between $69,000 and $74,000 annually.
A Design Director leads a team of creative professionals who curate the look and feel of a product or project through the production of visual strategies. They work on projects like magazines, movies, advertisements, video games, or websites. Design Directors can work in industries such as interior design, retail, marketing, architecture, and entertainment and earn a yearly salary around $149,000.
Interior Design Classes Near Me
The Interior Design Essentials Course from VDCI can help you master the tools and software you need, while building up your design portfolio. This 6-course bundle includes training in AutoCAD, SketchUp Pro, and Photoshop to prepare you to create 3-D models, professional floor plans, and polished presentations. These are self-paced classes with expert support, and you will earn a digital credential at the completion of the course.
VDCI's Interior Design Professional Course will prepare you to design both residential and commercial spaces. Hands-on projects in this 18-module self-paced course will teach you design principles, drafting techniques, and industry-standard software tools, including AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, and SketchUp. With expert support, you will also learn to develop construction documents and manage real-world projects.
Otis College of Art and Design offers a certification course covering design fundamentals for residential, commercial, and public applications. The course also includes training in AutoCAD and SketchUp, plus portfolio development.
Another option is the Basic Interior Design certificate course at the New York School of Interior Design. Classes are available in-person and online, and the program can be completed on a full or part-time schedule.
The Temple University Continuing Education program course is another certificate program in interior design. Six courses offered online cover design fundamentals, color theory, furniture, fabrics, lighting, and a project review.
The Interior Design Certificate at the New School covers both commercial and residential space design with classes in drafting, color theory, and drawing. The course includes Adobe Creative Cloud and SketchUp.
Texas State University offers an online certification course. Classes cover both residential interior design concepts, tools, and business practices. This program prepares students to take the Residential Interior Designer Exam upon completion.
Interior Design Corporate Training
Upskill or reskill your workforce with hands-on Interior Design corporate training. Choose between training onsite at your location or live online from anywhere. You can also purchase vouchers for in-person or live online public enrollment Interior Design courses.
We have extensive experience developing curriculum for a variety of training sessions, either onsite at your office, here in our Midtown Manhattan offices, or through remote virtual training. Programs can be completely customized to suit your training needs. To find out more, contact partnerships@vdci.edu.