Chapter Eight

INTERIOR DESIGN

Interior designers plan the design of living and commercial environments.

The scope of their work varies enormously. A millionaire moving into a
mansion in Mayfair will think nothing about paying a reputable interior
design agency a few hundred thousand pounds to design a ‘look’ for her
new home, advise on structural alterations and project-manage a two-
year redevelopment. At the other end of the scale, a homeowner who
recognises his own lack of aptitude in this field may hire a local designer
for a couple of hundred pounds to come in for an afternoon and advise
them on colour schemes and soft furnishings for the bedroom.

Obviously, interior designers are not just concerned with redesigning

domestic environments. Some specialise in offices, others in pub or bar
design. Some work exclusively on new-builds, others focus on historic
buildings. This is one area where, with application, dedication and a bit of
luck, you can specialise in an area that really appeals to you.

There are between 6,000 and 8,000 interior designers in the UK, working
in design consultancies, architectural practices or as freelance, self-
employed consultants. Some have branched out into highly lucrative
sidelines including journalism (the thirst for glossy interior design
magazines shows no signs of abating) or setting up retail outlets for
products related to their trade.

It’s important to be realistic about what the work involves. Only those
at the very top of the profession can sweep into a venue à la Lawrence
Llewellyn-Bowen and design according to their own whims. Most interior
designers will respond to a brief from their clients, and be restricted in
what they can achieve by budgets and time constraints.

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What is an interior designer?

The British Interior Design Association (BIDA) defines interior
designers as people who are ‘qualified by training and
experience to plan the design and execution of interior projects
and their furnishings, and to organise the various arts and crafts
essential to their completion. A designer is one who identifies,
researches and creatively solves problems pertaining to the
function and quality of the interior environment … provides a full
consultancy service including programming, design analysis,
space planning, aesthetics, monitoring work on site, using
specialised knowledge of interior construction, building systems
and components, building regulations, equipment, materials
and furnishings; and prepares drawings and documents relative
to the design of interior space.’

(www.bida.org)

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SUCCEED?

As with most careers in the design
My passion for interior industry, you need an aptitude for, and
design started when I a genuine interest in, interior design
was very young – my before you start exploring educational
mother was very talented and professional opportunities. This
in creating different looks is a highly competitive field and there
around the home, and she
is simply no point in ‘playing’ at it. If
you’re going to build a career and make
often helped friends when
a reasonable living, you’ll need a lot
they were redesigning
of talent, even more dedication – and
rooms, so I absorbed her
probably a bit of luck to get you started.
interest. She taught me a
lot about colour and using It’s important to accept that not all of
space. us have these talents. We can learn the
(Sally Smith, interior designer)
theory of interior design but that doesn’t
mean that we can put together a stylish

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 Chapter 8 Interior Design

Talent for Eye for colour Good 3D

visualisation and texture awareness

SUCCESSFUL
INTERIOR
DESIGNER

Creative and Aptitude

Draughtsmanship
imaginative for drawing

interior. It’s no different to the way that many of us can learn musical
notation but still can’t get anything more than a howl like a strangled cat
from a violin. Some people have an ‘eye’ for design; the rest of us need
help. If you’re one of the latter, choose a different career path. No amount
of tuition is going to give you the talent that a successful designer needs
to display.

In an interview with the Guardian in May 2007, interior designer Anthony

Brewster said:

I think the main interest for someone who wants to work in design
should be a desire to make beautiful environments for people to live
and work in. Finding the solution that you have been looking for or
struggling to find is an awesome feeling … If you want to work in
interior design you need to become a sponge. You never know until
the time comes how much you have picked up, so simply put
yourself in the position to see and hear about design and you will
suck up more knowledge than you realise.

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In practical terms, if you’re planning a career as an interior designer you’ll

need a number of technical, business and interpersonal skills. Yes, it’s
great that your friends think you have a good eye for colour and you can
put together a mood board, but you may also have to:

■ inspect and carry out preliminary surveys on buildings – that means

understanding the technicalities of the building trade. Advising a
client to create an open, light living space by taking down a weight-
bearing wall isn’t a good idea

■ research materials and costs, and balance budgets – you’ll be

expected to prepare plans (and you may also be purchasing
materials) that your client is happy to pay for. Creating the ultimate
dream kitchen with £1,000-a-metre granite work surface, handmade
cupboards and the latest Smeg fittings isn’t appropriate if your client
is on a flat-pack budget

■ draw up rough and detailed designs for client approval – most

designers use sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) software
and/or models to show clients what the final outcome will be – so
computer and technical literacy is essential

■ supervise a wide range of contractors to make sure they work to

schedule (a notoriously difficult task) – you could be working with
architects, local council officials, builders, engineers, surveyors,
furniture manufacturers, decorators … Bringing together these diverse
people, who all have other commitments that will undoubtedly clash
with your schedule, demands diplomacy and authority.

Interior design is a fascinating – and potentially rewarding – career, but

don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s an easy option. If you work for
a successful consultancy or establish your own business, you may
have to work long and irregular hours. You’re moving into a profession
that is ruled by financial and time restraints and deadlines that you’ll be
expected to meet. Although your job may be 9 am to 5 pm on paper,
expect to work late nights and weekends if the job demands it.

Many designers spend a lot of their time on the road, pitching for work,
visiting clients, sourcing materials and supervising contractors. You may
be office-based but you could spend a fair amount of time in your car.

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You’ll also have to spend time upgrading your skills and knowledge.
Design trends change continually – and you’ll be expected to keep
up. You will need to constantly update your technical skills to meet the
demands of new developments in CAD. If your design skills are excellent
but your presentation and business skills are lousy, you may need
additional professional training in these areas. You’ll certainly need to visit
exhibitions, read around the subject and talk to the people who influence
the business. You’ll do all of this in your own time.

caSTUD
A day in the life of Sally Smith,

se Y
interior designer

There’s no such thing as a typical day – one of the great

things about this job is the variety. The hours are unpredictable
because I work for myself and I need to make the most of every
job that comes in. Sometimes I’ll have a spell of nine to five, but
if I’m in the middle of a project, I’ll start much earlier and work
late. Plus, I have to make time to see clients and, if I’m working
on an interior with a client who is out all day, I may have to meet
them in the evening.

My first job when I get into my studio in the morning is to

check emails, and follow up any new leads. Sometimes that
can be frustrating, particularly if I’m in the middle of a project
that’s really absorbing. But if the business is going to continue,
I have to line up more work and I can’t afford to miss a lead.
Administration takes up about a third of my time. I try to
keep up with my accounts and marketing on a regular basis,
because there’s nothing worse than coming to the end of the
financial year with no paperwork ready for your accountant.

I work with a loose network of other people so that if there’s

a job I need help with there’s always someone to call in. I
specialise in domestic interiors, but occasionally I’ve been
asked to pitch for commercial work. When that happens, I work

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with a couple of colleagues who have a lot of experience in that

field. On a collaborative project like that, we have regular team
meetings to discuss progress and check that everyone is up to
speed. Meeting deadlines and cost control are important parts
of the job, so it’s essential that we’re all in regular contact.

The rest of my day may be spent meeting clients, chasing

up new leads, or working in the studio on a particular design
project. I could be creating mood boards, drafting designs
either by sketching or using CAD. I still like to plan my work
using pencil and paper – I find that it gives me more freedom
– but like everyone else I use software to create designs
and plans.

When I’m in the middle of a project, I spend a lot of time on

site overseeing the work. That’s not essential – some interior
designers use specialist project managers once the designs
have been agreed. My projects tend to be smaller and I like to
be involved, so I’ll work directly with the decorators, carpenters,
upholsterers, etc. Over the years I’ve built up a team of
tradespeople that I know I can rely on and they don’t seem to
mind me poking my nose in!

I’m passionate about my work so I’m happy to put in the hard

work that’s required. And it is hard – I get annoyed sometimes
by articles in the media that give the impression that this is a
glorified hobby or a job for dilettantes! Like any other profession,
it demands dedication, attention to detail and continual
application. As well as doing my job, I also have to keep up
with new trends so I never really stop. Even on holiday, I’ll find
myself looking at interiors and thinking, ‘Now, how would that
work…?’

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STARTING YOUR CAREER

Some individuals like Sally Smith have morphed very successfully into
interior designers. Their aptitude in transforming living or commercial
spaces for themselves and their friends has been recognised on a wider
scale and they’ve developed a business.

Sally is self-taught. She worked in numerous retail outlets that specialised

in furniture and soft furnishings, had a spell working for an estate agent
which gave her a lot of basic knowledge about domestic buildings, and
studied in her spare time to get the technical design skills she needed.
That, combined with her natural flair, has enabled her to start her own
business.

Increasingly, however, young interior designers are pursuing a formal

educational path into the profession, studying for a degree or HND
in interior design or a related design or architecture subject. If you’re
planning to follow this route, do your research and look for a course
that meets your needs and those of the professional associations that
regulate the profession.

BIDA states that a professional-level interior design course should

encompass the following areas:

1 Fundamentals of design (philosophy, sociology, aesthetics and

a theory of design). Visual research (colour, light, form, texture).
Basic knowledge of materials.

Interior Designer
Salary £30K–35K. Leading interior design consultancy now
requires an additional Interior Designer to continue business
growth and new business wins. You must have a proven
background in the design of either commercial office interiors or
retail interiors. Knowledge of Vectorworks, AutoCAD, 2D, 3D and/
or Cinema 4D would be an advantage. Experience of Photoshop,
Illustrator and InDesign would also be a benefit. Leadership and
project management skills would be an advantage.

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2 Visual communication (objective and interpretative drawing,

freehand perspective drawing, use of colour media, photography
and model making).
3 People in their environment (human ergonometric and
anthropometric studies and people in space and design
evaluation). History of art and architecture, interiors and
furniture.
4 Creative work by project method.
5 Interpretation of the project schemes and technical studies
related to the built environment (working drawings, building
technology, and understanding of structure and services.
Costing and estimating, detailing and specifying material,
furniture and fittings).
6 Professional practice (verbal communication techniques, office
organisation and practice, legislation affecting the designer,
visiting projects underway or completed).

(Source: www.bida.org)

Distance learning courses in interior design are advertised in the back

of lifestyle magazines. Be wary of courses that promise to fully train
you in six months and are not affiliated to, or accredited by, reputable
educational organisations. If you are planning a serious career as an
interior designer, your course must be recognised as providing a high
standard of education and training.

If you’re completely new to this discipline, you could find it useful to study
for a National Certificate in Further Education, which can be completed
at adult evening classes, or an access to interior design course: a one-
year, full-time course for entrants with few formal qualifications or mature
students.

The range of available courses can appear confusing, so you’ll need

advice to choose wisely. You could choose a three-year, full-time degree
course in interior and special design or a foundation degree in interior
design that will last for two years, full-time, and include 16 weeks’ work
experience. Alternatively, there are a number of colleges offering an HND

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in interior design that you can study part-time, or by distance learning if

you are already employed.

What does an undergraduate degree course

in interior design involve?
This is an extract from the prospectus of University College Falmouth:

With an emphasis on professional practice, Interior Design is about

maximising potential, transforming spaces through working with
clients and other specialists, to develop innovative and creative
design solutions. From exploring the fundamentals of materials and
structure to planning and creating exciting interior spaces, you’ll
cover every aspect of interior Design. You’ll not only learn about the
construction and detailing of space, and how to communicate your
designs to professional standards through traditional and digital
presentation techniques, you’ll also be given the inspiration and
encouragement to find your own personal approach to interior
Design.
As with most careers, education is a great help but it doesn’t
replace practical experience. You need on-the-job training and a
chance to hone your skills.

(www.falmouth.ac.uk)

Students on this course work with experienced architects, landscape

architects and interior designers on live projects, designing for a range
of commercial users, including hospitality, retail, public, marine and
leisure. They also learn how professional Interior Design interacts with
other disciplines and develop valuable project management skills.

Many students complete a first degree in another subject, such as

architecture, then follow a postgraduate course in interior design. The
MA Interior Design programme at the University of Central Lancashire has
been running for a number of years. The course encourages students to
follow their own interests and to complete a body of work to a professional
standard. At the same time, they carry out research and field practice and

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learn more about the principles of professional interior design practice.

Occasionally, established consultancies will offer trainee posts to

a candidate who hasn’t got a degree or diploma. Because these
opportunities are so few and far between, competition for them is
fierce and you’ll be expected to prove that you have an aptitude for the
discipline. That means presenting potential employers with a portfolio of
designs that are appropriate to their business and that display your skills.

Ideally you’ll also have some relevant experience through work

placements or, if you’re just leaving school, through the courses that
you’ve studied. Don’t dismiss openings in seemingly unrelated work
areas. Working as a volunteer in a charity shop could give you valuable
insight into display work. A weekend or vacation job in a furniture or DIY
store will help you to acquire both customer service skills and an insight
into trends and fashions in domestic interior design.

You’ll also impress employers if you have at least some familiarity with
relevant computer design software. Although you may not be able to get
hands-on experience in using particular packages, you can research their
capability via the Internet.

Interior Designer
Salary to £40K. Due to continued business growth, one of the
most high-tech and forward-thinking commercial interior fit-out
specialists now needs an experienced Interior Designer to work
on commercial office interiors. You should be an experienced
interior designer, accustomed to working on projects from
concepts through to detailed drawings. You should be fully
literate in all main CAD software, and 3D modelling/rendering
as well as space planning and structural work. Ideally you’ll
be used to meeting with clients, have top-class presentation
skills and a modern approach to your work. You should also
have project management skills and be used to liaising with
architects and contractors, etc.

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Vacancies for interior designers will be publicised in trade publications,

such as Design Week and Architects’ Journal, but you will find more
opportunities online.

www.creativepool.co.uk offers a platform for recruiters and employers of

interior designers to advertise vacancies, and for practitioners to publicise
their expertise.

www.design4design.com is an online resource centre for architects and

designers offering information on jobs, courses, products, books and
magazines.

Take action
■ Start reading around the subject. Source magazines and
books from your local library to learn more about current
trends in interior design.

■ Enter ‘professional⫹interior⫹designers’ on your Internet

search engine and explore websites for some of the
larger organisations. What sort of influences can you
identify in their work?

■ Don’t restrict yourself to one area of the discipline –

remember that there are more jobs for people in the
commercial sector than in designing domestic interiors.

■ Start making up mood boards and designs for friends

and family. The more you can practise your skills, the
better.

■ Talk to an interior designer to get their take on the

profession. There are plenty of consultancies across
the country – if you don’t know any designers yourself,
contact your local further education college and ask if
they can put you in contact with someone.

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