4 answers
Joselyn
Student
San Angelo, Texas
2
Questions
Updated
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how do I start my career in interior design as an upcoming college student? And is worth burning out in college to get to my career? and what are some things can take out the stress of worrying in college?
how do I start my career in interior design as an upcoming college student? And is worth burning out in college to get to my career? and what are some things can take out the stress of worrying in college?
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3 answers
Julie Ann Shahin
Interior Designer/Business Owner
12
Answers
Irondequoit, NY
Updated
Julie Ann’s Answer
Hi Joselyn,
Start small, start curious, and start now.
You don’t have to wait until after graduation to build your interior design career. Take every opportunity to learn: volunteer to help stage a school event, intern with a local designer (even if it’s just organizing samples or assisting on installs), or create digital mood boards for fun. Keep a portfolio of everything you do—photos, sketches, design boards, even class projects. That collection will help you see how far you’ve come and show potential employers your growth and creativity.
As for burning out—it’s absolutely not worth it. Design school is demanding, and yes, you’ll have all-nighters here and there, but exhaustion doesn’t equal success. The best designers are observant, inspired, and curious, not drained. Take time to rest, go for walks, and do things that remind you why you love design in the first place—travel, art, music, nature, or even just rearranging your own room. Those breaks refill your creative well.
When worry starts creeping in, ground yourself in the bigger picture: you’re learning a language that lets you shape how people feel in their homes. That’s powerful. So breathe, stay organized, and find a balance between working hard and living well. The best career foundation is built on passion, not burnout.
Best of luck,
Julie
Julie Ann Rachelle Interiors LLC
https://www.julieannrachelle.com
P.S. If you reach out to a local designer and they say that they can not take on an intern until your junior year, then tell them that you are willing to come in and work organizing the library or shadowing them for free in order to get experience. While I was in college, I did this over Christmas break one year. I also found a job at a wallpaper store part-time (back in the early 90's), and a summer job answering calls at a carpet store to see what I could pick up as far as tips, etc.
Build a Mini Portfolio: Start gathering photos, sketches, and design projects—anything that shows your eye for color, layout, or texture. Even redesigning your dorm room or helping a friend decorate counts. Create a digital folder or simple website to store and show your work.
Get Real-World Experience Early: Reach out to local designers, staging companies, or furniture stores in your area to ask about internships or shadowing opportunities. Even short-term volunteer gigs help you learn how design really works outside the classroom.
Join Design Communities: Join your school’s interior design club or professional organizations like ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) as a student member. You can get involved as the freshman representative, and get to know upper-classmen who are motivated in design. These groups often host portfolio reviews, networking events, and internships.
Develop Core Skills Beyond Design: Learn basic business and presentation skills—how to write a proposal, use design software (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Canva, or Coohom), and communicate your ideas clearly. These will set you apart later when you’re looking for clients or employers.
Protect Your Creativity and Wellness: Set realistic schedules, take creative breaks, and find stress-relief outlets that keep you grounded—journaling, exercise, music, or nature. A sustainable pace now will serve you much better than burnout later.
Start small, start curious, and start now.
You don’t have to wait until after graduation to build your interior design career. Take every opportunity to learn: volunteer to help stage a school event, intern with a local designer (even if it’s just organizing samples or assisting on installs), or create digital mood boards for fun. Keep a portfolio of everything you do—photos, sketches, design boards, even class projects. That collection will help you see how far you’ve come and show potential employers your growth and creativity.
As for burning out—it’s absolutely not worth it. Design school is demanding, and yes, you’ll have all-nighters here and there, but exhaustion doesn’t equal success. The best designers are observant, inspired, and curious, not drained. Take time to rest, go for walks, and do things that remind you why you love design in the first place—travel, art, music, nature, or even just rearranging your own room. Those breaks refill your creative well.
When worry starts creeping in, ground yourself in the bigger picture: you’re learning a language that lets you shape how people feel in their homes. That’s powerful. So breathe, stay organized, and find a balance between working hard and living well. The best career foundation is built on passion, not burnout.
Best of luck,
Julie
Julie Ann Rachelle Interiors LLC
https://www.julieannrachelle.com
P.S. If you reach out to a local designer and they say that they can not take on an intern until your junior year, then tell them that you are willing to come in and work organizing the library or shadowing them for free in order to get experience. While I was in college, I did this over Christmas break one year. I also found a job at a wallpaper store part-time (back in the early 90's), and a summer job answering calls at a carpet store to see what I could pick up as far as tips, etc.
Julie Ann recommends the following next steps:
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1185
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Joselyn!
I admire your forward-thinking approach, which is already a designer's mindset: seeing the wider picture before it takes shape. Developing your creative portfolio early on is the first step towards beginning a profession in interior design.
Join design organizations, enroll in introductory design or art lessons, and start small by redesigning a friend's room, offering to assist with event decorating, or posting digital designs online. No matter how big or small, every project you work on as a designer displays the story you're telling.
Regarding burnout, it's never a cost of achievement. You don't have to exhaust yourself in order to "make it." One layer at a time, the most effective creatives pace their efforts like a long design job.
To manage stress in college:
- Celebrate little victories and set reasonable goals.
- Maintain one ungraded creative outlet, such as Pinterest boards, mood boards, or sketching.
- Additionally, surround yourself with peers that motivate you instead of competing with you.
Always remember that design is about more than simply creating lovely spaces; it's also about finding harmony and a sense of belonging in your own life.
Best wishes!
I admire your forward-thinking approach, which is already a designer's mindset: seeing the wider picture before it takes shape. Developing your creative portfolio early on is the first step towards beginning a profession in interior design.
Join design organizations, enroll in introductory design or art lessons, and start small by redesigning a friend's room, offering to assist with event decorating, or posting digital designs online. No matter how big or small, every project you work on as a designer displays the story you're telling.
Regarding burnout, it's never a cost of achievement. You don't have to exhaust yourself in order to "make it." One layer at a time, the most effective creatives pace their efforts like a long design job.
To manage stress in college:
- Celebrate little victories and set reasonable goals.
- Maintain one ungraded creative outlet, such as Pinterest boards, mood boards, or sketching.
- Additionally, surround yourself with peers that motivate you instead of competing with you.
Always remember that design is about more than simply creating lovely spaces; it's also about finding harmony and a sense of belonging in your own life.
Best wishes!
Céline Riard
Interior designer
13
Answers
Framingham, Massachusetts
Updated
Céline’s Answer
Joselyn, this is my 100% no AI no ChatGPT reply.
About college: College is challenging and there will be time you get burned out or simply discouraged. I do not know a single person who has not struggled at some point in their education - and if they have not, then they missed out on important life lessons. Real life is more challenging than college. That said, you should not necessarily worry too much about grades. As long as you maintain a decent GPA, what matters most is that you develop your people skills, stay ahead of what is coming up in design (AI mostly, and tools to scan a space) because technology is revolutionizing the industry, and acquire real-life industry experience - This is worth way more than a 4.0 GPA. Future employers will not care about your college grade, they will care about how good you are at working under pressure, addressing issues in design or navigate conflict.
I was at a design symposium recently in Massachusetts and AI is an amazing tool as long as you know how to use it correctly. It will not replace good interior designers because interior design is 100% human-driven: reading your clients' desires, interacting with contractor, addressing construction site issues, cultivating relationships with your vendors and store assistants.
Real industry experience is worth way more than perfect grades. Find internships or shadow interior design firms - There you will learn a lot about the design process. Take part-time jobs in a tile store, a furniture store, anywhere where designers can typically start a career. And this will help you figure out the type of interior designer you want to be. Offering your help for free? In some states it is illegal to work for free, and there may be insurance aspects if you work on premises, so check what your state law says. maybe you can work as an independent contractor for a small hourly rate. Designing for free for friends is important: we have all done it as a start and it teaches you how to handle client interactions.
But all these little jobs or experiences will help you figure out what you like to do and not do. We will continue to need interior designers: try to learn the skills that cannot be replace by a bot: these skills you learn through real-life experience! Finally, do not get discouraged by your first real jobs - they may not be what you want, you may find that you are worth way more, but each small job will teach you something. Good luck!
About college: College is challenging and there will be time you get burned out or simply discouraged. I do not know a single person who has not struggled at some point in their education - and if they have not, then they missed out on important life lessons. Real life is more challenging than college. That said, you should not necessarily worry too much about grades. As long as you maintain a decent GPA, what matters most is that you develop your people skills, stay ahead of what is coming up in design (AI mostly, and tools to scan a space) because technology is revolutionizing the industry, and acquire real-life industry experience - This is worth way more than a 4.0 GPA. Future employers will not care about your college grade, they will care about how good you are at working under pressure, addressing issues in design or navigate conflict.
I was at a design symposium recently in Massachusetts and AI is an amazing tool as long as you know how to use it correctly. It will not replace good interior designers because interior design is 100% human-driven: reading your clients' desires, interacting with contractor, addressing construction site issues, cultivating relationships with your vendors and store assistants.
Real industry experience is worth way more than perfect grades. Find internships or shadow interior design firms - There you will learn a lot about the design process. Take part-time jobs in a tile store, a furniture store, anywhere where designers can typically start a career. And this will help you figure out the type of interior designer you want to be. Offering your help for free? In some states it is illegal to work for free, and there may be insurance aspects if you work on premises, so check what your state law says. maybe you can work as an independent contractor for a small hourly rate. Designing for free for friends is important: we have all done it as a start and it teaches you how to handle client interactions.
But all these little jobs or experiences will help you figure out what you like to do and not do. We will continue to need interior designers: try to learn the skills that cannot be replace by a bot: these skills you learn through real-life experience! Finally, do not get discouraged by your first real jobs - they may not be what you want, you may find that you are worth way more, but each small job will teach you something. Good luck!