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how do you start off in interior design ?

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interior-design
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Joanne’s Answer

Morning Na’kiyah. Working as an interior designer can be extremely competitive and you definitely have to have a flare for design, project management and the ability to sell. Often interior design is a career that is misunderstood; being an interior designer has its roots in architecture. There are many qualifications out there so it’s definitely worth doing some research as to what is required. There are many different types of designer working in different fields so it depends I guess on what your definition of an interior designer looks like? Here in the U.K. we have commercial designers whose roots are embedded in industry like hotels for example, or designers creating schemes for new builds. More popular in the USA than in the U.K. are home stagers. There is a misconception that interior designers are only concerned in wall colours and fabrics. To work for a company you would need some sort of qualification, maybe at degree level, so this is where your research should begin. Research what companies are of interest to you? Reach out and ask them what would be required. Experience is also key! Where could you get some work experience in this field? There’s also the opportunity to freelance, but as the market is very competitive it can often be difficult to get your foot in the door. A strong portfolio of work would definitely be needed. Finally interior designers need to be able to sell! It doesn’t matter how great your portfolio is if you don’t have the confidence to share your ideas and sell to a client. Sometimes it can be challenging in the design world to get a break…employers are looking for experience and it can be difficult to gain experience until you’re given a chance. Hope this gives you something to think about and perhaps some ideas of where to start your research.
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Sue’s Answer

The best way to start is to work for an established Interior Designer ( Indy if that’s the road you would like for yourself) . You can learn from the ground up and see how an actual design project flows. How they run the office, how and where they market and network. Intern for credit while in school. It’s hard but fulfilling work🤓
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Sherice’s Answer

Hello Na’kiyah,
Joanne is 100% correct. The Interior Design field is extremely competitive and you must be tenacious. You can pursue a degree or not (this is getting harder to do.) I see designers start with a niche interest;
Artist, craftspeople, colorist, tradespeople or furniture builders morph into
interior designers. Try this, find what interests you most, learn more about it (research,) explore shops and shows and network. It will give a good idea to determine if it is for you.
It is hard work, however it is deliciously fun!
Good luck!
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