Interior Design Major
All About College Degrees in this Creative Field
Looking for a marketable major that allows you to develop your artistic skills? Consider a degree in interior design.
What is an Interior Design Major?
If you major in interior design, you'll learn how to create indoor spaces that are both functional and visually pleasing. You'll work with all kinds of spaces-- homes, retail businesses, theaters, schools, sports complexes, museums, hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, recreational facilities, and more. You'll study the artistic side of interior design in order to learn how to use color, light, materials, furnishings, and other visual elements to create beautiful interiors. Because the interior design industry is heavily regulated by government agencies, you'll also learn important safety aspects of interior design, such as how to create a space that meets fire code and other safety standards.
Different countries have different requirements for interior designers, so if you're interested in this career path, find out the educational and work requirements you will need. In the United States, professional interior designers need a combination of six years of education and work experience. They also need to pass a rigorous qualifying exam that is administered by the National Council for Interior Design (NCIDQ).
What Courses Does an Interior Design Major Take?
The course schedule of an interior design student is diverse because students need to learn to become both creative artists and effective business professionals. As you can imagine, interior design students take a heavy load of studio art classes, especially courses with an emphasis in drawing and drafting. Students who major in interior design can expect to spend long hours in the studio. Because so much of interior design has become digitized, students take courses that familiarize them with computer aided design (CAD) software. In addition, students take business courses, and it's fairly common for interior design students to get a second major or a minor in an area such as business administration and management.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of an Interior Design Major?
If you're a creative person, one advantage of this major is that you'll get to use your creativity in many of your classes, while still having the satisfaction of knowing that your efforts will make you money someday. One disadvantage of this major is that you really need to be talented in many areas, including art, computers (don't underestimate the importance of CAD), and business. The major generally requires lots of hands-on work, which is an advantage for your career and a disadvantage in terms of heavy time commitment as a student.
What Careers are Possible for Interior Design Majors?
Art degrees are more marketable than many people realize, and this major is a good choice for someone who wants to use his artistic skills in the business world. In addition to designing all kinds of interior spaces, interior designers sometimes work in city planning and historical preservation. Keep in mind that interior design is different than interior decorating, a less formal occupation that doesn't require rigorous training (and generally doesn't pay nearly as well). Unlike interior decorators, interior designers don't just make things look pretty; they have to make spaces functional and safe.
