Before getting started in design school, potential interior design students need to take a look at their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses to determine whether they are well-suited for an interior design career.
Technical Skills for Interior Designers
Interior designers need to possess a number of technical skills in order to be successful in the profession. Many of these skills can be learned in design school; however, having some particular natural characteristics makes the learning process easier.
Designers must be skilled in the following areas of technical expertise:
- Space planning
- Computer-aided drafting
- Hand drafting and sketching
- Knowledge of construction techniques
- Properties of finish materials
- Organization of construction drawings, documents and specification
- Attention to detail
- Ability to visualize spaces before they are constructed
- Knowledge of building codes, universal design and health, safety and welfare for building occupants
- Geometry and other mathematics required to figure square footages, sales tax and material take-offs
- Ability to measure spaces accurately, and transfer those measurements to scaled drawings
- Knowledge of lighting, plumbing and electrical needs
- Project management skills
Artistic Qualities of a Successful Interior Designer
Design is a completely different discipline from art, despite the fact that the two are intertwined. Not all artists have the skills needed to succeed in design. Likewise, while one can certainly have a thriving interior design business without being an artist, having a certain number of artistic skills is necessary to communicate design ideas quickly and effectively.
Like technical design skills, some of the artistic techniques employed by interior designers can be learned at the university level. However, some people have natural-born artistic talent that cannot be fully taught during design education. Stated more simply, some people have it, and others do not.
Artistic qualities found in successful interior designer include the following characteristics:
- Color sense
- Sense of balance, proportion, rhythm and harmony
- Drawing and sketching
- Skill in mixing patterns and textures
- Creativity to design something never seen before
- Understanding of 3-dimensional space
- Great imagination
Interpersonal Skills of Interior Designers
Not only do interior designers need keen technical and artistic proficiencies, they also need to possess a number of people skills to be successful. Designers often work with architects, contractors and clients from diverse backgrounds and experience levels. The ability to communicate effectively with people of all kinds is crucial to a profitable design career.
Organization is a key skill in any design practice, as designers often juggle several projects at one time. Time management becomes important, to ensure that projects are completed on time. Designers also need to be proficient in business practices, understanding tax issues, budgets, invoicing, pricing, contracts and their liability for any problems that may arise during the course of a project.
Many of these skills are also taught during design school; however, like artistic ability, some people are naturally at ease with numbers, clients and management. The following business and personal skills are helpful to any designer:
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Skill in public speaking
- Knowledge of marketing practices
- Sales skill
- Listening skills
- Mediation and negotiation skills
- Knowledge of how to run a business
- Management skills, both time and personnel
- Problem solving
- Can make quick decisions
- Work well under pressure and under tight deadlines
- Customer services skills; will do what it takes to make clients happy
- Comfort around diverse people, and the ability to meet new people with ease
Interior designers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the public, whether they design homes or businesses. They are also in charge of making a space functional and beautiful. A range of technical, artistic and personal skills give designers the tools they need to manage each project effectively.
Teri Larsen - Professional Interior Designer, Freelance Writer, Executive Editor of Metro Women Magazine, Mom of 2, Artist and Generally Creative ...
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