Do you love being creative in your job? Do you feel that everything should be beautiful in addition to being fully functional? Do you love to read about architecture and design? Do you love to visit places which are renowned for exquisite architecture and planning? Do the interior styles of public places attract your attention?
Do you want to do something similar?
Then you can build a career in interior designing. Interior design is one of the rapidly growing fields which has an immense scope in future. So what should you do to start your dream career?
Here are some points that can help you to realise your dream.
Fix a goal:
Before working on anything else try to understand what you are looking for. Do you really want to pursue your passion? Are you sure that you want to become an interior designer? If you’re working in some other field, are you ready to make a transition?
Make a clear goal. Everything else will follow.
What do you need:
You can start your journey at any age. However, to become a professional interior designer in India you must be 18+ years of age and must have passed 12th from a recognised board. There are some institutes which ask for 50% in 12th as well. But not every institute has a list of cutoff marks.
Establish your foundation:
To kick start your career in interior designing, you should take a degree or a diploma course. This will help you to gain the knowledge of core principles of interior designing, materials, and industry dynamics.
There are many institutions which offer interior design courses. You should pick a reputable interior design institute which offers industry-valid interior design certification.
If you’re unable to take an interior designing course in real life then you can look for an online degree or diploma. There are many platforms and universities that offer an online degree or diploma in interior designing. Choose an institute which also issues a certificate after the completion of the interior design course.
You can also start your career by self-study. However, it is not easy to navigate through tons of information without a mentor.
Do your research:
In addition to taking a course, do your own research. Learn about the art history of the world. Learn about world culture because our lifestyle and culture go hand-in-hand.
Learn about colour theory. Try to understand the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colours.
Learn about the different materials used in interior designing. How they are sourced or manufactured. How they are interrelated and can be used to enhance creativity.
Learn the psychological impact of the environment we have on our lives.
Build your portfolio:
A portfolio is your CV to the world. If you are unable to find an opportunity to design, start by redesigning your own place. You can also offer your services to your friends and family. Volunteer to interior design for charity institutions. This will help you to build your network as well as your portfolio.
You can also use social media to showcase your work or ideas.
Interior design internship
Gain firsthand experience by interning for a reputed interior designer. An internship will give you a taste of real-world projects and help you understand the nuisances of the industry.
It can also build your network and portfolio.
It will help you understand how to manage multiple projects, work on budget, and client management.
Interior design workshop:
Attending a workshop can give you a chance to meet with the leaders of your industry. Their work can inspire you to create new ideas. Workshops highlight different sides of various disciplines. It also helps you to acquire new skills. You may also connect with potential employers and clients during workshops.
Promote yourself:
You may be the best interior designer in the town but what if nobody knows about your talent? Be a people’s person. Improve your communication skills and start leveraging social media to let the world know about you. Do not shy away from introducing yourself as a budding interior designer.
Specialise :
Find your niche. Your niche can be the sphere which you love the most or which is always in demand. A specialisation in certain areas of interior design such as hospitality, healthcare, and residential and more can build your credibility in the industry.
Network and Build Relationships:
In the contemporary era network is net worth. You should find ways to connect with other designers, architects by attending industry events, webinars. Joining relevant groups on social media can help too. You can also join local clubs which can provide networking opportunities.
Look at the bigger picture:
Find out the fields which are interrelated with basic interior designing. You must build connections in fields such as art, architecture, planning, real estate to find references and potential clients.
Learn culture-specific subjects:
Learn culture specific subjects like Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra to assimilate their rules in your work. These subjects are always in demand and people often follow them to bring peace and happiness in their homes.
Interior design job opportunities:
Follow reputed firms on their socials to find out an opportunity with them. You can also find job opportunities with architecture firms, real estate developers, and lifestyle coaches.
Launch your own business:
If you want to be your own boss then develop comprehensive business plans. Research thoroughly, find out your goals, target clients, and financial aims. To build a successful business, partner with marketers to build a strong online presence. Build a website and collect genuine testimonials from your previous clients.
Stay Updated on Trends:
Always stay in touch with the latest trends in the industry. Follow design blogs and vlogs, and lifestyle magazines. Always attend workshops, seminars, webinars to keep tabs on market demands.
These are the few pointers which can help you to launch a successful career in interior design. It is an evergreen field and being an interior designer is both creatively satisfying and economically rewarding.