Hey, designers!
This page is dedicated for you to build an online community with people who have a similar interest of learning interior design, if you are self-learning interior design or interior decoration feel free to post any question you have in the comments
Hello everyone
Am a finance student who wants to grow as a self_taught designer. Am new to everything and exicited to learn as much as I
Asalamu Alaikum, thanks for creating this community. I look forward to hearing from everyone. I am heavily rooted in the commercial design field in the USA as an Interior Designer and went to school for it. There is not a professional difference understood YET between an 'Interior Designer' and an 'Interior Architect', but it seems this second title developed recently in the University community and came from the desire to separate ourselves more from the field of 'Interior Decorating.' Thanks for describing the differences between the two so clearly on your Youtube channel.
Practicing in the USA? Basic building code understanding, 3D modeling programs (namely, Revit), having a 3-phase examination certification (called the NCIDQ) and other evidenced-based or environmental certifications are very important to advance in your career for commercial environments (here in the USA!). These skills don't bear the same weight in the residential market and it is easier to be a home-grown designer if designing residences is your forte. (I can't speak for retail, hospitality or company brand designers, can anyone chime in?)
Are you planning to go into commercial, government, institutional or healthcare fields? What is not so well-known is that in order to test for the NCIDQ, you MUST have a degree in interior design or architecture. The cert won't prevent you from practicing as a designer, but it advances you into a higher pay bracket and helps you to become a senior in your field. Likely, if you got your job because you have an interior design degree, your company & clientele may care about you being certified down the road AND having a strong pdf project portfolio (containing digital renderings, project photos, and seeing Photoshop, Revit, and other rendering program processes). Digital design program skills matter, and you will spend many hours producing your work on the computer. There is no option but to work hard and work efficiently. Many times your week will stretch beyond 40 hours and you may bring that work home.
Self-learning Interior Design? If you got your job without a degree, or are freelancing, generally your path is built by you or others before you. Work hard and maybe you'll be a designer from the ground-up and get into some construction down the road... or, decorate, maybe sell product and enjoy much less hassle and liability....both paths needing some type of a non-traditional portfolio, (images of your previous work and process, website or other media) that may suffice for your next client. As a home-grown designer, establish yourself and use the tools and programs that you prefer. Convey your design as-is comfortable for you. Hand-sketching? Online designer tools? Inspiration photos? No 3D, no problem...don't bring it up or offer it to your client. 3D design, Revit, CAD, Sketchup, can be time consuming (***Shout-out to Aseel for introducing 5D design, a quick way to turn something 3D***) Not every client needs an official detailed floor plan. Try just setting up simple color/ product/ furniture boards on a google slide and presenting. Design to the needs of the client and try not to offer the world, or, you'll be working for free.
You name it-make it. Freelancing.
Sell the way you design and how you deliver your work as THE-way to do business. Tell the client what to expect up-front and how you will design with them. That way you save yourself time and the client won't expect you to produce HDTV design and get disappointed, haha, oh the struggle.
Any retail or hospitality designers out there? Would love to hear your perspective.
Love this idea! I'm in! Will definitely love to hear feedbacks from my fellow designers about my upcoming projects.
I love this idea, I really appreciate that you took the time to do this for many of us. I am a new follower on your YouTube channel. I really enjoy watching your videos. I love your advice that you give in your videos. I am a first year interior design students. And I am ready to get advice and input from others as well.😘
What a great idea and exciting to do it here rather than on FB or INSTA....I love this way.