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Carmen Roman
Mrs. Chambers
AP Literature
16th October 2013
Career: Interior Design
For my Senior Project I chose to focus on interior design. Interior designers are more than
what people might see on the television, interior designers are there to create a functional and
pleasing interior space whether it would be for homes or commercial buildings. Interior
designers have to have communication skills, the knowledge, and the professional skill of a
designer. They need to know the regulations and safety rules to create a safe and peaceful
environment. They need to know building regulations, health and safety hazards, have the right
education, and most importantly to take in consideration the client’s needs and wants. In the end,
interior designers are there to make their clients’ happy and pleased with the overall result.
Designers need to have the right education in order to become a true interior designer.
Interior designers usually need a college degree in order to pursue this career. They usually need
some time of degree; while one can get an associate’s degree many employers require a
bachelor’s degree (Welcome to Career Cruising 2.0). Depending on the state, specific
requirements are needed; generally though, usually six years of education and experience is
needed to be recognized as an official interior designer. The final step in becoming an interior
designer is to write an exam, which is organized by National Council for Interior Design
Qualification, also known as NCIDQ. The job outlook for interior design, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States, is nineteen percent which about as fast as the
average for all occupations.
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Interior designers are creative, they need to be able to listen to their client’s wants and
needs, need to analyze an environment and know to design it; designers do much more than
make a room look pretty. They make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful for almost
every type of building including homes, offices, airport terminals, restaurant, and any other
interior space. Interior designers are familiar with a thousand details: advising on color, fabric,
furniture and furnishings, professional interior designers has an in-depth knowledge of flooring,
wall coverings, windows, finishes and sealants, hardware, flooring, lighting, acoustics and many
other elements involved in completing a room.
Earning for an interior designer depends on location, experience, and reputation.
Generally, those who work at an expensive location, such as New York City, usually receive
more income. Most people who are interior designers receive an income between $26,000 and
$85,000 annually, but as stated before, those with more experience can earn up to an average
closer to $100,000 a year.
The great thing about being an interior designer is having the choice to either be selfemployed or to work at certain firms or companies. Designers typically work between seven to
ten hours a day. Their workday may adjust to suit the clients’ schedule. Interior designers who
are free-lanced will possibly work longer and irregular hours; freelancers can also determine
when their vacation days are, but are more likely to lose the opportunity to make money.
In order to gain an inside look in this field, I interviewed someone who works in the
career field, my project facilitator Marlyn Dixon; Marlyn Dixon is a credible source because she
has owned her own company Heavenly Interior Designs for over twenty years. Something that
would benefit those who would want to pursue this career is to always good to work with another
designer; so one can learn about design as well as about the challenges of the business. One will
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learn what to and what not to do if he or she ever decides to go out on his/her own (An Interview
with Marlyn Dixon). One could also start a portfolio show casing ones noteworthy projects he or
she has done; in the future the portfolio will come in handy. Her favorite aspect of the job is
“seeing the expression on a client's face that surpasses their exception” and her least favorite is
“having to sit down with the client to tell then the cost of the project” (An Interview with Marlyn
Dixon) In addition a designers salary, one can receive benefits only if he or she works at a large
firm; these benefits can include medical, 401k, vacation and others, but if the designer is selfemployed then the designer must provide their own benefits. There is usually no excessive
traveling when one is self-employed unless the designer is willing and able to, but if one works
at a large firm there could possibly be some traveling (An Interview with Marlyn Dixon).
Required continuing education depends; IIDA Professional and Associate Members, which
stands for International Interior Design Association, are required to complete and report 1.0 CEU
(10 hours) of Continuing Education prior to a specific date (Continuing Education Information).
There is availability for internships or apprenticeships in the interior design field.
Overall, interior designer meet with clients, plan out designs, shop for anything that goes
into the design and what is needed. At the end of the day, they make sure their clients are
satisfied with the end result and know that they can come home to a beautiful home.
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Works Cited
"An Interview with Marlyn Dixon." Interview by Carmen C. Roman. Heavenly Interior Designs.
Heavenly Interior Designs, LLC, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"Continuing Education Information." Iidamac.org. International Interior Design Association,
2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 July 2012.
Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
"Welcome to Career Cruising 2.0." Career Cruising. Career Cruising, 2013. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.