Interior Designers
People classed as Interior Designers plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Interest ratings put Artistic on top at 5.6 out of 7 and Realistic second, so the code is ARC and the day leans toward creative work with room for original expression. The preparation level is considerable preparation, typically a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. O*NET’s skill data points to speaking, reading comprehension, and critical thinking as the ones to build. The job can ask you to design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). It tends to suit people who want creative work with room for original expression, and it offers little for anyone seeking helping, teaching or caring for people.
What they do
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
Main tasks
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
Skills
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You want room to make something in your own way.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on speaking and reading comprehension.
May not suit you if
- You prefer clear instructions to open creative briefs.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ARC takes the three highest, and Artistic comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Certified Kitchen Designer
- Color and Materials Designer
- Commercial Interior Designer
- Decorating Consultant
- Designer
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.