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What Does An Interior Designer Do?
The study of interior design is more closely aligned with “interior architecture”, as opposed to interior decoration. The study of interior design is theoretical as well as practical, and is about creating interior environments/spaces for people in support of their activities – it
is not necessarily about filling rooms with floor coverings, furniture,
and window and wall treatments.
Everywhere you go, you see the influence of interior designers. The public's demand for design services has grown rapidly and with that growth has come a wider range of specialization. Today you have the choice of specializing in residential design or non-residential design. Non-residential design, also known as Contract Design or Commercial Design, includes a broad range of project types including but not limited to: commercial and professional office design, health care, elderly care, education, museums, theaters, retail, government, recreation, restaurants, and hospitality. Individuals with training in interior design also may specialize in other areas such as set design for stage and screen productions, lighting design, color consultation, product development and marketing, teaching and research, journalism, facilities management, and historic preservation.
What Skills Would I Need?
Although artistic talent is certainly important, it is only one of many abilities a successful interior designer needs. You would also be expected to:
• Be sensitive to the client's needs and have a thorough understanding of human behavior
• Approach a problem creatively and analytically
• Communicate ideas visually (using sketches, drawings, and study models) as well as orally and in writing
• Be meticulous about detail and accuracy
• Budget your time carefully and meet demanding deadlines
• Make cost estimates, understand purchasing and selling methods, and manage finances and business operations
• Have computer skills as a tool for design as well as for business management
What Can I Do To Prepare?
If you are still in high school, take demanding college-preparatory courses that require you to develop self-discipline and analytical ability. Include electives in art, art history, industrial arts, mechanical drawing or drafting, and computer science. Look for part-time jobs that will give you a chance to explore the field of design. Volunteer to help set and lighting design for school plays and community theater. Work for a building contractor, interior designer, or offer to do window displays for a local store.
• Purchase a sketchbook and practice observational drawing – draw anything you can see
• Keep an up-to-date record of your work in a portfolio
• Check your library or bookstore for books and magazines about interior design
• Seek out and talk to interior design professionals in your area
At Winthrop we always welcome students and their families to talk with the faculty and visit classes. Call our main office and make an appointment at your convenience.
For more information about Interior Design, go to:
www.accredit-id.org/; www.ncidq.org; www.iida.org; www.asid.org; www.careersininteriordesign.com;
and www.idec.org
What Education Would I Receive At Winthrop?
Winthrop University offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with the concentration in Interior Design, and is the only program of interior design in South Carolina that is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
Interior design students take a series of lecture and studio classes that are designed to gradually introduce the student to the knowledge and skills needed in the practice of interior design. Some of the areas of instruction are:
• Sketching, drawing and rendering
• Design theory and spatial analysis
• Space planning and design of residential and non-residential projects
• History of art, architecture and interior design
• Human needs for special population groups
• Building construction and environmental systems
• Materials performance and design applications
• Building codes and standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public
• Business practices and principles
• Professional practice and ethics
Studio classes where students complete a series of interior design projects and assignments, occupy much of the student's class time. The program requires all majors spend time working with a professional designer in the co-operative education program, usually scheduled after the third year of study. The program makes it possible for students to apply their academic training in an actual work environment.
 09-10
Interior Design
degree
requirements
Interior
Design
course
descriptions
09-10
1st yr.
Supply Kit
INDS Book List
(all classes)
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