Interior designer careers deal with the planning and creation of functional and aesthetically pleasing living and working spaces within a structure. As this is such a broadly defined career field, many interior designers choose to narrow their focus to either residential or commercial design projects. Some interior designers specialize in a particular type of space, like kitchens and bathrooms, or focus on a type of design solution, like eco-friendly, or green, design. Still others cater to a particular industry, like hospitality, and design spaces for hotels and resorts. Due to the differing needs of businesses and industry and increasing demand for home remodeling, there are a variety of different interior design careers available in many exciting specialties.
Many countries and an increasing number of US states require that all interior designers, regardless of specialty, pass a licensing exam administered by a regulating body. Once licensed, an interior designer can choose from a variety of interior design careers. Some interior design organizations offer certifications for specialties, like the Certified Kitchen Designer offered by the National Kitchen and Bath Association in the US. The remodeling business continues to grow as homeowners in older homes seek more ergonomically friendly kitchens and bathrooms with newer options. An increasing number of interior design careers are available in specific types of residential spaces.
There are interior design careers that are based in retail furniture stores or home and garden centers. These designers focus on helping clients choose furniture and accessories to achieve a design or decorating goal and work within a color scheme or style. Retail interior design careers require designers to be sales minded as well as being a talented designer.
Although interior designers work in every commercial industry, many interior design careers are focusing on the special needs of some industry types. The health care industry is employing more interior designers to help create spaces friendly to the needs of the elderly and disabled. Businesses employ interior designers to increase productivity in the workplace. Stores and showrooms need interior designers to design spaces that use buyer psychology to increase sales. This can easily be seen in a grocery store that places brands the store wishes to move at eye level so that customers are more likely to choose them.
Interior design careers that involve green design are becoming more common. Clients are increasingly concerned about how way of life impacts the environment. The use of environmentally friendly materials in home construction and furnishings is more common. People are also becoming more aware of special medical concerns, like asthma, allergies, and environmental sensitivities, that can be controlled with environmental factors. Green interior designers can advise clients on the usage of green alternatives to traditional materials.
