INTERIOR DESIGN as a PROFESSION

* It is much more than the selection of materials & colours to create a

pleasant environment.

A Professional Interior Designer must gain knowledge & proficiency in a
wide range of subjects & skills, combining elements of design, aesthetics,
psychology, the use of space, functional planning, safety issues &
business practices.

A designer must be willing to accept the legal & ethical consequences of his
actions in practice as they relate to the general public & local laws, clients,
the profession in general & other practitioners.

* The profession of interior designer is also a business & the management &
efficient operations of a business are part & parcel to the successful
ongoing life of a interior designer.

INTERIOR DESIGNER :

A professional interior designer is a person qualified by education, experience
and examination who

Identifies researches & creatively solves problems pertaining to the
function & quality of the interior environment.

Performs services relative to interior spaces, including programming,
design analysis, space planning & aesthetics using specialized knowledge
of interior construction, building codes, equipment, materials & furnishings
and

Prepares drawings & documents relative to the design of interior spaces in
order to enhance & protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.




WHY STUDY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
The profession of interior designer is a business also.
Knowledge & application of business practice concepts is essential to the
overall professional practice of interior design.
Success depends upon being professional in both the creative & business
side of interior design which becomes a part of representing to the public that
interior design is a profession.
The professional practice involves standing by promises made in design
contracts with clients & suppliers, as well as many other business issues.
Studying & applying business practices helps the owner of the firm have a
greater chance of achieving profit along with effective management.
Operating in an ineffective & unprofessional way will cause serious
problems for any practitioner.

THE PROFESSION
Is a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training & a
formal qualification.
Is an occupation that is based on theoretical & practical knowledge &
training in a particular field.
It is existing when a specific set of characteristics can be associated with
it as the use of skills based on theoretical knowledge.
- education & training in these skills.
- the competence of professional ensured by examination.
- a code of conduct to ensure professional integrity.
- performance of service that is for the public good.
- a professional association that organizes members.

HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.
Interiors of one sort or another from caves to palaces.
Batu
caves
Batu caves
Palace
Interiors
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.
The Greek theatre of Syracuse
The theater of Dionysus,
Athens
Greeks were the first to put on theatrical performances in
specialised spaces, referred to theaters.
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.
Monastery at Ladaakh

Monasteries provided some of the earliest settings for health care
facilities & were among the most imp. Early school settings.
Monastery at Ladaakh
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.

Before the 12
th
century Interior design was the responsibility of
architect & artisans such as 1. MICHELANGELO
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.

Works of - MICHELANGELO
Christine Chapel, Barcelona
Dome of Petersons Palace
Edinburgh,
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.
2. ANTONIO GAUDI
3. WILLIAM MORRIS
Musical Angel
by Morris
Parguell, Spain
Casa_Mill
Barcelona, Spain
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.

Charles Percier -1764-1838 was the first Professional Interior Designer.


Elsie de Wolfe -
1868-1950
Ruby Ross Wood
1880-1950
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION.

Elsie de Wolfes works.. The House in Good Taste 1913 recently
republished



ROLE OF A INTERIOR DESIGNER :
* An Interior Designer has to possess a wide range of abilities & artistic talent.
He is not a decorator but a professional. Interior design is not only an art but it
is science & technology also.

The profession includes problem definition & analysis, space planning,
selection & specification of all interior furnishings & finishes, and co-ordination
of all installations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERIOR DESIGNER :
1.Appreciation of Beauty the ability to appreciate beauty in everything,
which will help the designer to use the unthought-of of- inexpensive materials
in his works.

2. Psychological insight to understand the needs of a client & the
understanding to elicit the best work according to the capacity, from the
people employed on the project.
3. Analysis of the problem the ability to think over a problem considering
the requirements, personality of client, his socio-cultural background and his
budget, material & labour available. The shifting of important & unimportant
elements & likewise discarding of useless concepts is what makes a good
interior designer.

4. Flexibility adjusting views & design approach according to a clients
requirement, financial constraints, unwanted pressures & other conditions
turns a difficult situation into a workable one & turns a mediocre designer into
a successful one.

5. Visual communication interior design is a visual field. So whatever a
designer wants to communicate to his client should be in visual terms. A
picture is supposed to be equal to 5000 words. So instead of describing a
design it is better to present it in the form of a sketch or perspective.

6. Meeting the deadlines meeting deadlines is as important as doing
good work. If you are able to keep your deadline, you will be known as a
good, trustworthy and dependable designer.
7.Working with diverse personalities flexibility to accommodate all types
of people, to bow where needed, to be aggressive when necessary, will
smoothen out your way towards a successful career.

8.Bussiness acumen everything now-a-days has become business
because everything is geared to generate money. It involves meeting clients,
gathering right people to carry out a project, having good contacts with
suppliers to avail good quality, reasonable prices and on time delivery of
materials. If you do not possess these qualities, your practice will suffer.

9. Love of detail & accuracy there is a fraction of difference between a
good & a excellent job. A good job becomes excellent when it is done
accurately and the details are not lost sight of.

10.Enthusiasm it means the quest to know & understand the mechanism of
a thing & practically involve oneself in it with all the energy, interest &
concentration.
2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.1 : ENTERING THE PROFESSION
There are so many different ways of work in the interior design field
& many ways in which an individual can find the right path that will
match his or her talents & interests.

Regardless of where you start in the Profession, you might find
yourself doing something totally different in the field.

It is important for the students to realize that the variety of career
options that are open to an interior designer goes far beyond
designing residential or commercial interiors.



2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.1 : ENTERING THE PROFESSION

CAREER DECISIONS :

- Your first job as a Interior Designer is a significant milestone.

- Few designers remain with the same company for decades.
- Graduates these days might have 10different jobs before retirement.
-needed & important to keep oneself open to new opportunities job
experience.

- The entry level designer starts with low-level work in the beginning at any
office.
- despite the training & talent the firm wants to train & observe the employee
for some period of time before giving him substantial responsibility.

- In small firms the new employee has the opportunity to work on a variety of
projects & have a variety of experience fairly quickly.

- In larger firms- the entry- lvl. Designers are given an opportunity to see how a
variety of bigger projects are handled.


- Working at a lower salary in large firms is a good idea since the experience
working with them is far more valuable.


2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.2 AVENUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN
2. FACITILY PLANNERS
3. RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGN
4. LIGHTING DESIGNERS
5. SALES REPRESENTATIVES
6. CAD SPECIALISTS
7. OTHER COMPUTER SPECIALISTS.
8. BARRIER- FREE OR UNIVERSAL DESIGN.
9. SUSTAINABLE DESIGNERS.
10. PROFESSIONAL RENDERERS.
11. MODEL MAKERS/ BUILDERS
12. PRODUCT DESIGNERS ELECTIVE
13. INTERIOR DESIGN MANAGEMENT.
2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.2 AVENUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

14. MARKETING SPECIALISTS.
15. TEACHING.
16. GRAPHICS & WAYFINDING.
17. ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHERS.
18. INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.
19. MUSEUM WORK / RESTORATION WORK.
20. JOURNALISM.
21. MERCHANDISING & EXHIBIT DESIGN.

2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.2 AVENUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
OPTIONS FOR AVENUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. JOINING A ESTABLISHED FIRM
2.JOINING A SMALL FIRM.
3.JOINING A SHOWROOM.
4. FREELANCE WORK.
5. PRIVATE PRACTICE.
6. PARTNERSHIP.
7. ASSOCIATESHIP.


2. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES :

2.2 AVENUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. JOINING A ESTABLISHED FIRM COMMERCIAL,
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGNERS OFFICE, LIGHTING DESIGNERS, CAD
SPECIALISTS, PRODUCT DESIGNERS, INTERIOR DESIGN MANAGEMENT,
GRAPHIC & WAY FINDERS,

ADVANTAGES:
PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE, LOCATION,SITUATION ETC.
HIGH SALARY.
HIGH STANDARDS OF DESIGN & PRESENTATION.
SUFFICIENT TIME AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH.
ABLE TO HANDLE LARGER PROJECTS IN A SHORT TIME.
DISADVANTAGES:
WILL HAVE TO JOIN AS AN ASSISTANT / JUNIOR.
LESS RESPONSIBILITIES, LESS WORK.
MIGHT GET EXPERIENCE ONLY IN ONE FIELD, DUE TO MANY
DEPARTMENTS.
WORK REGULARLY FROM 9.00a.m to 5.00p.m.
WONT BE ABLE TO ATTEND SEMINARS, SEE EXHIBITIONS, VISIT
SHOWROOMS,READ IN THE LIBRARY OR AT HOME & WRITE IF YOU LIKE.
2.JOINING A SMALL FIRM : COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL
INTERIOR DESIGNERS OFFICE, LIGHTING DESIGNERS, CAD
SPECIALISTS, PRODUCT DESIGNERS, INTERIOR DESIGN,
MANAGEMENT, GRAPHIC & WAY FINDERS,
ADVANTAGES :
DO ALMOST EVERYTHING CONNECTED WITH THE PROFESSION.
WIDE & VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.
HE MIGHT GUIDE YOU AS A TEACHER.
COME TO KNOW VARIOUS CONTRACTORS / MATERIAL /SERVICE/
LABOUR / SUPLIERS & CONSULTANTS ON INTIMATE TERMS.
WORKS AS A BASE FOR FUTURE.
DISADVANTAGES :
LOW SALARY.
INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR RESEARCH.
NO FIXED WORKING HOURS.
HAVE TO DO WORK FROM A PEONS JOB TO DRAUGHTMANS TO
THE DESIGNERS WORK.
HARD WORK AND HAVE TO BE ON THE TOES.
3.JOINING A SHOWROOM SALES REPRESENTATIVE,
MARKETING SPECIALIISTS.
ADVANTAGES :

PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE, LOCATION,SITUATION ETC.
HIGH SALARY
SUFFICIENT TIME AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH.
ABLE TO HANDLE LARGER PROJECTS IN A SHORT TIME.

DISADVANTAGES :
LIMITED SCOPE OF DESIGN.
HAVE TO MODIFY YOUR CONCEPT, DESIGN & LAYOUT ACCORDING TO
AVAILABLE ITEMS OF FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES.
OPERATES ON AN EXTREMELY PRACTICAL BUSSINESS , SO HAVE TO
PLEASE THE BOSS & THE CLIENT, ENDING UP BEING A MANIPULATOR.viz. an
excellent salesman.
WHATEVER DREAMT ABOUT IN THE COLLEGE DAYS IS DRAINED OUT.

4. FREELANCE WORK. : CAD SPECIALISTS, OTHER
COMPUTER SOFTWARE SPECIALISTS, PROFESSIONAL RENDERERS,
MODEL MAKERS, INTERIOR / ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER,
JOURNALISM, EXHIBIT DESIGNERS.
ADVANTAGES :
INNUMERABLE POSSIBILITIES, LIMITED ONLY BY THE DESIGNERS
EFFORTS.
OFFERS GREAT EXPERIENCE IN DESIGNING, DESIGN
PRESENTATION, QUANTITY ESTIMATE, WORKING DRAWINGS &
CLIENT DEALINGS.
NO INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR SETTING UP AN OFFICE.
NO TIME RESTRICTIONS.
DISADVANTAGES :
SOMETIMES, WONT BE ABLE TO MEET OR DEAL DIRECTLY WITH
THE CLIENT.
IT DOES NOT GIVE EXPERIENCE OF EXECUTION.
WONT BE ABLE TO MEET CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS ETC.
NO FIXED INCOME.
5. PRIVATE PRACTICE : COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR
DESIGNERS OFFICE, LIGHTING DESIGNERS, CAD SPECIALISTS, PRODUCT
DESIGNERS, INTERIOR DESIGN, MANAGEMENT, GRAPHIC & WAY FINDERS,
ADVANTAGES :
INNUMERABLE POSSIBILITIES, LIMITED ONLY BY THE INDIVIDUAL
EFFORTS.
OFFERS GREAT EXPERIENCE IN DESIGNING, DESIGN
PRESENTATION, QUANTITY ESTIMATE, WORKING DRAWINGS,
CLIENT DEALINGS & EXECUTION.
COME TO KNOW VARIOUS CONTRACTORS / MATERIAL /SERVICE/
LABOUR / SUPLIERS & CONSULTANTS ON INTIMATE TERMS.
DISADVANTAGES :
NO FIXED WORKING HOURS.
HARD WORK AND HAVE TO BE ON THE TOES.
WILL HAVE TO SOMETIMES SUSTAIN LOSS ALSO.
IF SLACK IN PRACTICE, WILL HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER
ALTERNATIVES viz. participating in contests, writing for journals or appear
in discussions on T.V. Or club meets.
6. PARTNERSHIP.
ADVANTAGES :
BETTER CHANCE OF DOING WELL ,WHEN INDIVIDUALS POOL THEIR
RESOURCES.
BENEFICIAL IF, THE PARTNER IS A NON-DESIGNER.
HE WILL FETCH WORK, MAKE CONTACTS, HELP IN OFFICE
MAMAGEMENT & WILL NOT INTERFERE IN YOUR WORK.
STILL BETTER IF YOU HAVE A SLEEPING PARTNER A PERSON
WHO WILL FINANCE & SHARE PROFITS WITHOUT INTERFERING IN
YOUR WORK.
DISADVANTAGES :
CO-OPERATION AND TRUST ARE A MUST FOR SUCH VENTURES.
7. ASSOCIATESHIP.
ONE OF THE BEST WAY OF PRACTICE, PEOPLE BELONGING TO THE
SAME PROFESSION POOL TOGETHER TO FORM A ASSOCIATESHIP.
ADVANTAGES :
OFFERS A BEGINNER GREATEST ECONOMY, GREATEST RANGE OF
DESIGNING WORK, TEAM CONFIDENCE & FINANCIAL SECURITY OF
A GROUP.
WIDEST RANGE OF CONTACTS & GREAT EXPERIENCE.
RESOURCES ARE SHARED FROM PURCHASING /RENTING OF THE
OFFICE TO THE WHOLE SETUP.
WORK TOGETHER ON A PROJECT, GIVING LARGER PERCENTAGE
OF FEES TO THE ASSOCIATE FETCHING THE JOB.
ALL EXPENSES / PROFITS ARE SHARED EQUALLY.
DISADVANTAGES :
LACKS IN SECRECY OF DESIGN.


WHAT ARE THE AVENUES OPEN IN THE MARKET FOR AN INTERIOR
DESIGNER? 06
AFTER COMPLETION OF THE INT.DESIGNERS DIPLOMA
COURSE,WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE IN ORDER TO BE A
SUCCESSFUL INT. DESIGNER? 12
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF SOLE
PROPRIETORSHIP. 05
LISTOUT THE SHORTCOMINGS, THE INT. DESIGNER IS
LIKELY TO FACE IN HIS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. 06