What Does an Interior Designer Do?

An interior designer can do a variety of things in the field of design, and considers the needs of the individual or company that hires him or her. Primarily, the interior designer must blend aesthetics, or the look and feel of a place, with functionality and use of a space, and does so in consideration of the available working area, desires, and budget of the client. Being artistic, having knowledge of building codes, and being able to please the client are all valuable assets for those who wish to have a career in interior design. Having good listening skills, excelling at following through with concepts, and being able to draw, and use programs like AutoCAD® can also be of assistance. Most interior designers are trained in art or design schools, and bring a variety of talents to their profession. When an interior designer is called to do a job, there are several things he or she must do first. He must examine the space which requires design or decoration, listen to the client’s ...  more

According to the International Interior Design Association (Short Definition), the professional Interior Designer: "analyzes the client's needs, goals, and life and safety requirements; integrates findings with knowledge of interior design; formulates preliminary design concepts that are appropriate, functional, and aesthetic; develops and presents final design recommendations through appropriate presentation media; prepares working drawings and specifications for non-load bearing interior construction, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment; collaborates with professional services of other licensed practitioners in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical, and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval; prepares and administers bids and contract documents as the client's agent; reviews and evaluates design solutions during implementation and upon completion.