Practice >> 3 - Interior Design Disciplines

Interior designers work in a wide range of environments, including restaurants, hotels, stores, offices, airports, hospitals and homes. Surveys indicate that a majority of interior designers practice in several areas, although they tend to favor one or two. Many interior designers work primarily as residential designers.

Practitioners often contribute to design education as part-time educators or participants in studio critiques. Some interior designers become full-time educators, helping to train the next generation.

Interior designers also work as sales and marketing professionals in related industries. For example, an interior designer might be the sales and marketing representative for a major carpet manufacturer, providing product information to interior designers and architects.

Example of Contract Interior Designer

Greg has been an interior designer with RPS Design for the past 25 years. Now one of three partners who manage a firm that specializes in office and retail design, he started as a junior interior designer just out of university. The firm handles corporate office design for hundreds of corporate clients and retail design for major recognizable brand accounts, such as NIKE, The Gap, HMV and Victoria ’s Secret.

Example of Residential Interior Designer

Jane graduated in 1970 and worked her way up from junior interior designer to senior interior designer at two design firms throughout the 1970s. In 1979 she opened her own residential design firm. Since that time, she has developed her design firm into one of the leading high-end residential design firms in her city. She now designs residential space for an average of 40 clients per year, many of whom have retained Jane two or three times as they have redesigned their existing space or moved to new homes.

Example of Healthcare Interior Designer

Sandra joined a large interior design firm after working at two or three small firms since graduation. One of the reasons Sandra was hired at the firm was because of her past experience in designing medical and dental offices and clinics. This large firm’s client list includes several major hospitals, and Sandra was hired as an intermediate designer to work on healthcare projects the firm secured for the design of hospital interiors.

Example of Hospitality Interior Designer

One of the best things about Jennifer’s job as a hospitality designer is that she gets to create new and exciting restaurants, clubs and bars and then watch her newly designed spaces become the hottest spots in town. As a hospitality designer, Jennifer spends a considerable amount of time ensuring that the spaces she creates are functional and safe, yet inviting and creative.

Example of Government Interior Designer

Gary is a government employee. His job as an interior designer for one of the major federal departments is to coordinate design and construction for any of the department’s office relocations or renovations. On average, 35 departments either change location or renovate on an annual basis. Gary and his team of five designers are responsible for managing these projects on an annual basis and for planning and budgeting the projects that will be undertaken in the next year.

Example of Interior Design Educator

After earning her bachelor's degree in interior design, Alison worked in the field for six years. During this time, she frequently taught night classes as an adjunct faculty member at a local college. She decided to return to school to earn a graduate degree and become a fulltime faculty member in interior design. It took her two years to earn an MFA degree. She is now an assistant professor on a tenure track at a major university, and she continues a small design practice. Alison enjoys helping students become professionals.

1 - Program Components  |  2 -Sample Design Process | 4 -  Work Settings and Earnings