When you’ve decided you want to be an interior designer, you should consider two things: enrolling in an interior design college program and looking for interior design work experience. The simplest way to gain interior design work experience is to contact your college’s career counseling center or academic advisor. These resources will assist you in locating internships and volunteer opportunities that will allow you to hone your design skills while also building your resume in preparation for a job search after graduation.
You will still have plenty of options if you are not enrolled in a college program but want to gain interior design work experience. In this situation, volunteering your services to local businesses, non-profit organizations, or public spaces is the best way to gain interior design work experience. Offering free services is a great way to attract customers who will spread the word about your business if you do a good job. Even if your service generates no referrals, you will have improved your skills in preparation for a career as a professional interior designer.
Another excellent way to gain interior design experience is to work in a retail showroom. You might be able to showcase your skills and talents by performing interior design duties for the company where you work. If you work in the right environment, you’ll be more likely to meet other interior designers; furniture stores, lighting fixtures stores, and other home furnishing establishments are good choices because interior designers frequently have accounts with such businesses and visit them to make purchases. At the same time, you can demonstrate your abilities and network for industry connections.
You’ll need to learn how to use computer-aided drafting, or CAD, programs as an interior designer. Taking classes at a community college can help you develop your skills, and once you’re comfortable with the programs, you can advertise for freelance design work in a local newspaper or on a website. If your rates are reasonable, homeowners and businesses will often pay for such services, and you will be able to practice your skills in real-world situations. Having a certificate or other credential from a college that relates to CAD training is a great way to market yourself as a CAD expert.