The main task of the Interior Designer, or interior architect, is to arrange structures, furnishings, accessories, so that an environment is comfortable and livable.
An experienced professional must therefore be able to combine different needs: those of design, certainly, but also those relating to the functionality and comfort of the space. An Interior Designer is required to improve the quality of life within a place: to do so, in addition to embellishing it, in many cases, he will have to take care of the restructuring, define a new organization of the spaces and objects present in it or, again , will have to try to make it more eco-sustainable and in line with the objectives of reducing the environmental impact.
The Interior Designer is an increasingly popular figure in the world of design precisely because he is able to act by responding to such different needs. A skill that is achieved thanks to dedication, but also and above all to years of study and constant updating. In this guide, we summarize how to become an Interior Designer and start your career in one of the most fascinating fields of architecture.
Training of the Interior Designer
The first step to becoming an Interior Designer is to enroll in a certified course valid in the territory of your country. This can be a degree course at a State University, or a training course at academies and private entities that offer highly qualified courses.
This, in particular, represents an important novelty that has emerged in recent years. If in the past, in fact, the only (or almost) possibility of working in the interior architecture sector was to attend the classic degree course in Architecture or Industrial Design, over time, numerous other courses have been launched at our state universities. bachelor’s and master’s degrees more targeted to the profile of the interior architect. To date, the most qualified Italian universities in the sector include the Polytechnic of Turin, the IUAV of Venice and the Polytechnic of Bari.
As mentioned, in parallel with the university course, several courses and masters have arisen offered by private entities that work closely with companies, professional studios and creative hubs. Among these, we cannot fail to mention the IED (European Institute of Design), the Academy of Design and Communication in Florence and the New Academy of Design in Verona and Milan.
Whatever educational choice is made, the aspiring Interior Designer will have to learn to approach very varied fields of study such as design, green building, interior and furniture design, materials science, graphics, and many others. You will also have to demonstrate that you have an open and curious mind, be in step with the times, follow the debates and opinion leaders in the sector, consult both Italian and foreign specialized magazines and portals.
The subjects that an Interior Designer must know
AIPi, the Italian Association of Interior Designers, also insists on the importance, for an Interior Designer, of a varied culture, which includes numerous thematic areas. Among these are, for example, the History of Modern Architecture and Design, as well as the methodologies on which Design and Architecture and Industrial Design are based.
Also according to the AIPi, the Interior Designer must have an eye towards environmental ethics but also anthropometric sciences, and know the legislation regarding the design and construction of buildings and environments.
They must learn to manage and deal with the client to meet their budget requirements and, at the same time, work in compliance with regulations and codes.
Those who work as an Interior Designer must know how to carry out a project, and therefore use IT tools and technical programs necessary for their work.
Trade associations
The next step to become an Interior Designer is to join a trade association. The associations work to protect professionals. Membership of a trade association also has the advantage of being able to more easily establish relationships of knowledge and collaboration with other colleagues, as well as attend meetings and training and updating opportunities.
Among the most important associations there is the aforementioned AIPi, founded in 1969 and present throughout the country through local delegations, and the Aiap, that is the Italian Association of Visual Communication Design, founded in 1945.
Other professional associations that may be of interest to an Interior Designer are the Association for Industrial Design, the Italian Design Society, the Design for All Association and the Italian Design Institute.
Career opportunities for the Interior Designer
In fact, the intent of this overview on how to become an Interior Designer is to outline the profile of a multifaceted and versatile figure who, as such, can have access to different job opportunities.
The role of the Interior Designer is to develop and design interior spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and comfortable for those who live there. In addition to having numerous technical skills, he must prove himself to be a creative professional capable of providing customized and quality solutions, in line with the person’s housing needs.
Thanks to these skills, a good Interior Designer can work on an infinite number of projects that cover both the residential and retail sectors, passing through the office sector, catering and hospitality (to name a few).
Are you an Interior Designer? An architect?
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