But you are an interior designer, why?
Because I am not an interior decorator.
I always got this when I told people what I was going to school for, after I graduated, and at my current job. In the past I actually was terrible and did not really care at the beginning of my projects what the paint color was going to be. There is so much in between finding that perfect color swatch and the beginning of the project. Ultimately the final colors aren't decided until after the walls are actually up and it isn't just a figment of our imagination.
Another way I can put this into comparison is by giving other examples like how a doctor gets a called a nurse, a farmer gets called a rancher, an EMT gets called an ambulance driver (that one is for you mom :)), a master sergeant gets called an airman (air force baby roots), an interior designer gets called an interior decorator....We have all worked very hard to earn that title or that degree.
So here is where I clear it up since a lot of people assume what it means or just are really unsure and have questions.
According to the NCIDQ Exam website the definition is a lengthy one, but it does give a peek to others to what it actually means to be an interior designer.
'Definition of Interior Design
Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.
Interior design includes a scope of services performed by a professional design practitioner, qualified by means of education, experience and examination, to protect and enhance the health, life safety and welfare of the public. These services may include any or all of the following tasks:
- Research and analysis of the client's goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs.
- Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client's program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior.
- Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines.
- Selection of colors, materials and finishes to appropriately convey the design concept and to meet socio-psychological, functional, maintenance, life cycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements.
- Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture.
- Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules.
- Preparation of construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications, to illustrate non-structural and/or non-seismic partition layouts; power and communications locations; reflected ceiling plans and lighting designs; materials and finishes; and furniture layouts.
- Preparation of construction documents to adhere to regional building and fire codes, municipal codes, and any other jurisdictional statutes, regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space.
- Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants.
- Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials.
- Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent.
- Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.'
Told you it was lengthy! Some people probably just scanned it. Just by seeing how long it is just to explain what it is, imagine how long a project takes!?
My experience as a student story:
So in 2008 I went to college in the fall for athletic training and pre-physical therapy, but after going to human anatomy and dissecting a human cadaver for about a month I dropped that class and decided following a different dream path would probably be better. So not long after I visited the Interior Design program and the next fall started my journey. It is ENTIRELY different than what 90% of students starting in it think it is. We went from filling two rooms of students to having a graduating class of 6. I think that the first two years weed out the students who can't really handle it and realize you are not playing HGTV Design Stars. I didn't feel like students started to get a grasp of real designing until spring of sophomore year. Spring of sophomore year students started doing models, construction documents, research binders, and working together. Between my junior and senior year I did go on my travel study to New York and then on to my practicum aka: internship at an amazing architecture company, AcV2 architecture, that did residential and commercial design. The architecture firm was just two others; the owner/architect and the interior designer. We worked on a unfinished door held up by two saw horses and in an open office floor plan with the arts center where the office was located. I got to go to every meeting held from clients to construction which let me be a real part of the firm, which a lot of students don't get to experience It was by far one of my most influential parts of my student career. I remember after I left they predicted my future, I think I am about to make their predictions come true :). Anyway! Next came my senior year where we did our cultural study at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation then onto our thesis project (yup, designers do thesis') that would take us to graduation. It was a long process with many sleepless nights. Research, research, research, infographics, preliminary design, research, inspiration, research, graphics, sketching, annotation, research, drawings, research, presentations, construction documents, more construction documents, research, construction documents, two research binders, 6 presentations boards, a stack of construction documents of details, floor plans, lighting plans, and HVAC and electrical plans later.... FINALLY graduation! I graduated Spring 2013 from an accredited school (meaning that the students are up to standards that are relevant, valid, and reliable that make them prepared for entry-level practice, not all universities are accredited programs other include: the Art Institutes, California State University, Florida State, Sanford Brown, Iowa State, Boston Architectural College, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, University of Nebraska, Cornell, Syracuse, Texas State, and the list goes on of very credible colleges, which is so cool) in South Dakota with a Bachelors in Interior Design.
Now?
Well my computer is still clogged up with Google SketchUp, Revit Architecture, Adobe, and I can run both Mac OS and Windows 7. I treasure this bad boy, it holds everything that makes interior design what it is; like construction documents I spent hours, days, months, and many tears shed over, research from the smallest details to the big picture, literally, drawings I have done and all the little annotations that go along with them. Maybe one day I will use all these things again everyday, all day.
Right RIGHT now?
I use Adobe a lot when it comes to designing graphics for fliers, newsletters, and such for the dance studio I teach dance at. Every once and awhile I use Sketchup for people to give them an idea what something could look like or if AcV2 calls me up and asks for a small project to be done. All of my building codes, lighting design, space planning, and resource books sit on my bookshelf, but get pulled and dusted off more often than you'd think.
In one of my prior posts I said I felt like my creativeness was kind of pushed aside, but at least this new journey that I am slowly jumping into lets me express it in some way. Being able to upcycle, recycle, reuse, and redesign decor gives me that outlet I needed. It gives me a new challenge every time I find a new piece to reconfigure and redesign.
Unorganized thoughts spilled onto a blog post, complete. I promise I'm more organized in my life, sometimes :) But that is that, hopefully you have a new little insight, if not feel free to ask or search for yourselves what an interior designer actually does.
On a much (probably) more exciting note! Last week I received my Minnestoa State Tax Identification Number from the IRS, which means I am pretty much almost real :) and this week is Junk Bonanza which will probably be the next weeks post!
*Below are some renderings, wire framings, and project completions from when I was in school. Some done at AcV2 architecture (AcV2 architecture) where I interned, some from partner collaboration projects, and individual projects.
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