What You Can Do With an Interior Design Degree

What You Can Do With an Interior Design Degree

Are you passionate about creating beautiful and functional spaces? Do you have a keen eye for furniture aesthetics and decor? You can develop your creativity even further with a degree in Interior Design. Pursuing Interior Design can be a rewarding experience that opens doors to many exciting and diverse career possibilities. Read below to learn more about the different career paths you can take with an Interior Design degree.

What You Can Do With an Interior Design Degree

Interior design can be a fulfilling career that allows you to leverage your creativity, attention to detail, and organizational skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interior Designers earn an average annual salary of $67,400, and the job is projected to grow by 4% by 2032. There are multiple career avenues you can take in the world of Interior Design. Not only will you be able to design the perfect home, but you can also design the perfect film set, retail store layout, and so much more.

What is Interior Design?

Interior Design is the professional practice of planning, designing, and furnishing internal spaces for functionality, safety, and aesthetics. Interior Designers will find themselves working with clients to create a space that aligns with their goals and budget, collaborating with architects, engineers, and builders to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the internal space should function, and using design applications, such as sketching and 3D renderings, to create final plans. Interior designers are also responsible for selecting appropriate materials and furniture while adhering to specified budgets and timelines.

1. Residential Interior Designer

Residential Interior Design is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of interior design. Residential Interior Designers design and decorate residential spaces, including homes, apartments, and condos. Their primary goal is to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and personalized living environments that meet the needs and preferences of their clients. They often oversee the entire project of designing a home space and are responsible for the smaller details, such as choosing just the right paint color and adding greenery as a finishing touch. You can also have a specialized niche as a Residential Interior Designer. Maybe you want to focus solely on kitchen renovations, master bedroom layouts, or Feng Shui.

2. Floor Plan Designer

Floor plans, scaled drawings that represent the layout of a room by showing the relationship between rooms and physical features, are one of the beginning steps to crafting a beautiful interior. Floor Plan Designers are responsible for creating detailed and visually appealing floor plans for interior spaces. They work with architects and engineers to craft a plan that assesses the space to optimize furniture placement, renovations, traffic flow, and overall spatial functionality while ensuring that the design adheres to safety requirements. A floor plan designer may sketch out a plan first, then use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create 2D or 3D renderings.

3. Commercial Interior Designer

Commercial Interior Designers focus on creating functional and aesthetic interior spaces for non-residential spaces. Some spaces these designers work with include restaurants, retail stores, schools, hotels, health care clinics, and much more. Commercial Interior Designers work closely with architects and business owners to create a space that aligns with the brand image and goals of the company. For example, a Commercial Interior Designer might head the design of a corporate office. It is their job to create a layout and flow that is functional for business to be conducted efficiently, which is critical to the employees’ experiences.

4. Set Designer

If you love interior design but also enjoy movies and a good play, then a career as a Set Designer might be the perfect combination for you. Set Designers work in the entertainment industry, in the field of theater, film, and television, and create the visual setting for production. Set designers work with the director and other creative team members to create a space for the actors that enhances the storytelling. Their job includes decorating the space and designing scenic elements with appropriate props, furniture, and lighting for the story to take place according to the director’s vision.

5. Furniture Designer

Those with an Interior Design degree could also work as a Furniture Designer. If you have a passion for creating, then this is the job for you. Furniture designers specialize in creating and designing furniture that combines aesthetics, craftsmanship, and functionality. Furniture designers create designs for a variety of customers, including industrial, commercial, and residential clients. As a Furniture Designer, you can design unique, one-of-a-kind furniture items that cater to a niche audience, or you can work for larger companies and craft mass-produced products.

6. Exhibition designer

Exhibition Designers are the artists at work behind the beautiful and eye-catching displays at your local expo center. Exhibition Designers focus on a smaller layout than a residential or commercial interior designer would. They are professionals that create the design and layout of exhibitions and display stands for museums, galleries, trade shows, conferences, businesses, and more. They work with clients to conceptualize their ideas and execute them based on their goals, oversee the installation and setup of the exhibitions, and ensure that the project remains within budget.

7. Event Designer

Imagine that you were invited to a formal ceremony. The matching color schemes, floral decorations, and custom centerpieces that pull the entire experience together were all thanks to the Event Designer. Event Designers are the ones responsible for all of the visual elements of different events, including weddings, parties, corporate gatherings, conferences, galas, and so much more. It is their job to create a visually appealing and cohesive atmosphere that fits with the client’s goals and that creates a memorable experience for all participants. 

As an Event Designer you have a multitude of options to choose from. You can work with a wide variety of different events or you can specialize in a specific niche, like vintage weddings or promotional events.

8. Visual Merchandiser

Visual Merchandisers are responsible for arranging visually appealing and effective displays in stores and shop windows. Visual merchandisers combine their creativity, marketing knowledge, and strategic thinking to present products in a way that encourages consumers to make purchases. Their role is critical because they have a direct impact on a store’s ability to attract and retain customers and increase sales. Part of their duties also includes developing graphics and signage, considering traffic flow, focal points, and lighting in designs, and adapting the designs to seasonal changes. Visual Merchandisers must also stay up to date with consumer trends and competitor displays to improve their strategies.

Develop your eye for Interior Design at NJIT

An Interior Design degree can lead you to a wide array of exciting career possibilities where your skills for aesthetics and problem-solving can thrive. Whether you decide to design cozy living rooms, farmhouse wedding venues, or five-star restaurant dining areas, the Interior Design field has a place for you. If you’re considering a career as an Interior Designer, get started now by applying to NJIT’s BA in Interior Design.