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There is a lot more to Interior Design than first meets the eye

Interior design is a complicated profession. It is sometimes referred to as interior architecture and often confused with interior decorating. It involves the design, organisation and planning of an interior structure rather than just refinishing and furnishing existing interior spaces. It involves managing a business, hopefully meeting the desires of the client and delivering to them an interior environment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. There is a lot more to interior design than first meets the eye.

The further you go back in history, it can be seen how interior design has blended with artistic societies such as during the Italian Renaissance. It has been shaped by numerous styles, movements, social developments and technological revolutions. It has crossed emotional boundaries, traveled across continents and has publicly revealed much of the lifestyles of societies and their artistic cultures in any marked period in time.

There are different types of interior design. Residential interior design involves dealing with home owners normally on an available budget. Some interior designers specialize in working on bathrooms, kitchens, living areas or even bedrooms. Others work in the larger and lucrative commercial interior design market. In this marketplace, interior designers are spoiled for choice and may select the retail industry, the hospitality business, the commercial building sector or specialize in related business as diverse as creating exhibits for art galleries and trade shows.

Interior Design is an exciting and rapidly growing field and it seems that interest in interior design as a particular career is increasing in popularity. Interior designers are licensed design professionals qualified by education, work experience and time. In the 1960s and 70s independent organizations were established to assess qualifications for interior designers and interior design programs. There are now many dedicated individuals in organizations such as CIDA and NCIDQ who presently work diligently to increase public awareness of interior design while developing the profession to where it is today.

There are interior design courses in universities, colleges and even online and an accreditation process that certifies a program will teach the principles necessary to ensure that the students acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to be successful in their future careers. All of this is seen as beneficial to the consumer who can be virtually assured of being led through the design process by someone who is not only creative and educated but also competently trained.

Examine the basic family home. Basically it is a cluster of interconnected rooms each with a primary function such as eating, entertaining, sleeping, washing and possibly even working. The conscious aim of interior design is to balance the owner’s needs with the spaces available. It is rarely straightforward. There are so many external forces that influence the decision making process. The key to interior design is knowing how to make sense out of the relationship between the owner, the home, the family and their lifestyle.

Interior Design | admin | |   CIDA Interior Design Italian Renaissance NCIDQ

Interior Design Is More Than A Career, It’s An Art Form

Interior design is much more than just a career; it is almost an art form. Interior designers are amongst the most creative, imaginative and artistic people in any industry. However, a good interior designer must be extremely disciplined, organized and skilled in business. Interior designers professionally combine their knowledge with aesthetically pleasing visions to design solutions that are safe, functional, and attractive.

As with any professional career, the practice of interior design can be a very rewarding and fulfilling job as long as hard work and self discipline prevails. Mastering interior design as a career requires time, energy, technical proficiency, vision, and dedication. Like the members of any professional service, an interior designer’s success depends entirely on her ability to satisfy her clients’ needs. Therefore, she must understand both the artistic and technical requirements of a project.

Communication is a must-have skill for professional interior designers, as they will be meeting and dealing with many different kinds of people throughout their careers. They must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, as well as be attentive listeners. Because interior designers often work side by side with other professionals such as architects, contractors, and other service providers, interior designers need to be both good team leaders and good team players. Negotiation and mediation skills are also very important attributes for an interior designer to possess.

Education is the single most important start in becoming an interior designer and involves enrollment in a college or university program followed by several years of professional experience, typically under the direct supervision of a senior interior designer in the industry. It generally takes around six or seven years to become a fully qualified interior designer. Courses of study may include but are not limited to:

-Business management
-Debate and problem resolution
-Art Appreciation
-Frequent lectures and field trips
-Computer Graphic design

Just like many other professional careers, such as lawyers, accountants, and many healthcare professionals, there is an entrance examination that all interior designers must pass. This interior design examination provides a method for identifying interior designers who have met the minimum standards, and it is a more formal way of making certain an individual is qualified in particular knowledge and skills. This examination also protects potential clients by assuring competent professionals. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the organization that is responsible for administering the examination twice annually throughout the United States and Canada.

The NCIDQ also conducts regularly scheduled research and uses the information gathered to update the examination. Twenty five states require interior designers to obtain licenses and certifications upon successful completion of the NCIDQ examination to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the public. In order to be eligible to take the NCIDQ examination, interior designers must have taken interior design education and have actual full-time interior design experience totaling to at least six years, with at least two of those years being postsecondary education.

Interior Design | admin | |   Canada NCIDQ United States

Home Interior Design Company – 5 Tips in Finding the Best One

In your search for a home interior design firm, there are a
number of factors that you need to look into before making the big jump.
Choosing the right team of experts is vital if you want to achieve a
living space that suits your requirements.

Here are five tips that you must not forget –

Put Together a List of the Best Firms


In order to make the best selection of interior design company,
consider hiring locally. Take the time to peruse all the resources that
are available to you online. Shortlisting means putting in four to six
names onto a list and sitting down to browse each of these companies’
websites.

Browsing the websites of these designers allow the homeowner to develop an idea about what services would best suit his needs.

Review the Interior Design Company’s Portfolio


Peruse the company’s portfolio and review each of their past projects.
Find the projects that show similar styles as those that you would like
to use in your home. Not all interior design companies specialize in
residential projects, there are those that primarily work on corporate
or commercial projects so find the ones that have relevant experience.


Ask for their previous clients’ numbers then get in touch with most of
them. This is a good way to gauge whether you and the interior designer
are a good fit.

Check for Training and Certifications


Steer clear of interior designers that are not able to show their
qualifications and certification. It wouldn’t hurt to do a little
background check so that you will make an informed choice.


The curriculum for interior design training is evaluated and certified
by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly called the
FIDER or Foundation of Interior Design Research Education). See if your
chosen interior designer is able to provide a certification from the
said council as it is proof that the designers in the firm have passed
the high standards of education in interior design principles.


If the interior designer has an NCIDQ certification, then you are in the
best hands. After graduation plus six years of work experience under
the supervision of an ID professional, the designer attains the highest
standard in the industry so a company that hires NCIDQ designers are
worth every dollar that you will spend.

See If You Click


Never underestimate the value of rapport with the professionals that
you will hire. They should be willing to receive input from you and are
able to make suggestions themselves. An interior designer must take your
ideas seriously, otherwise, you are dealing with a headstrong expert
who will only give you headaches.

Before signing any contracts,
make sure that you establish a line of communication with the interior
designer. Be open about your need to discuss the project and the
possibility of making some changes every now and then.

Compare Quotes


Find the professionals that will be able to provide a cost-efficient
service. The sad thing about home renovation is that many homeowners
never get to do it. The reason is pretty simple – they cannot afford it.

A lot of homeowners dread the high prices that come with
interior design. Yet there are many methods available to make interior
design affordable. You can install wallpapers, drapes, new curtains or
have new paint applied; buy new yet affordable furniture pieces; or you
can choose to rearrange your existing furniture.

But if you feel
that you do not have the skill to do these, then an interior designer
can do it for you. Just ask for a quote then compare their prices.
Remember, cost should not be your only deciding factor; always settle
for superior service above everything.

Interior Design | admin | |   Compare Quotes FIDER NCIDQ