Interior designer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject like:

• interior design
• art and design
• interior architecture
• spatial design

Entry requirements:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could take a college course to get started, for example:

• Level 3 Diploma in Interior Design
• Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
• A Level in Art and Design

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and a creative subject

Apprenticeship

You could do a furniture design technician advanced apprenticeship to get into interior design.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a design assistant with a company and take further training and qualifications on the job.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• design skills and knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of building and construction
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of English language
• thinking and reasoning skills
• business management skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to read English
• excellent written communication skills
• a desire to help people
• concentration skills
• maths skills
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Interior designers plan and supervise the layout and decoration of the inside of buildings.

In your day-to-day tasks, you may:

• meet clients to discuss their requirements and ideas
• develop designs to suit clients' needs, their budget, and the type of building
• prepare initial sketches and mood boards for the client to approve
• advise on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
• work out costs and prepare estimates
• create detailed drawings from the initial sketches, usually on a computer
• find suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings

Location : You could work in an office, from home, in a creative studio or at a client's business.

Salary:

Starter : £18,000
Experienced : £45,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

40 - 42 hours variable

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

Career Path:

You could move into related work like theatre set design, visual merchandising, exhibition design or furniture design.