College and University
For a formal education in interior design, it is best to go to an accredited College or University. You must ask about this because some schools are not accredited and you will walk away from that school with a piece of paper that says that you took the course, but you will still not have the proper credentials. Therefore, you will not be a licensed designer. Here is a list of some of the courses you can expect to take if you choose to get certified as a designer.
Drawing
Building construction
Drafting
History of design
Furniture design
Architecture
Auto CAD
Project management
Design
Computer aided Design
Of course there are many more courses that are a part of becoming a certified designer, but this at least gives you an idea of where you might start. You will also have to have certain high school courses to your credit before you should consider going to college or university to study design. These are:
Mathematics 4 years
English 4 years
Physics 1 year
History/Social studies 1 year
Computer Science 1 year
Architectural Drawing 1 year
Shop class 1 year
Tuition at any one of these schools can be quite expensive. You can expect to spend anywhere between ,000 a year to ,000 a year. A general certification course will run for four years. Getting certified could cost you anywhere from ,000 to ,000. Of course, financial aid is always available for those that need assistance.
If these numbers and time frames scare you dont worry, there are alternatives to this type of formal schooling. There are also cheaper alternatives to getting certified. You can try any of the following.
Being certified in your area of interest is a good place to start.
Tetrad Color
The possibilities are endless here.
You may have to lower your estimates at first. They are as listed below. Many Interior Designers prefer this type of work because it is less stressful, and the deadlines are usually a little bit more relaxed. You must educate your client about interior design as well as design. Many of the sub branches of specialty are better suited, but not restricted to residential designers.
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