What’s the first thing you notice when you walk in a room? Do you think about how the lighting mingles with the colors of the furniture? Do you notice how the décor makes you feel? If so, you might consider a career in interior design. As you study, you’ll learn to create practical and beautiful indoor environments that improve the quality of life for the people within them.
Education
According to the College Board, this major is often offered at the associate’s and bachelor’s level. Many of your courses will focus on skills to be applied in a studio class, where you’ll explore and test creative solutions to interior design problems. Expect to study graphic design, history of design, construction processes, and other similar subjects.
What to know before you apply
There are a few things you’ll want to consider if you choose to pursue an interior design major. First, is the department accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation? Accredited programs often offer the most up-to-date information on best practices in the industry. You’ll also want to make sure the technology in studios and computer labs is plentiful and updated. Pursuing a major where students produce physical, visually interesting projects offers you the unique opportunity to check out student work before you apply. See if you can take in a sampling of student work to deduce whether it’s challenging and varied.
Colleges offering related fields of study
• Genesee Community College: Batavia, NY
• Wade College: Dallas, TX
• SUNY Oswego: Oswego, NY
• Mount Mary University: Milwaukee, WI
• Aquinas College: Grand Rapids, MI
Salary
After graduating with a degree in interior design, you can expect to apply your skills to a wide range of indoor environments, from offices and schools to museums and galleries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interior Designers earned a median pay of $47,600 per year and $22.89 per hour in 2012.
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