Around 50 years back, architecture and interior designing were almost inseparable and most of the time the architects were held responsible for crafting the interior designs of buildings. There were artisans and craftsmen but their role was very limited and specialized. Although it is not a new concept, interior designing, as a separate career path, has only gained the attention of the mass in recent years. The increased complexity in terms of the various types of buildings and their different purposes- like workplace, house, and health care have eventually given interior designing the recognition it originally deserved. This is where it becomes a specialist job separating it from the architectural design. A specialized profession calls for a specialized training so as to increase expertise and better rendering of professional services. This can be fulfilled by setting up properly accredited and licensed courses which now accommodate the commercial interior design along with focusing residential interior design and home economics.
Interior designing industry, which limited itself to only the residential spaces and consisted of sole practitioners, has now a burgeoning commercial segment to conquer, and this is what makes this industry all the more an exciting prospect for emerging professionals. These commercial assignments will be of unmatched scale and complexity as compared to their residential counterparts and hence require high levels of expertise. The scope for error is almost zero at this scale and therefore an eye for the minutest detail is highly desired. These new challenges demand a greater skill set related to ergonomics, facility management, interior lighting and other aspects of the building from an interior perspective. Such demands have made interior designing grow into a parallel career track as that of an architect as architecture education has been feebly successful to support the length and breadth of a specialized designing profession. Although some argue that both the career track; architecture and interior design will always remain connected because one evolves from the other and it is difficult to separate the design of the building from its interiors. Educational training takes into consideration this paradox and hence the foundation courses covers all the basic concepts related to both.
Educational Training in Interior Designing
With increasing popularity of this field, the numbers of educational institutions that are offering a specialized course in it are also increasing. Essentially an urban phenomenon, most of these institutes are located in urban conglomeration where job prospects are also good. To pursue a career in interior designing one must start early, right after 10+2. To make a strong case at the time of admission it is advisable to carry a portfolio which will show your creativeness. Most probably an entrance exam will test you on your drawing and design skills before granting the final admission. The most common course in this field is B.Sc Interior Design, which can be pursued from Design Institute of India, Lovely Professional University and other colleges.
Entry in this field is also possible through other unconventional modes of education also such as a graduate degree in architecture, design, or a post-graduate program in fine arts. The specialization totally depends on your choice. There are areas of specialization such as landscape design, commercial design and residential design. The designers working for residential segment mainly have to design living spaces, with a specialty in kitchens, bathrooms or even kid’s room. On the other hand, commercial designers take on tasks of greater scale and do the designs for offices, government buildings, hotels and even hospitals.
