The Possibilities of "Going Global"

In the Interior Design Industry, there are endless job possiblities. This is largely due to the fact that design has gone global. With today’s technology, Designers can design a space and not even be there to experience it. Programs,  like AutoCad, make this possible. With these programs, we can actually experience a space without being there.

For example: A client in France wants to renovate his million dollar home. Sure he could get a designer in France to do it, but he was so impressed by an article he read online about you and he has decided that he must have you. How are you going to go about this?

Option 1- put off all other jobs here in the states and take an indefinate vacation in France to have the luxury of surveying the building and getting a feel for the atmosphere in person

Option 2- you request the original floor plans for the building, pictures, and anything that could possibly be sent digitally that would help you design the space. You would then use your computer programs to design the space, and the internet to do any case studies that may be relevant to the project.

It is crazy to some to think that you could easily design a place and never be there, but we do it all the time on the computer! Even projects that we are working on for school are like that….we have never been there! But somehow we make it work.

This globablization design process allows for endless possibilities and connections with people all over the world. It can be used to learn about each other and how we can work together to improve design all over the world.

HGTV Interior "Designers"

Today’s media sheds a negative light on the Interior Designer’s image. Common shows, like HGTV’s Design Star, do not appropriately portray Interior Designers, but rather depict ordinary decorators. No wonder our society has the wrong idea about Interior Design!

The media causes some all too common misconceptions about Designers. Some of the major issues I noted are the following:

·         The “designers” are always portrayed as either posh, super fashionable, fun girls with lots of personality…..or gay guys.

(I think we all know by even our experiences at school that there are all different personalities and styles for Interior Designers, and it is a shame that they are so simply categorized by the public.)

·         The “designers” only make minor selections in their design process. They are literally picking paint colors, curtains, and throw pillows for a space.

(What about all of the other material selections that we make? And more importantly, what about WHY we select them. There is no mention of choosing materials based on ratings, lighting, or any other reason other than “it looks pretty”)

·         The “designers” never mention anything about schooling or their education. There is never a license # shown, most likely because they are not licensed Interior Designers.

·         There is no mention of designing for safety or the psychological aspects that are involved in a truly good design.

·         There is hardly ever any construction involved, or mention of structurally sound importance.

Some things that I do like about what the media has to say….

·         Transformations- the media shows the ugly BEFORE and the beautiful AFTER.

We do that, but it’s so much more! Ugly to us means: dysfunctional, unsafe… and we transform it to make it functional, safe, and an overall better environment according to each client’s needs.

·         The “designers” do usually very simply de-brief the client about what they want out of the space and what their personal taste is.

That is a good start, but we have to dig deeper. We have to really find out what their wants and needs are for the space, and figure out how to make it happen. We have to find out why they feel that way….see the problem and come up with a solution.

Logic behind "Going Green"?

Strategies for improved building performance from the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) :

Energy savings 

Water efficiency

CO₂ emissions reduction

Improved indoor environmental quality

Stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impact

According to The Interior Graphic Standards, technology is increasingly being employed to augment natural processes rather than outdo them, and materials are being utilized with greater efficiency and more in harmony with the Earth’s ecology.

 Sustainable Development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

There are four primary areas of focus when considering sustainable design efficiency:

• Energy- conserving it to improve the building’s overall environmental performance while reducing operating costs
• Recourses-by preservation and conservation strategies, the health and balance of the Earth’s ecosystems can be preserved
• Water-sustainable sites encourage natural water filtration processes and reduce overall use of potable water, conservation results in savings in operating costs
• Health- maintaining the environment

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Its rating system is used to ensure that the design is as sustainable as possible.

It has five categories:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Materials and Recourses

And several things to consider when specifying interior finishes and specs:

• Recourse Reuse- salvaged or refurbished materials
• Recycled Content- used in building materials
• Local/ Regional/ Materials- 500 mile radius
• Rapidly Renewable Materials- able to replenish themselves naturally
• Certified Wood-encourages the use of forest products

Hopefully, the Earth’s future, and the health of future generations are important enough to you, as a designer, to at least consider these things when you are designing. I cannot possible see how anyone could put up a legitimate argument for why each and every person should not go green in every way that they possible can.

O Wait…..People don’t like change.

Interior Design- Getting the Degree

I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree, with a concentration in Interior Design. The curriculum at The Art Institute of Tampa  (where I attend school) requires 192 credit hours to graduate. Once I graduate, I don’t plan on pursuing my Master’s Degree, unless it just so happens that my future employer is eager to pay for it.

I actually did not know that I wanted to be an Interior Designer until I already had about 4 years of college under my belt. I had changed my major too many times to count and never really had any guidance or instruction as far as choosing a career. I choose to come to The Art Institute of Tampa because it was conveniently located near my job. It has turned out to be a good decision, as our curriculum is much more in depth than the other nearby design school. My instructors are experienced, and well educated.

College is expensive!!!! And it has been a struggle, to say the least, to have to go to school full time and also work a full time job. I just cannot spend an extra $100,000 to get my Masters. Once I graduate, I plan to intern until I am eligible to take my NCIQ exam, which I will take in order to be a certified Designer.

Interior Design

Interior Design
The process of either creating a space, or reconstructing an already existing space, to achieve optimum levels of  functional, aesthetics, and form

• Final design should meet the clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations
• Taking into consideration the health, safety, psychology, and welfare of all potential residents or people that will be experiencing the space
• Final designs and construction should meet all safety and code requirements that can be applied

In most cases, Interior Designers are required to perform the following:

• Creative thinking/problem solving
• Space planning
• Hand drafting
• AutoCAD –drawings, renderings
• Sketch proposed design ideas
• Design furniture to make a space more functional
• Hand draw renderings for perspective clients
• Technical drawing
• Select materials
• Create construction documents
• Research- code compliance

In order to ensure that Designers are knowledgeable and properly educated, they are required to take a universal test in order to become certified. This test is called the NCIDQ, which stands for National Counsel for Design Qualification. The exam is composed of three different sections that are crucial for success in the Design field. The first one is based on Codes, Building Systems and Construction Standards. The second is Design Application, Project Coordination and Professional Practice. The third and final section is focused on Interior Design Practicum. It is a full-day examination, consisting of seven unique exercises that will focus on the following areas: space planning, lighting design, egress, life safety, restroom (washroom) design, systems integration and millwork.