It is graduation day and all your hard work has paid off as you cross that stage, receive your diploma and the weight of the last four years has fallen from you shoulders. But, now what are you supposed to do? As with any degree, it can be difficult and frightening to try and determine your next step in life when it comes to pursuing a career in interior design. There are so many avenues one could take and knowing which one is not always clear upon graduating. As a student, you have been given the tools and knowledge for a career in interior design, but what does that look like? It is not as straightforward as you might think. Being an interior designer is not just the answer. What type of designer do you want to be? Which field do you want to focus on between residential, commercial, education, hospitality, retail, etc.? Do you want to focus on the more detailed areas of construction drawings and specifications? Do you want to continue your education and earn a Master's degree? There are so many different paths that can be chosen and not every student knows which path they should take. It is easy for some, while others can feel impossible. For some different career paths that you could follow upon graduation, continue reading to see if any of these lights a spark!
One of the avenues you could pursue is a Master's degree. Just because you have earned your undergraduate does not mean that your learning is complete. It is far from it! The choices you have are amazing upon graduation. You have the opportunity to hone your design skills in a particular field, such as earning a Master's degree in lighting, architecture, kitchen and bath design, historic preservation, etc. Like many other undergraduate programs, you have many options to choose from for a Master's degree that will go hand in hand with your Bachelor's degree. A few of my fellow graduates went back to school in the fall to earn additional degrees to further them along in the design world. With an undergraduate degree, students are introduced to so many factions of design in order to give them a broad understanding. Further education provides the resources to delve deeper into the different factions and gain more detailed knowledge. Also, do not ever think this has to be a decision that needs to be made right away. I have future dreams of earning my Master's degree in historic preservation and plan on obtaining that at some point. However, I am quite happy with where I am now so I feel no rush to do so. I would love the opportunity to earn that degree when I feel that I am ready to take on that next challenge but until then, I will enjoy see what other historic preservationists have accomplished with their work in rescuing historical sites, architecture, collections and more.
If jumping back into college is not in the cards for you, do not fear as there are plenty of other options available. Another career path is to be a furniture designer. This type of work will change depending if you work for a large corporation, smaller firm or as a solo entrepreneur. You could be working from scratch to develop entirely new designs for the furniture world or working with furniture that is already available but need improvement or a change. As design is constantly changing, furniture designers are needed to adapt what is available for consumers and create designs that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and improve the lives of the user. You will be required to remain current with the trends of today and even try and anticipate those of tomorrow in order to be ready for the next wave of furniture design. As a furniture designer, you can pull upon those technical drawing skills you learned in your undergrad, both manual and computer-aided. You may be asked to develop highly detailed construction documents to hand over to the manufacturer so they have the knowledge of what your design intent is. A career in furniture design requires a lot of creativity and confidence as you have to be able to persuade someone to make what you have designed. You will also need to have strong visual skills and strong drawing skills so that you can effectively communicate your design to others. Some furniture designers work directly with a client to create a unique piece developed specifically for them, while others work with retailers, design studios, manufacturing companies and more. Who you work with will depend on where you are employed or if you are self-employed and designing directly to your own clients. Furniture designers play a major role in the well-being of others as they make sure to dive into their knowledge of anthropometrics (the study of measurements and proportions of the human body) and ergonomics (the study of people's efficiency in their environment) to develop furniture to benefit others and provide support and function to overall make us healthier.
One option that I found myself in after graduation was a career as a design consultant/interior designer for a retail corporation. The Williams Sonoma family of stores (Pottery Barn, West Elm, Rejuvenation, PB Kids, PB Teens), Arhaus, Bassett Furniture, etc. are some of the places that offer this type of position. With this type of career, you need to have both design and sales abilities in order to succeed. However, as an interior designer, you have already learned a lot about how to persuade clients to be open to your ideas and to show them/make them understand your design intent and why it is important for them. So, sales itself is just one step further as you also have to convince them to go with your design and the retail manufacturer you represent. In this type of position, you meet a lot of people, so anyone who loves to meet new people and learn who they are, will find they truly love and thrive in this type of environment. Depending on the showroom/retail store you are working for, you may have the opportunity to work with more customized products which is a lot of fun for both you and the client. It is a challenge as it is up to you to determine what they are looking for and what choices will fit their needs and desires. Not every showroom is the same and not every showroom will have the same to offer. This is a wonderful way to get your foot in the door, especially in residential design as the majority of the clients you will spend your time with are there for their homes. Word of mouth is so important for success in the design world, so by beginning your career with the ability to work directly with clients and get your name stuck in their heads will do wonders. You may find that this is the perfect fit for you and make it your full career. I know many design consultants who have found their home in this position and have been extremely successful. One of the best takeaways from a career like this is the vast knowledge you will gain about furniture and accessories. These are key elements in design and do not always get covered to the same degree during your undergrad (or if you are me you might forget a lot of it and then have to relearn it with some hands on experience). My time as a design consultant was beneficial to my growth as a designer as it gave me additional tools that I needed to be successful, while giving me the leeway to use my design skills to improve the lives of my clients by informing them of the best design decisions for them and the best types of furniture for their everyday lives.
On the more technical side, there are many drawing and drafting positions available. These can found in design firms, in retail corporations, hospitality firms, etc. With these positions, you can dig into your technical drawing abilities and focus on the details. There are many opportunities for CAD drafters available, as they are the backbone of the design. Without someone to create and navigate these plans and adapt them for the needs of the client, the design has no leg to stand on. These are what are needed to communicate the design to the builders, electricians, engineers, architects, owners, etc. Without accurate drawings that show and tell exactly the floor plan, schedules, ceiling plans, etc., a lot of time and money goes down the drain as mistakes and revisions are needed. This is a important position that requires someone who values details and accuracy and who has a knack for spotting incorrect information and rectifying it. Positions such as these can begin as a full time or part time position, or even contracted depending on the project/corporation. Many of these contracts can turn into full time positions with the company if you show your worth during that time. This is a wonderful path for someone who enjoys looking into the details, someone who thrives in a fast paced environment (as many companies are constantly making edits and adjustments and you need to keep up!), or someone who just enjoys using CAD software. A pro for this type of job is that it is more likely to be a Monday to Friday position (which is hard to say for the majority of design work) and can also be done remotely. This is a different avenue one can take and find a comfortable career in while still continuing to hone the technical skills they began to develop during their undergraduate program.
As an interior designer, you can also find a home for yourself in a design firm, architectural firm or design studio. Different firms focus on different areas of design, for example some firms focus solely in the commercial sector while others can mix commercial, healthcare, and education. Some design firms will have a hand in all areas, as they make themselves available to an array of clientele. A position with a design firm is a wonderful opportunity to not only learn more about the specific area they focus on, but also to engage with other individuals in the trade and the have a more consistent income. Designers can be fluid when it comes to the firms they work with, as not all design is the right fit for everyone. You may find that you love the firm you work for and the staff is welcoming and inviting but the specific type of design may not be your cup of tea. When it comes to creativity and design, it can make it more difficult as a designer to focus on an area of design that does not speak to you as much. Everyone is different in how they design and implement it, so not everyone will find that. You may also find that you found a niche for yourself in your firm and you never want to leave. As part of a firm, you can learn the ins and outs of how they function and succeed, which can be utilized for your own success. Learning how to be a good designer is only half the battle; the other half is learning how the business operates. This does not apply to only design firms; this applies in all design careers. However, it can be easier to understand the apply good business practices in a firm as you have the opportunity to witness and experience all the business related practices at hand and can learn and grow from it. As part of a design firm, you have more security in your career than if you decide to be an entrepreneur and start your own business. Of course, that is also an option if you are bold enough to take the risk! And trust me when I say that it is a risk! As all risks go, it can be very rewarding in the end, or it might not turn out how you want it. But, opening your own design studio/firm is one of the many options as well so I had to touch on it for a minute.
An option that may not have been the first one to come to mind is teaching. To get to where you are now post graduation, you had many teachers that you worked with. That is something you could also do! The design industry needs teachers, and this does not just mean in a school. This could also mean as an instructor for a vocational program, or an instructor to the trade. As a designer, you should continue to take classes and learn in order to keep up with the changing trends, technologies, knowledge and understanding that designers have to deal with. Many classes can be found online and these classes need interior designers to create them in order to educate the design community. Teaching is not for everyone and is not easy by any means, but if you have a knack for it and enjoy helping others, why not see what you can accomplish and give back to the design community. I never thought I would teach but here I am, writing blogs (this is a form of teaching!) and also working as a adjunct instructor at a university. This is a position you could do full time and make a career out of it, or you can do it on the side like myself and many other designers. Universities, high schools, professional programs, etc. are all places you can use your design knowledge and give back. These are not all the areas either. You could be a social media influencer and teach your followers about design practices, or you can work with retail showrooms and teach their employees how to display their products for optimal sales performance, or even be a guide for contractors and teach them about the different materials they use and how they can be used in their work. A teacher is not the first career option that comes to mind when thinking about ones future as an interior designer, but it is one that should not be overlooked.
This is not a comprehensive list by any means. My aim was to introduce an array of careers that could be an option after graduation, as navigating those waters can be scary and difficult. Searching for a job post graduation is not always easy, but do not be afraid to look at some options you might not have thought of as design careers because you might surprise yourself. I did not come close to describing even half the career paths that come to mind when I think about all the options available, as there are also home stagers, sales reps, color consultants, textile designers and many more opportunities in the world. I hope the career paths I listed help provide some guidance for those who are graduating soon, for those who are looking for a career change, or for those curious about what interior designers can do.
Thank you for reading!
Colleen Arlet
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