Do You Need A Degree To be An Interior Designer?
Before I get into this, I do not want your comments if you want to fight me on this. Life's short and I give zero fucks about having that convo. Go find a blog post or your free Facebook group to rant about why I'm a moron somewhere else.
There is a difference between interior designers and interior decorators. I've been in the industry for 20 years and I'll be the first to tell you that some people get very pissy about this topic.
Some interior designers with the street cred are very proud of their degree, certifications, licenses and hate it when interior decorators call themselves interior designers. Some even look down on interior decorators and give them nicknames like "Dolly Decorator". I get that people are proud of their accomplishments but it's totally unnecessary to knock others down.
When I went to college I thought that was the ONLY way to have a career in the design industry. I had no idea that I could pursue my passion without getting a degree. I never loved the work I did on the commercial side. So, yeah if I could back and do that part of my life over, I wouldn't go to college and rack up a shit ton of debt that would take forever to pay off.
I, too, have the street cred, but I bought into that propaganda when I was a young thing and now wouldn't encourage anyone to go that route unless you are dead set on going into commercial interiors, want to work for a company or you want to have a larger role in the construction end of a project. But with the residential part - you may not have that opportunity if you're working with a dick architect or shitty county.
The answer to the question also depends on what state you live in. There are crazy fucking laws, which are different in every state, where they may say that you need a degree to either call yourself an interior designer or work as one. You can thank the design societies for promoting that crap.
The designer societies claim it's all about the "life, health and safety". I don't buy that for a minute, but if you do, get a degree and a license.
I firmly oppose any legislation that keeps designers and decorators from being able to earn a living.
You see once you do get an interior design degree, the fun doesn't stop there. If you want to be super cool and the gang then you get to study for the NCIDQ exam which has some requirements that you might find very hard to meet. Then if you want to take it to the next level, depending on the state you live in, you can take a licensing exam like the one I took in California.
While there is a difference between what a designer does and what a decorator does most of the general public doesn't know the fucking difference. And for those people in the industry (contractors, architects, project managers) they usually don't give a flying fuck and will overrule you even if you have the degree and license.
The degree will not give you an eye for design. If God didn't put the talent in, to begin with, you're not gonna get it when you graduate.
Then there are people with no degree and have more talent in their pinkies than some designers with degrees.
So, do you need a degree to be an interior designer?
Do you want to design commercial interiors? Get a degree.
Fired up to create construction documents with non-structural changes for permits? Get a degree.
Ready to study building codes and local laws? Get a degree.
Excited to use a CAD program? Get a degree.
Downright giddy to learn about fire ratings and egress paths? Get a degree.
Can't wait to blow out some (non-structural) residential walls on paper and get a permit for that? Get a degree.
Passionate about drawing up lighting plans? Get a degree.
Do you love learning about architecture and structural elements? Get a degree.
Do you like analyzing how people use the space? Get a degree.
Love reading blueprints? Get a degree.
Dying to execute a design project? Get a degree.
Does environmental sustainability make you smile? Get a degree.
Do building systems turn you on? Get a degree.
Do you want to decorate people's homes because selecting finishes and furniture is what you're good at? Skip the degree.
Remember, some states might not let you use that title until you pass some more tests.
If every dream you've ever had in your soul is to make people's homes pretty through the color and furnishings then become an interior decorator.
How To Start Interior Design Business Without A Degree
You’ll be starting an interior decorating business, as we just discussed. Now that we have that detail out of the way let’s make this as simple as possible, shall we?
1 - Get Design Knowledge
The best decorators and designers in the world, in my opinion, have natural born talent. However, even with all of the talent of any world-famous decorator contained within your pinky finger, you may find that you want to get some more formalized education to round out those areas where you feel like you lacking information.
Many in the Society rave out NYIAD. I have not taken their courses, but because this is the one program that I’ve heard rave reviews about over and over again, I think it’s worth you checking it out.
2 - Do Free Projects
If you’re not going to invest in any formal education, then you should do a few free projects to get experience AND have something to add to your portfolio.
Whatever free projects you do decide to take on make sure that:
a) It’s also something you’d like to offer if you were getting paid to do it. Don’t offer to take on a nursery room design when you hate kids and only want to do work for empty nesters. It won’t add to your body of work in your portfolio and the only experience you’ll really take away from it is a headache.
b) That you’ll be allowed to photograph it (which reminds me, make sure there is a definite end date on this project so it doesn’t languish for years) and showcase it on your website, in your portfolio and share on social media.
3 - Add Free Project To Your Portfolio
You’ll want to get photos of the project. Even better if you’ve got before, during and after pics. You can create lots of content from these images for your blog as well as share in your portfolio.
You don’t need a fancy camera to take excellent photos of the project. Learn the basics of how to take a photo with your smartphone and be on your way.
4 - Create a Website
Create a website that will be your home base for your business. Yes, you’re going to need to think up a domain name but don’t let this be a big fucking deal. Pick a name, not one that’s similar to someone else’s and go with it.
Pick a platform like Wordpress or Squarespace that you can grow with your business and allows you to take payment easily.
Don’t forget that once you create this website it’s a thing that will still need to be updated regularly. With that in mind, take the time to watch videos on how the backend of a Squarespace (my favorite) or Wordpress website function to see if that helps you to see which you’d rather work with.
5 - Outline Income Goals
You’re going to be running a business. How much money do you want to make, realistically in your first year, and how do you intend to make that money?
Most designer types hate talking about business stuff, but if you choose to put your head in the sand it’s a fast track to a failing business.
You’ll find that in terms of profitability that this step and the next go hand in hand. You will be more profitable when you can get more projects done. Figuring out how to price your interior design services should be done after you’re very well aware of how long it takes you to do projects.
Because you NEVER base your fees on what another designer charges. You do NOT know their business and as a professional creative person, your work has its own worth that is independent of what Tom or Joan are doing.
6 - Develop Your Design Process
If you hadn’t done this during your free projects, take the time to go through your design process and document it. You’ll want to write down or screen record every single step of your process so that you can be profitable and deliver the same experience to every client.
7 - Decide On Offerings
You can choose to offer one signature service or three. Don’t offer 47 different things because you will confuse your clients. Seriously.
Should you choose to offer more than one service, make sure each service is definitely different from the others. Otherwise you’ll find that your clients are just looking at how to squeeze the most juice for the least amount of money from you.
8 - Create Content + Market Constantly
Marketing is a constant. It never ends. You can choose to make it as hard or as easy as you’d like. If you’re an introvert, you’ve got options. If you’re an extrovert, you’ve got even more options.
The key here is a) you need to create content that people want (research involved) and b) you need to share it where your people will find it.
With this in mind, I don’t care what guru tells you that you HAVE to be on Instagram or TikTok or whateverthefuck. You go where you want to go. Most likely, you’ll find your people there, too.
9 - Set up Shop Legally
You’re going to be a business owner, and that means registering your business with all of the government entities necessary. It also means setting up a business banking account so you’re not commingling your funds of business and personal.
Make sure you have a letter of agreement or contract to use with every client.
Hola! I'm Alycia Wicker and I help online interior designers grow their business.
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