Occupation Details
Interior Designers
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$40,730.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$65,440.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$92,160.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
5,350
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
5,610
+26 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
520
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Interior Designer
Learn MoreApprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Fine Arts
Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Architects' scales
- Computer aided design CAD multi-unit display graphics cards
- Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders
- Digital cameras
- Digital tape measures
- Drafting scales
- Drafting triangles
- Electronic scales
- Graphics tablets
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Plotters
- Precision tape measures
- Print servers
- Protractors
- Scanners
- T squares
- Tablet computers
- Three-dimensional laser digitizers
Technology
- 20-20 Technologies 20-20 Design
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- AutoDesSys form Z
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Email software
- Graphisoft ArchiCAD
- IBM Notes
- Maxon Cinema 4D
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- fabricate craft or art objects
- manage contracts
- purchase furnishings, artworks, or accessories
- advise clients or customers
- prepare contract documents
- monitor contract performance
- negotiate business contracts
- distinguish colors
- identify color or balance
- estimate materials or labor requirements
- estimate costs of design materials or construction
- prepare cost estimates
- organize commercial artistic or design projects
- determine customer needs
- make presentations
- confer with client or staff regarding theme
- draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale
- use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
- use creativity to art or design work
- create art from ideas
- decorate using hand or power tools
- use creativity in designing interior spaces
- design office layout
- sketch or draw subjects or items
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
- Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.
- Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
- Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.
- Design spaces to be environmentally friendly, using sustainable, recycled materials when feasible.
- Research and explore the use of new materials, technologies, and products to incorporate into designs.
- Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.
- Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art work, and accessories.
- Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.
- Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Designers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More