Interior Design as A Career

Many people think that being an interior designer is easy. That perception couldn’t be

further from the truth! When designing a space, you must be knowledgeable about many types

of information such as architectural elements, building codes, ergonomics, technology, different

install methods, different materials and when chosen correctly, how they can benefit the aesthetic

and function of a space, and more. I have done research and spoken with a couple design

professionals to help paint a picture of what a day in the life of an interior designer entails, what

type of and how much educations is required to practice as an interior design professional, career

outlook and average salary, and some pros and cons of working in the industry.

Job Description:

As an interior designer, there are typical job duties required to perform (but not limited

to) such as: working with a design team to develop design solutions, researching concepts and

materials to support design team on technical issues influencing concept development, working

within timely schedules to coordinate the completion of tasks through to final project

completion, conducting on site observations and providing recommendations to help streamline

ongoing design projects, preparing and participating in client presentations, and selecting

furniture, materials, décor, and finishes while keeping within a budget. (“Interior Designer Job

Title”, 2019)

For my research, I interviewed Cristen Kassmier, a senior designer for an interior design firm

based in Englewood, Colorado. I met with her when she flew in to Salt Lake City to put together

design selections for the home builder I work for. I asked her to describe a typical day working

at Ellis Design looks like. She explained that there isn’t a “typical day” at the office. She is

always working on many projects simultaneously. One day she could be working on a

1|Page
presentation for a model community (for residential interior design) which includes gathering

furniture, fabrics, picking interior finishes, and elevating wall details, etc. On another day she

night be traveling to Vail, Colorado with a homeowner walking their new build home, talking

about wall finishes and going over the progress of construction. On office days, she works on

her “to-do” tasks.

In addition to interviewing Cristen, I had the opportunity to sit in on a presentation where

two gentleman who work at Lisman Studio’s spoke about what they do. One of the gentlemen,

Lamar Lisman, owner of Lisman Studio, spoke in my INTD 1010 Professional Seminar class at

Salt Lake Community College on November 18, 2019, and described the design process at his

firm. The first initial meeting is where the designer and client meet to review the expectations

and ideas the client had in mind for the project. Next the designer will put together an estimate

for the cost of materials and services. If the client feels the firm is a good fit for their project,

they start discussing details. Typically, the designer will meet with the client once per week to

ensure everyone is on the same page and progress is being made until the project is complete.

Depending on the size, project can take a little as a few weeks to complete, or it can take years.

General Career Path:

Interior design is a field where there are many ways to get into the industry. Some start

out in retail merchandising, others do set design for a theater or photographers. Some begin their

career in the fashion industry, or do floral or landscaping design while many choose the

traditional route and get an education in interior design and work their way up in an internship.

General Education Experience:

Although there are successful professionals who work in the interior design industry

without any formal education to stand out from the competition, the market dictates a preference

2|Page
for obtaining a degree or certificate in Interior Design. While in school, students can start

working on projects and begin building a portfolio, which can be important when trying to stand

out against other designers. Students may earn an associates, bachelors, or a master’s degree, or

you may opt for a certificate that will take about one year to complete. (“An Entry Level

Commercial Interior Designer”, 2019)

As a professional and experienced interior designer, it is important to always be

completing continuing education. Design trends are always evolving over time. There are many

certifications you can earn and associations to join that will help with that. The most important

association is the US National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and acquiring

that will help you stand out as a designer. In some states, passing the NCIDQ licensing test is

required before you can practice interior design. To qualify to the test, you have to have a degree

or certification as well as work experience requirements that differ between states. (“Specific

Education and Work Requirements”, 2019) In order to maintain that license, designers are

required to earn a minimum number of Continuing Education credits each year.

In addition to the NCIDQ, there are other associations that you can be apart of that help keep

designers current in design trends and also inform the design community about upcoming events.

Some popular associations are the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International

Interior Design Association (IIDA), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and

American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID).

I asked Lamar Lisman what he looks for on a resume when hiring a designer. He looks

for personality, people who have taste in design, professional appearance, and people who enjoy

talking about what projects they have done. He does look at portfolios as well, but if you do not

have one, he recommended doing interior design project for friends and family whenever the

3|Page
opportunity arises and take pictures. For him that is an acceptable substitute to having a

portfolio.

Average Salary:

Since there are infinite areas of design to practice, I decided to research salaries for some

the most common types of specific designers. Commercial interior designers beginning salary

can start around $40,000 (1-3 years of experience) and a senior level commercial designer (8+

years of experience) can make an average salary of $70,181. (“An Entry Level Commercial

Interior Designer”, 2019) Residential interior designers in Utah as of October 2019 make an

average of $34,000 to $ 48,000. (“How Much Does”, 2019) Kitchen and bath designers make an

average of $53,000 per year. (“The Average Salary”, 2019)

Career Outlook:

The job outlook for interior designers shows no sign of slowing down. This profession

relies greatly on a strong economy. Over the next 10 years, employment of interior designers is

projected to grow by 4 percent. Compared to all other occupations, the growth is almost equal.

Demand for interior designers will come from the need to remodel existing homes, commercial

buildings, hospitals, schools, hotels, and assisted living communities.

Bio of Someone in the Profession:

Lamar Lisman, owner of Lisman Studio in Salt Lake City, described his journey

throughout the industry over the years. He started in the fashion industry. Once he graduated

from the University of Utah with a bachelor degree in Business, he worked for Nordstrom for 10

years. Over time he decided he loved interior design and founded his company, Lisman Studio,

as a freelance designer. As the business grew, he was taking on projects he could not handle on

his own and that is when he decided to hire a team. Thirty years later, his business has grown to

4|Page
be one of the most successful and most reputed design firms in Utah. He has two Senior Interior

Designers and three Associate Interior Designers.

Pros and Cons:

In doing my research about interior design, I have learned about some exciting aspects of

the profession. You get to be part of creating a beautiful and functional space and (hopefully)

have a happy client by the time the project is complete. You get to meet and interact with many

different people with many different backgrounds. If you work for a firm, you can work in a

team and that can stimulate design ideas that you would have never considered and that can

make you more diverse in the creative process. There is a growing demand for designers in the

industry.

I have also realized some things that might not make the job as fun as it appears to be. It

can be stressful. Not only can there be tight budgets and deadlines, but long working hours

(sometimes weekends depending on the type of job you are doing) and tough personalities can

damper design excitement. Clients might not like a design and you need to know how to fix it.

Cristen (Senior Designer, Ellis Design), mentioned that having a tough skin and learning to

accept criticism is vital to job satisfaction. Another major stressor is working with different

tradesman and contractors, and constantly overseeing install schedules and vendor delays.

Freelance designers set their own prices, but designers who are just starting their career generally

must set their prices lower to compete with more established designers. As a reputation grows,

designers can increase the rate. Working in a firm, must be aware of what competitors are

charging their clients so you know if you are losing business to those competitors.

My “Fit” with this Career:

5|Page
 Researching the Interior Desgin Instustry confirms to me it is a great fit for me. I have

many skills that are needed for a successful career in interior design. I am a critical thinker, a

careful listener, can organize, give clear communication and can put processes into place with

the goal of being more efficient. I manage my time well and can meet deadlines. I am creative, a

must in interior design. When working with clients most of the time they will have a look in

mind and a budget, and sometimes their expectations are not realistic to how much money they

have to work with. I feel as though I have good interpersonal skills to be able to communicate

with the client effectively to come up with a plan that still gets them what they want while

staying in the budget. I know I will enjoy working in an environment where there isn’t a routine

every day. Another reason why I think Interior Design is a good fit for me is because I enjoy

working in a team environment. In regards to design, it will help me learn to express my opinion

while getting feedback as well. Lastly, I think the biggest reason why I will enjoy interior design

is because I can move around from specialty to specialty and continue to learn about different

areas of design. For example, I might start in residential design and when I decide I am looking

to find something different I can do something in commercial. Or if I want to specialize in

kitchen and bath design or lighting design, I can do that as well.

After considering the statistics, ideas, and advice from design professionals, I can

conclude that this is a career I know I will enjoy. I’m looking forward to learning more about

interior design and working and meeting others with the same passion!

6|Page
 Sources

“Home.” Jobs, 2019, www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/interior-

designer?matchtype=be&network=search&device=c&keyword=interior%2Bdesigner%2Br

esponsibilities&query=job%2Bdescription%2Bof%2Ban%2Binterior%2Bdesigner&utm_s

ource=google_search&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kwd-78683924644222%3Aloc-

190&utm_campaign=31809308&msclkid=3d3c054e2a331455bcdb589a1a237698&utm_c

ontent=interior%2Bdesigner%2Bresponsibilities.

“Certification for Interior Designers: NCIDQ Exam: USA Canada.” Cidq, 2019, www.cidq.org/.

“NCIDQ EXAMS l Eligibility Requirements.” Cidq, www.cidq.org/paths.

ERI Economic Research Institute. “ERI: Salary Expert - Commercial Interior Designer Salary

the United States.” ERI | Salary Expert, 2019,

www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/commercial-interior-designer/united-states.

Salary.com. “Interior Designer I Salary.” Salary.com, 2019,

www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/interior-designer-i-salary.

“Kitchen Designer Salaries in the United States.” Indeed.com, 2019,

www.indeed.com/salaries/kitchen-designer-Salaries.

“Interior Designers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 Sept. 2019, www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-

designers.htm#tab-6.

7|Page