What to Expect
Interior design students learn to design attractive and functional rooms
in homes and office buildings. There's a lot more to this field than just
cool furniture and room accessories.
According to Nadia Orawski, there are many learning styles to choose
from in an interior design program. "I am an independent learner," she
says. "And I will tend to go off and research for a project before I begin
the project."
Sometimes, however, Orawski preferred to collaborate with profs and students.
Talking with people in the program, she says, is often the best way to solve
problems.
"Talking with the professor of the course is very helpful. And if
that is not sufficient, a chat with the chair of the department is always
an option."
Stephanie Accipiter took a bachelor of applied design degree, focusing
on interior design. In her first year, Accipiter learned the basics of
design, like vocabulary, drawing and how to make notebooks. "It's a lot
of experimentation in the beginning," she says.
Interior design students, she adds, spend most of their time in the
studio. There, they work on technical projects which put classroom training
to practical use.
According to Accipiter, you don't have to be an accomplished artist
to succeed in an interior design program. At the same time, however, drawing
skills are essential.
"Some people do have a gift," she says. "But generally, it's something
you just practice and practice and practice and you just get better and better
at it."
How to Prepare
High school students can get ahead by working on their drawing techniques
and getting a portfolio together early, says Accipiter.
Accipiter discovered her passion for interior design during a post-secondary
information session at her high school. "There was someone from the program
there and I had a chance to ask them questions," she remembers.
If you have the chance at your high school, suggests Accipiter, go to these
information sessions and talk to instructors. They may help you determine
your educational goals.