CAREER IN INTERIOR DECORATION

Hello to everyone reading this...

you are probably thinking of studying interior design in college or online. I would like to share my opinions and with this field and hopefully not discourage you but give you the REALITY of this fine-art field. You will struggle to find a decent job in today's market. This is ART! This is DESIGN! And ART and DESIGN are not in demand last time I checked! There is a lot of competition, I MEAN A LOT!

I'm sure some of you will think that this is a great career as your SECOND career in life, you are tired of your first career choice and you say to yourself "Hmm...I can be an interior designer and create beautiful rooms and have fun doing it". My opinion is go ahead and study interior design you will have fun in school, you will have different projects, meet interesting new people and you will learn a lot about drawing, drafting, art history, CAD & other software programs, materials, green design, codes and etc.

I am writing the experience of the Gretchen Stuyvesant, ASID he is professional interior designer he is self employed.He has an experience of 30 years in the business.

I am introducing the person how he entered into the interior decoration course and how did he start his career.

he was interviewed so some of the question asked to him are as followed.

How did you get started in your career?

I went to school to become an art teacher and when I discovered I didn't like education classes, I took straight interior designer classes. I loved it, though school was hard work, with a lot of labs. We studied art, architecture, clothing and textiles. We had an interior design studio. When I started I was on the tennis and swim teams, but I had to give them up for the interior design program. The program required long hours, but it was very rewarding.

what was your first job in interior decoration..?

My first job in the field was in a furniture store, the summer before my senior year of college. I saw how carpet was installed, how draperies were made, how a blind was put up—that's the on-the-job training you'll get as an intern.

An interior designer is concerned with the health, welfare and safety of the client. I'm very conscious of codes. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is always in my mind. I consider handicapped needs, how to get a wheelchair in, and how that affects an employee or client entering the building.

What's your focus now?

I like the contact with people—the clients, the architect, the contractor, the product people. Generally an interior designer is improving the environment and the conditions, whether it's a bank lobby, a school or a hotel for someone to stay in. And installation is fun; I'm a hands-on person. The hands-on aspect is probably the most truly rewarding part of the job, putting it all together, hanging pictures and lamps.

What is most challenging about your job?

Getting work done on time. Meeting schedules, limiting costs and keeping the client happy are all challenging aspects of the job. Good communication is really important. You have to be a salesman, you can't be quiet and timid—that's not going to work. It's important to present your ideas well.

What does someone starting a design career need to know?

It's really difficult for anybody just starting out. You must have experience, and if you don't, no one will hire you. To get experience you can intern at an architectural firm, furniture store, design center, or a showroom. A lot of people become representatives for products or designers.