Today I'm speaking about a topic very close to my heart. A sort of public service announcement that many need to hear. All too often, I have to explain my choice of major to someone. Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.
I'm an interior design major. And people confuse designer with decorator everyday, thanks to the publicity of home decorating on tv, the mass amounts of home decor stores open to the public, and a history of people assuming decorating and designing are the same thing. I understand, it can be a little confusing if you don't really think about it. So today, I'm going to explain what the difference is!
An Interior Decorator...
-- Has an eye for color & style.
-- Expertly can put together a room scheme.
-- Doesn't require any formal training, relies mainly on innate skill.
-- Cannot move walls or pull building plans.
-- Only does residential projects.
An Interior Designer...
-- Is also referred to as an "interior architect".
-- Starts every project with detailed research: who is the client? what makes them tick? how do they go about their daily life? what spaces are working, what aren't and why?
-- Works closely with architects, engineers, etc on both commercial and residential projects (and needs knowledge of these systems in order to communicate accurately & intelligently).
-- Has knowledge of local & national building codes. This includes ADA standards and codes related to flammability/fire resistance. (On commercial projects, a designer could be held liable by law if a code is in violation.)
-- Does space planning to determine what kind of flow works with the space layout and the client's needs.
-- Has at least 4 years of education & can become licensed by the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification). Graduate degrees are an option for further career advancement.
-- Also does the "decoration" part of a project.
So essentially, they are really not that similar at all! I hope this clears some things up for you, and hopefully you'll share this with others. Interior designers are responsible for far more than people assume. We plan interior environment so that you feel comfortable, we look out for the safety and well being of those in the space, and then after all of that is taken care of, we make it aesthetically pleasing. An interior designer can be a decorator too, but a decorator is not a designer.
Hopefully this cleared up some confusion for you. I know I've used both terms on this blog; decorating when referring to my Apartment Tour last week, and design when I talk about past projects, for example.
Do you have a major or a field of work that is highly mis-understood? What do you wish people knew about what you do?
--Caroline
