Value-addition service: Interior designers ensure that the client’s vision is turned into a tangible space, which is well planned and appealing to a wide audience
Clockwork
While some days are spent in the office preparing presentations and designing, other days may be spent at the construction site, answering contractors’ queries or dealing with any design-related issues
9am: Check mails. Work on design concepts or pick materials
11am: Visit the site/factory/ showrooms
2pm: Meet with clients
5pm: Prepare design presentations
The payoff
Depending on the employer and one’s experience, the average starting pay of an interior designer is between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 per month and senior designers make over Rs. 50 lakhs a year
Skills/TRAITS
* Knowledge of certain design softwares like AutoCAD, 3DMax or Sketch up is a prerequisite
* Ability to handle both aesthetic and technical aspects of designing spaces
* Strong knowledge of materials
Getting there
Over the years this field has become more specialised and employers give more importance to academic and professional background. Studying engineering or architecture before specialising in interior design can be helpful. Many design schools offer interior designing courses and some offer masters in fine arts with a specialisation in interior design
Institutes and URLs
* Institute of Indian Interior Designers, New Delhi www.iiiddelhi.org
* National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi www.nift.ac.in/delhi/index.html
* International Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi www.iiftindia.net
* Parsons The New School for Design, New York www.newschool.edu/parsons
* Domus Academy, Milan www.domusacademy.com/site/home.html
Pros and cons
* Highly rewarding
* Delays in construction have an impact on projects
With new constructions taking place, there is enormous demand for qualified interior designers in India -- Tanya Gyani, country manager (India) of Hong Kong-based Indigo Living