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About Interior Design
You'll become
Average Salaries
Interior Design workers may earn between $40,000 and $74,000 per year
Channel your creativity into a rewarding and professionally fulfilling career by studying an interior design course.
Help create the spaces that shape the way we think, feel and interact by studying an exciting and rewarding interior design course.
Interior designers plan, design and organise functional and aesthetic interior environments, working closely with clients to execute a creative design brief. As an interior designer, you’ll work with a range of different clients to design a variety of residential, commercial, retail and other spaces that are functional, accessible and appealing.
More than just scattering cushions and hanging paintings, interior designers play a critical role in orchestrating the mood and feel of a space, and use their expertise and insight to develop interior spaces that are both functional and engaging. Drawing on key theoretical design principles, including colour theory, spatial modelling and visual thinking, an interior design course will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the science of design, and the practical tools to see your sketches and ideas become a reality.
You may study an interior design course as certificate or diploma course or bachelor’s degree. After completing your studies, you’ll seek employment as an interior designer, and may work in a design firm, large construction firm, or independently.
What do interior design graduates do?
Interior designers design interior environments according to design briefs from clients. Because of this, your work as an interior designer will involve both creative research, drafting and designing, as well as managing relationships with clients and external stakeholders.
As an interior designer, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Consulting with and interviewing clients and stakeholders, to determine the objectives and constraints of a design brief;
- Researching and analysing spatial, functional, efficiency, safety and aesthetic requirements;
- Reviewing references and researching design elements;
- Providing informed advice on use of spatial organisation, patterns, materials, colours and trends in design to clients and stakeholders;
- Formulating design concepts for interior spaces;
- Preparing, reviewing, explaining and revising sketches, illustrations and plans;
- Negotiating with clients, management, suppliers and construction staff;
- Selecting, specifying and recommending materials, furniture and products for interior spaces;
- Detailing and documenting selected designs;
- Supervising and managing the construction of interiors;
- Managing a design project budget;
- Invoicing, managing accounts, procuring and paying contractors and suppliers; and
- Reviewing and evaluating a design project.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing an interior design course, you’ll likely seek employment as an interior designer, but may also choose to work as a design assistant or stylist. You may choose to work in a private design or building firm or start your own business, working closely with a range of clients in industries like:
- Building and construction
- Retail trade
- Public administration
- Hospitality and tourism
- Real estate
Most designers usually specialise in one area of interior design. Roles you could take on after completing an interior design course include working as a commercial interior designer or retail interior designer. A qualification in interior design may be relevant for pursuing employment in an area such as:
- Web Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Interior Designer
- Web Developer
- Game Designer
- Animator
- Illustrator
- Art Director
- Interaction Designer
- Conceptual Artist
- Game Concept Artist
- Game Evaluator
- Educational Game Designer
- Game Level Designer
- Game Researcher
- Interface Designer
- Digital Media Manager
- 2D and 3D Animator
- Visual Effects Artist
- Visual Effects Supervisor
- Motion Graphics Artist
- 3D Model Builder
- Retail Spatial Designer
- Display and Event Designer
- Social Designer
- Spatial Designer
- Human Centred Designer
- Design Strategist
- UX (User Experience) Designer
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Is interior design right for you?
You’ll find a career in interior design satisfying and rewarding if you:
- Are creative
- Can express yourself well
- Are proactive and enterprising
- Have excellent organisational and project management skills
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Can make sound decisions
- Like taking responsibility
- Are a good listener
- Can work well both independently and in a team
Job opportunities
While interior design is a small profession in Australia, employing approximately just 11,000 people, the Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports that employment opportunities in the role have grown steadily over the last five years, and predicts that growth to continue until at least 2020, where the industry will employ approximately 13,800 people. The greatest opportunities for employment for interior designers exist in New South Wales and Victoria, with over 60 per cent of Australia’s designers working in those two states.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that interior designers may expect to earn a salary between $40,000 and $74,000 per year, with an average industry salary of approximately $51,000 per year. PayScale notes that experience plays a key role in earning capacity, with designers who have more than 20 years’ experience earning up to $40,000 more per year than designers with 10 to 20 years of experience. This relationship also indicates that many people remain working in interior design for the duration of their careers, and don’t move to different industries after working for several years.