Best Home Interior Ideas: Bathroom Interior

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Interior Design Education

What are the most popular specialties within the field of Interior Design?

The biggest "specialties" that most interior design students will distinguish in the course of their education is between Residential and Contract/Commercial design. Every program is different, but I am not aware of any that specializes in only one of these areas.

There are also specialties, such as kitchen and bathroom design, textiles or colors, etc. - but there aren't majors in these fields, per se. Rather, they're just part of an overall program which interior design students may choose to study through required or elective classes.

Can majors other than Interior Design prepare a student for a career in the field? If so, what are the other academic options?

The best preparation for a career in interior design is from a program accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). However, individuals with degrees in other areas (i.e. architecture, industrial design) have been able to sit for the NCIDQ exam and practice interior design.

Interior Design students can pursue certifications, BAs, BFAs, MAs and MFAs. Any other academic options? Professionally speaking, what level of education is important in the field and why?

Besides the programs listed above, some institutions offer non-credit programs or workshops. You may even be able to take courses on a non-matriculated basis. But in order to become a professional in the field of Interior Design, one has to pass the two-day exam given by NCIDQ. In most states, passing this exam is required in order to become licensed or certified. In some states you cannot even call yourself an interior designer unless you have passed the NCIDQ test. This is the direction the profession is moving and the importance of being state-certified is generally recognized.

Williams Sonoma at Home

I was leafing through the March 2008 issue of House Beautiful when I saw a photo of chairs on a stair landing that reminded me of the new Williams-Sonoma Home store in New York. When I looked closer, one of the names of the designers, David DeMattei, sounded familiar. Then I realized that he is the group president for Williams-Sonoma and I actually met him at the opening party last fall. The home has a Williams-Sonoma feeling but is not a literal translation of the store. I'm swamped with work so for more information, you can check out the details at House Beautiful online. Bon Weekend!