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Many people think that being an interior designer is easy. That perception couldn’t be
further from the truth! When designing a space, you must be knowledgeable about many types
install methods, different materials and when chosen correctly, how they can benefit the aesthetic
and function of a space, and more. I have done research and spoken with a couple design
professionals to help paint a picture of what a day in the life of an interior designer entails, what
type of and how much educations is required to practice as an interior design professional, career
outlook and average salary, and some pros and cons of working in the industry.
Job Description:
As an interior designer, there are typical job duties required to perform (but not limited
to) such as: working with a design team to develop design solutions, researching concepts and
materials to support design team on technical issues influencing concept development, working
within timely schedules to coordinate the completion of tasks through to final project
ongoing design projects, preparing and participating in client presentations, and selecting
furniture, materials, décor, and finishes while keeping within a budget. (“Interior Designer Job
Title”, 2019)
For my research, I interviewed Cristen Kassmier, a senior designer for an interior design firm
based in Englewood, Colorado. I met with her when she flew in to Salt Lake City to put together
design selections for the home builder I work for. I asked her to describe a typical day working
at Ellis Design looks like. She explained that there isn’t a “typical day” at the office. She is
always working on many projects simultaneously. One day she could be working on a
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presentation for a model community (for residential interior design) which includes gathering
furniture, fabrics, picking interior finishes, and elevating wall details, etc. On another day she
night be traveling to Vail, Colorado with a homeowner walking their new build home, talking
about wall finishes and going over the progress of construction. On office days, she works on
two gentleman who work at Lisman Studio’s spoke about what they do. One of the gentlemen,
Lamar Lisman, owner of Lisman Studio, spoke in my INTD 1010 Professional Seminar class at
Salt Lake Community College on November 18, 2019, and described the design process at his
firm. The first initial meeting is where the designer and client meet to review the expectations
and ideas the client had in mind for the project. Next the designer will put together an estimate
for the cost of materials and services. If the client feels the firm is a good fit for their project,
they start discussing details. Typically, the designer will meet with the client once per week to
ensure everyone is on the same page and progress is being made until the project is complete.
Depending on the size, project can take a little as a few weeks to complete, or it can take years.
Interior design is a field where there are many ways to get into the industry. Some start
out in retail merchandising, others do set design for a theater or photographers. Some begin their
career in the fashion industry, or do floral or landscaping design while many choose the
traditional route and get an education in interior design and work their way up in an internship.
Although there are successful professionals who work in the interior design industry
without any formal education to stand out from the competition, the market dictates a preference
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for obtaining a degree or certificate in Interior Design. While in school, students can start
working on projects and begin building a portfolio, which can be important when trying to stand
out against other designers. Students may earn an associates, bachelors, or a master’s degree, or
you may opt for a certificate that will take about one year to complete. (“An Entry Level
completing continuing education. Design trends are always evolving over time. There are many
certifications you can earn and associations to join that will help with that. The most important
association is the US National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and acquiring
that will help you stand out as a designer. In some states, passing the NCIDQ licensing test is
required before you can practice interior design. To qualify to the test, you have to have a degree
or certification as well as work experience requirements that differ between states. (“Specific
Education and Work Requirements”, 2019) In order to maintain that license, designers are
In addition to the NCIDQ, there are other associations that you can be apart of that help keep
designers current in design trends and also inform the design community about upcoming events.
Some popular associations are the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International
Interior Design Association (IIDA), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and
I asked Lamar Lisman what he looks for on a resume when hiring a designer. He looks
for personality, people who have taste in design, professional appearance, and people who enjoy
talking about what projects they have done. He does look at portfolios as well, but if you do not
have one, he recommended doing interior design project for friends and family whenever the
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opportunity arises and take pictures. For him that is an acceptable substitute to having a
portfolio.
Average Salary:
Since there are infinite areas of design to practice, I decided to research salaries for some
the most common types of specific designers. Commercial interior designers beginning salary
can start around $40,000 (1-3 years of experience) and a senior level commercial designer (8+
years of experience) can make an average salary of $70,181. (“An Entry Level Commercial
Interior Designer”, 2019) Residential interior designers in Utah as of October 2019 make an
average of $34,000 to $ 48,000. (“How Much Does”, 2019) Kitchen and bath designers make an
Career Outlook:
The job outlook for interior designers shows no sign of slowing down. This profession
relies greatly on a strong economy. Over the next 10 years, employment of interior designers is
projected to grow by 4 percent. Compared to all other occupations, the growth is almost equal.
Demand for interior designers will come from the need to remodel existing homes, commercial
Lamar Lisman, owner of Lisman Studio in Salt Lake City, described his journey
throughout the industry over the years. He started in the fashion industry. Once he graduated
from the University of Utah with a bachelor degree in Business, he worked for Nordstrom for 10
years. Over time he decided he loved interior design and founded his company, Lisman Studio,
as a freelance designer. As the business grew, he was taking on projects he could not handle on
his own and that is when he decided to hire a team. Thirty years later, his business has grown to
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be one of the most successful and most reputed design firms in Utah. He has two Senior Interior
In doing my research about interior design, I have learned about some exciting aspects of
the profession. You get to be part of creating a beautiful and functional space and (hopefully)
have a happy client by the time the project is complete. You get to meet and interact with many
different people with many different backgrounds. If you work for a firm, you can work in a
team and that can stimulate design ideas that you would have never considered and that can
make you more diverse in the creative process. There is a growing demand for designers in the
industry.
I have also realized some things that might not make the job as fun as it appears to be. It
can be stressful. Not only can there be tight budgets and deadlines, but long working hours
(sometimes weekends depending on the type of job you are doing) and tough personalities can
damper design excitement. Clients might not like a design and you need to know how to fix it.
Cristen (Senior Designer, Ellis Design), mentioned that having a tough skin and learning to
accept criticism is vital to job satisfaction. Another major stressor is working with different
tradesman and contractors, and constantly overseeing install schedules and vendor delays.
Freelance designers set their own prices, but designers who are just starting their career generally
must set their prices lower to compete with more established designers. As a reputation grows,
designers can increase the rate. Working in a firm, must be aware of what competitors are
charging their clients so you know if you are losing business to those competitors.
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Researching the Interior Desgin Instustry confirms to me it is a great fit for me. I have
many skills that are needed for a successful career in interior design. I am a critical thinker, a
careful listener, can organize, give clear communication and can put processes into place with
the goal of being more efficient. I manage my time well and can meet deadlines. I am creative, a
must in interior design. When working with clients most of the time they will have a look in
mind and a budget, and sometimes their expectations are not realistic to how much money they
have to work with. I feel as though I have good interpersonal skills to be able to communicate
with the client effectively to come up with a plan that still gets them what they want while
staying in the budget. I know I will enjoy working in an environment where there isn’t a routine
every day. Another reason why I think Interior Design is a good fit for me is because I enjoy
working in a team environment. In regards to design, it will help me learn to express my opinion
while getting feedback as well. Lastly, I think the biggest reason why I will enjoy interior design
is because I can move around from specialty to specialty and continue to learn about different
areas of design. For example, I might start in residential design and when I decide I am looking
After considering the statistics, ideas, and advice from design professionals, I can
conclude that this is a career I know I will enjoy. I’m looking forward to learning more about
interior design and working and meeting others with the same passion!
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Sources
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