I specialized in the Interior Design sector of the architectural industry and over the
years, I’ve discovered just how many people don’t know what I actually do.
I’m currently studying for professional certification exams to become a licensed interior
designer - which, in North America, requires you to obtain an accredited university degree
plus many years of in-field experiences before you would be qualified to take a series of
very challenging exams. Now many people are confused by this because they think - couldn’t
anyone be an interior designer?
Well of course many people and actually I would argue most people could have good design
sensibilities and creative ideas. But to become an interior designer, it requires much much
more than that.
Public safety is very very important when it comes to built environments. After all
- it’s where the majority of us spend our time - in homes, offices, schools, shopping
centres, bars. Well hopefully not the majority of your time is spent in bars. And while engineers
and architects are responsible for many important building components - their responsibilities
don't always cover everything - especially interior components such as interior partitions,
corridors, circulation, suspended ceilings, lighting, furniture, fixtures, equipment,
and finishes. Someone needs to make sure all these interior components meet egress, life
safety, indoor air quality, and building code requirements, while at the same time being
functionally and economically designed.
Fire safety is really really really important. Most of us know about fire alarm and sprinklers
but there are also many other steps taken to ensure our safety in interior spaces that
many people don’t see. Walls, ceilings, windows and doors have to be built with the
appropriate material and assemblies in order to meet fire separation requirements. Materials
such as wood, carpet, textiles and many other things have to meet flammability and fire
resistance ratings and designers need to know what ratings apply in what situations. Corridors,
aisles and doors have to meet appropriate lengths, widths and clearances that adhere
to stringent building codes in order to allow for proper evacuation in the event of a fire.
So unlike structural engineers, interior designers are usually not responsible in designing load-bearing
walls or structures, but we still have to be responsible for the material and structural
integrity of many things, such as knowing where to put deflection channels and expansion
joints in materials, knowing where to put additional support and blocking for wall-mounted
or ceiling-mounted fixtures such as lighting, cabinets, and heavy equipment, and where to
install additional bracing and support for things like suspended ceilings and demountable
partitions in certain seismic zones
When it comes to finishes, interior designers needs to have extensive knowledge in standardized
testing of materials and industry requirements, sound absorbency or transmission levels of
products in order to meet acoustic needs, coefficients of friction, what they mean,
and how to meet flooring slip resistance requirements, and if the materials emits volatile organic
compounds or toxic chemicals that could adversely affect indoor air quality
For instance, to you it may look like the interior designer just picked out a nice looking
window covering, but really he or she may also had to consider factors like light control,
thermal heat gain/heat loss, privacy needs, acoustic transmission, operability, air circulation,
material quality, durability, flammability and fire resistance, while at the same time
balancing those factors with the clients budget and personal requirements.
Every step of the way, designers also need to ensure that the spaces we build are inclusive
to persons with disabilities. Whether it’s planning adequately sized accessible routes,
clearances, doorways, and turning circles; installing visual, auditory and tactile signage
and alarm systems; and integrating automated systems that can aid the access of people
with mobility limitations.
These a just a few examples of the types of considerations interior designers have to
make. And after doing all of that, we still have to produce accurate construction drawings,
put together contract document and bidding packages so the project can be sent out to be built.
Lots of people think design is all about making something look beautiful. Whereas aesthetics
is really only just a part of the equation. Good design is about the ability to achieve
safety, function, quality, and aesthetic beauty while working in a set of programmatic and
budgetary constraints.
When I think about all these things - it honestly makes me very excited. To know that interior
design is such a wholesome, integrated discipline that is the practical application of technical
knowledge and creative thinking. It is also an important responsibly to have - to ensure
that people can live, work and entertain in spaces that are safe, secure, healthy, comfortable
and fulfilling.
Thanks for watching. If you have any questions about interior design or if this is a field
that you are interested in pursuing and you would like to know more, please let me know
in the comments. And see you next time.