How to Become an Interior Designer

When we’re struggling to create a living space that meets our needs and reflects our personality, we turn to interior designers. Interior designers use their creativity, attention to detail, and design skills to create a functional, safe, and beautiful space that fits their client’s needs.

To get an entry-level position as an interior designer in Australia, you’ll need to flex your creative capabilities and have the right skills and a formal qualification, like a Certificate IV in Interior Design (MSF40122).

Learn what it takes to become an interior designer, the job opportunities, and helpful resources to get you started on your new interior design career.

Interior designer job description

info Where we source our data

Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.

That’s why we anonymously surveyed interior designers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.

While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.

An interior designer is a professional who specialises in designing and decorating interior spaces in residential and commercial buildings. They work closely with clients to understand their needs, preferences, and budget to create functional and aesthetically pleasing living and working spaces.

Tasks and responsibilities for an interior designer

The role of an interior designer involves discovering a client’s wants and needs, creating a strategy to achieve these goals and then managing the practical aspects of transforming the space.

So, what do interior designers do in a day? An interior designer’s duties can include:

  • Discovering what clients want from their space
  • Establishing a brief with a client so that you understand their wants and needs
  • Creating design and space planning concepts and sketches
  • Recommending interior materials and features
  • Staying on top of current styling trends
  • Estimating timelines and budgets
  • Managing client expectations
  • Managing tradespeople and decorators

How to become an interior designer

There are steps you can take to ensure you are on the right track to becoming an interior designer:

  1. Study

    Most employers look for candidates with a qualification in interior design. A recommended accredited qualification is a Certificate IV in Interior Design (MSF40122).

    A Diploma of Interior Design provides students with a comprehensive understanding of interior design and the practical skills needed to succeed in this field. The course length can range from 1-2 years.

  2. Experience through internships

    Interior design internships are great opportunities for students or recent graduates to gain practical experience in the field of interior design. These internships can provide valuable learning experiences, as well as networking opportunities and a chance to build your portfolio.

  3. Develop a portfolio

    Developing a portfolio is an essential step in becoming a successful interior designer. A portfolio showcases your skills, creativity, and design aesthetic to potential clients and employers.

  4. Network

    Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and connect with other designers to build relationships and learn about job opportunities.

Pathway options

info
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.

An entry-level role as an interior designer could lead you quickly into more senior positions if you put the work in. It can also open up doors to specialist design roles and even lead to starting your own design business if that’s your dream.

Possible career paths for an interior designer:

Junior

Mid

Senior

  • Project Manager

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration

  • Set Designer

    Most common qualification: Bachelor of Design

Related articles

At this point, a career as an interior designer might sound pretty good to you. If you want to discover more about this wonderful job, you can access a massive catalogue of articles, resources, and study guides to help you get to your dream job.

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