Interior design is considered to be a growth industry, although it is at the luxury end of the market so it will inevitably be at the mercy of economic ups and downs. The last year being a case in point. The building industry gives a good barometer of a country’s economy and when that area of business is damaged by a downturn, the interiors industry is often affect in turn. This shouldn’t discourage people from entering the interior design profession since there are so many terrific opportunities for career progression and specialization in the industry.

An interior designer is defined by the International Interior Design Association to perform the following roles:

To analyze the client’s needs goals and life and safety requirements;

To integrate findings with knowledge of interior design;

To formulate preliminary design concepts that are appropriate, functional and aesthetic;

To develop and present final design recommendations through appropriate presentation media;

To prepare working drawings and specifications for non-load-bearing interior construction, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures and equipment;

To collaborate with professional services of other licensed practitioners in the technical area of mechanical, electrical and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval;

To prepare and administer bids and contract documents as the client’s agent;

To review and evaluate design solutions during implementation and upon completion.

So when looking for some great design ideas and innovative furnishings, check out your local interior designer for some ideas.