Module 11: The Role of an Interior Designer

Module 11

The Role of an Interior Designer

This module will explain the profession of an interior designer to students, covering everything from the capacity and role of the designer to the artistic innovation in a room or building. Interior design concepts require transformation from initial innovative idea to practical application in a livable environment for the client or customer. Interior design projects always begin with a consultation with the client which then leads to a brief. This brief will form the starting point of your design plan. It’s essential to fully understand the client's practical needs, what they like and do not like, their preferred color scheme, favored artwork and so on. This information will help you in building a design scheme. The choices and preferences are limitless; your role as an Interior Designer is to create a scheme based on the personal tastes of the client. Interior design schemes are expected to reflect contemporary patterns and to fulfill modern requirements. Therefore, interior designers are constantly challenged to devise inspirational solutions that are resourceful and inventive.

Other influences include available materials, natural light sources and directions, space within the architecture, as well proportions of each room, function and size. Each of these will need to be considered during a design process. Finally, presentation and construction drawings are means of communication that facilitate implementation of the design scheme that are accurately detailed and scaled.

It’s important for a professional Interior Designer to develop their own style and influences and never simply reproduce what is current. However, the client need is paramount and when asking for a certain style (Scandinavian, Boho, Bauhaus etc.) you should follow that request. Where Interior Designers best, is in the personalization and individual eye of those styles.

The second part of this module examines interior design trends – defining trends, how it changes over time, and importance of current setting and relevance. Staying up to date with current innovations and trends in the world of interior design will help the professional designer identify current trends and keep up to date with emerging trends. Visiting shows can be hugely helpful in keeping up to date with what is going on in modern interior design.

The module’s last section looks at how the designer engages with the processes of design. There is a major difference between those who work as freelance or sole designer businesses (they are responsible for the entirety of a project) and those who work in teams for larger design firms (typically granted responsibility for one or more aspects of design) and under the direction of an architect/interior designer. As the design process evolves and develops, interior designers’ roles do too.

Interior design influencer content

Module 11 contains professional insights from renowned interior designer, Suzanne Coleman. Suzanne offers exclusive insight into the role of an interior designer including:

• What is the overall role of an Interior designer, and how are they challenged to devise an inspirational solution?
• How do they keep up with the current trends?
• Development of Interior Design then and now?

Module Outline

1. Interior Design Inspiration
   • Client Brief
   • Translating Elements and Data to Interior Design Settings
   • Interior Design Then and Now
2. Interior Design Trends
   • What is “Trend”
   • Development of Trends Over Time
   • Interior Design Trends in the Current Setting
3. The Role of an Interior Designer
   • The Role of an Interior Designer in relation to the Design Process
   • The Function of an Interior Designer in relation to the Design Process