Interior Architecture, Backbone of Interior Design
by Wendy Croixwendy.croid@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
If you want a career as an interior designer, not just an interior decorator, make sure that your design school includes interior architecture courses in your interior design degree program of study.
When choosing a degree program, make sure that it includes three-dimensional modeling, vector image layout, and computer-aided drafting. Why? Listen to what the interior design heavy-weights have to say about the profession and design education, and you'll see that interior architecture is an essential part of your interior design degree.
Learn more about The Art Institute Online's Bachelor Degree program in Interior Design.
Interior Architecture Is Central to Interior Design
According to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), an interior designer creatively solves aesthetic and practical problems raised by the construction of "built environments."A designer doesn't just analyze, plan, and beautify interior space. Interior designers must also possess "specialized knowledge of interior construction, building codes, equipment, materials and furnishings."
In short, a designer must be well-acquainted with the demands of interior architecture, since it is the designer's obligation to "protect the health, safety and welfare of the public."
FIDER-house Rules
The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research publishes its accreditation criteria, and a glance at its standards shows how important interior architecture is to an interior design degree.FIDER accredits programs that give students the chance to interact with "code specialists, engineers, architects" and other professionals and that include the history of architecture. Accreditation Standard 6 provides that students "design within the context of building systems," understanding how design is affected by construction systems and materials, power systems, lighting systems, ceiling and flooring. Standard 7 requires that students understand the connections between interior architecture and public safety.
Choosing a FIDER-accredited interior design degree program is the first step in becoming and architecturally-aware design professional.
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and university professor. In her twenty years as a professional educator, Wendy has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.Sources
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