Do career changers make the best interior designers with the IDB Podcast

Interior design is without doubt one of the most popular choices for people wishing to change careers. For many, interior design has been a lifelong passion; something they have dreamed of pursuing since childhood.

But making this change is not easy. Many cannot afford the luxury of spending a year or more with no earnings while they retrain, not to mention expensive college fees that must be paid out of previous earnings.

Little wonder then that many would-be designers bypass these barriers to entry and just set up on their own. We all know at least one successful professional person with reasonable taste who woke up one morning and said to her partner ‘Hey, I’ve had a great idea…. I think I’ll start an interior design company!’

But this raises issues. All professional designers understand how complex and regulation-bound interior design is. The knowledge needed to be a successful practitioner would fill a set of encyclopedias and the scope for expensive things going wrong on projects is infinite.

How can someone who decides out of the blue that they are a designer possibly know enough to keep their clients safe, manage complex building projects and not lose money or end up in court?

The British Institute of Interior Design recognises this in their accreditation process, insisting that designers must have a minimum of 6 years’ experience and or education to become a Registered Interior Designer. In other words, someone with the knowledge and experience to call themselves a professional designer and a pair of hands safe enough to be let loose on the public.

That being said, these late design bloomers often have a definite edge over their younger rivals. Especially when working on private residential projects mature designers understand the practical pressures of day-to-day life and can design in ways that will truly enhance the lives of their clients. 

Many working in the profession feel that new and unqualified designers should not be allowed to market themselves to an unsuspecting public, and that ‘Interior Designer’ should be a restricted title and be licensed as it is in the USA.

Perhaps the way to provide access for career changers is through alternative routes such as apprenticeships. That way we can enjoy the undoubted benefits they bring while maintaining the hard-won integrity of the profession. 

If you’re reading this and thinking of making the change, then, be sure to do your research – that starts with a visit to Decorex, where you can see so much, listen in on the excellent conversations that take place at the Design Talks and immerse yourself in the world of interior design.

You can also listen to the recent IDB podcast on the very same topic by clicking this link https://bit.ly/44l5kly or watch the episode on our YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/44m55H1.

We spoke with two career-changers, Charlotte Dawson from Chestnut Interiors and Stephen Boaz from Boaz Studio. It was a fascinating conversation, rich with insights and useful advice…there’s nothing quite like hearing first-hand from the experiences of others! 

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