Arts & EntertainmentISCO 3432

Interior designer

An interior designer is a person who designs or refurbishes interior spaces, taking in changes to structure, services and fittings, lighting, colour schemes and furnishing.

Take the free test Check yourself in a minute ↓AI risk: 20/100 (low risk)

Check yourself in a minute: interior designer

Rate 5 of the 21 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

manage budgets

create mood boards

monitor sociological trends

translate requirements into visual design

monitor textile manufacturing developments

About interior designer

The designer combines the efficient and functional use of a space with an understanding of aesthetics.

The designer obtains the key information about a project: what the space is for, who uses it, what the budget is, what cannot be moved and what the client actually means by the words they used. Requirements are then translated into visual design, and mood boards are created so that a direction can be agreed before anything is specified.

Knowledge of interior design materials and of interior aesthetics covers how a surface wears, how a fabric behaves in light and how a finish ages over time, and developments in the textile manufacturing market are followed because fabric availability changes what can be specified. The interior decoration design is then developed in specialist design software, which produces the drawings and visualisations a client approves and a contractor builds from.

Do You Have the Skills for This Role?

Core competency requirements inferred from the occupation's skill profile. Take the free assessment to see how you match.

Must-Have Skills (Advanced)

Creative ThinkingAdvanced

Supporting Skills

Customer OrientationIntermediate

CommunicationIntermediate

Self ManagementIntermediate

Take the free test

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (21)

room aestheticsroom aestheticsAssessment of how different pieces of a visual design can ultimately fit together to create the intended interior and visual environment.materials for interior designmaterials for interior designVarieties and functionalities of interior materials and pieces of furniture, equipment and fixtures.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.create mood boardscreate mood boardsCreate mood boards for fashion or interior design collections, gathering different sources of inspirations, sensations, trends, and textures, discussing with the people involved in the project to make...monitor sociological trendsmonitor sociological trendsIdentify and investigate sociological trends and movements in society.translate requirements into visual designtranslate requirements into visual designDevelop visual design from given specifications and requirements, based on the analysis of the scope and target audience. Create a visual representation of ideas such as logos, website graphics, digit...monitor textile manufacturing developmentsmonitor textile manufacturing developmentsKeep up to date with recent developments in textile manufacturing and processing techniques and technologies.use specialised design softwareuse specialised design softwareDeveloping new designs mastering specialised software.maintain an artistic portfoliomaintain an artistic portfolioMaintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests, abilities and realisations.research new ideasresearch new ideasThorough research for information to develop new ideas and concepts for the design of a specific production based.monitor art scene developmentsmonitor art scene developmentsMonitor artistic events, trends, and other developments. Read recent art publications in order to develop ideas and to keep in touch with relevant art world activities.prepare detailed working drawings for interior designprepare detailed working drawings for interior designPrepare sufficiently detailed working drawings or digital images using software to convey a realistic preview of the interior design project.develop a specific interior designdevelop a specific interior designDevelop a conceptual interior design fitting the global mood the room(s) must convey, according to the quality standards agreed on. Adhere to the order of a client for a domestic area or to the concep...present artistic design proposalspresent artistic design proposalsPrepare and present detailed design suggestions for a specific production to a mixed group of people, including technical, artistic and management staff.manage portfoliomanage portfolioMaintain a personal portfolio by selecting your best photos or work and regularly adding new ones in order to show your professional skills and development.manage a teammanage a teamEnsure clear and effective channels of communication across all departments within the organisation and support functions, both internally and externally ensuring that the team is aware of the standar...monitor trends in interior designmonitor trends in interior designMonitor trends in interior design by any means including attending professional design fairs, dedicated magazines, classical and contemporary artistic creation in cinema, advertisement, theatre, circu...perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...collaborate with designerscollaborate with designersCommunicate and collaborate with fellow designers in order to coordinate new products and designs.receive key information about projectsreceive key information about projectsDevelop initial ideas and discuss requirements in detail with clients (the brief) and set project schedules.gather reference materials for artworkgather reference materials for artworkGather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.

Optional (7) — show

design managementdesign managementThe way in which design principles are incorporated to help achieve business objectives, create products and services, obtain new customers, and support marketing activities.environmental designenvironmental designThe approach that is used to face environmental problems related to buildings, plans, and products in various fields such as engineering, interior design and architecture.ensure infrastructure accessibilityensure infrastructure accessibilityConsult designers, builders, and people with disabilities to determine how best to provide accessible infrastructure.understand artistic conceptsunderstand artistic conceptsInterpret an artist's explanation or demonstration of their artistic concepts, inceptions and processes and strive to share their vision.collaborate with a technical staff in artistic productionscollaborate with a technical staff in artistic productionsCoordinate your artistic activities with others who specialise in the technical side of the project. Inform the technical staff of your plans and methods and obtain feedback on feasibility, cost, proc...design materials for multimedia campaignsdesign materials for multimedia campaignsDraft and develop materials to be produced for a multimedia campaign, keeping in mind budgeting, scheduling and production.develop design conceptdevelop design conceptResearch information to develop new ideas and concepts for the design of a specific production. Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff members, in order to develop design concep...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

costume designer5 shared essential skills furniture designer5 shared essential skills set designer5 shared essential skills fashion designer4 shared essential skills performance lighting designer4 shared essential skills puppet designer4 shared essential skills pyrotechnic designer4 shared essential skills sound designer4 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does an interior designer do?

Interior designers design or renovate of internal spaces, including structural alterations, fixtures and fittings, lighting and colour schemes, furnishings. They combine the efficient and functional use of space with an understanding of aesthetics.

What skills does an interior designer need?

An interior designer needs 21 essential skills, including room aesthetics, materials for interior design, manage budgets, create mood boards, monitor sociological trends.

Will AI replace interior designer jobs?

The AI disruption score for interior designer is 20/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: manage budgets, monitor trends in interior design, monitor textile manufacturing developments. Most resilient: understand artistic concepts, gather reference materials for artwork, collaborate with designers.