Becoming an Interior Designer by Christine M. Piotrowski

About author:

Christine M. Piotrowski, an interior designer, who is also a professional member of ASID, had been dedicated her life to this path for 30 years. Christine gained her knowledge on professional practice from the working on various design firm on her younger years. She has always have the passion on design business practice. Christine gained valuable management experience as a design director at an office furnishings dealer as well as a business owner. Working with small design practice owners, she has consulted on a variety of issues including strategic planning, business operations, and marketing. She understands the interior design profession and can help you focus your efforts. Else than publishing book, she also taught business practices for 16 years.

This book entitled Becoming and Interior Designer is the go-to book for an inside look at the profession of interior design. The book contains ultimate guide on everything you need to know about this profession.

The first chapter of the book contains the introduction on the interior design profession. The reader is first being educated with explanation on what interior designers do. This part is very useful to begin with because most of the people does not have an exact understanding on this profession. People tend to think what interior designers do is the same as decorator, but the truth is, we are way beyond than just matching tiles and wallpaper. Then there is also a discussion on weather this profession suits you. From history of interior design up until sustainable design, are also exposed in detail in this chapter. The information on the importance of professional association, registration and licensing are listed in the last part of the chapter one.

After all the general introduction, chapter two talks about the education preparation to start the interior design career. The author explained step to step the educational program and provides tips on choosing which school to attend. The included program are such as four-year educational preparation, two-year associate degree, postgraduate education, NCIDQ examination, and continuing education. Through this chapter, the reader will also understand the importance of joining internship as a preparation before the actual job. By the end of the chapter, the author also included a section dedicated to discuss the importance of interior design in today's industry.

Chapter three is the detailed illustration on the jobs of interior designer. The chapter are composed by explanation on each possible career path of interior design graduates. The chapter start of with career selection article which is about how you going to select the most suitable career later on. Interior design graduates job does not limited to only seating in the studio drawing and space planning forever. Else than collaborating with architectural office, some reachable job such as furniture retailers, office furnishing dealer, global scale design, facility planning are worth to be considered also.

Design Specialties are exposed in the fourth chapter. This is a very useful section as it contain information on major subdivision in interior design. There are residential design, commercial, sustainable design, corporate and professional offices, hospitality, entertainment and recreation, retail facilities, healthcare, senior living, institutional, and lastly restoration and adaptive use. Each type of space requires different needs and attention. Every space has its own limitation in accomplishing a design. Different target market also affect the design result. All of the concern are explained in this chapter to help the interior designer to-be prepared for all the problems.

Chapter 5 topic is about The Design Process. As most of the interior designer learned and experienced, the scope of works are project development, programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents, contract administration, and project management. The author of this book spell out evident analysis on each of the design process. This chapter also mention a little bit about working relationship with clients.

The sixth chapter of this book talks about Interior Design as a Business. For the designer who decided to create own job opportunities, this chapter could be a help in understanding the business term, business formations, marketing methods, contract and legal issue. The book also gives clue on predicted greatest business challenge for interior design firms.

The very last chapter, contains prologue on the future for the interior design profession.

This book, I would say is a book that I wish I could encounter before I started my interior design education. It is an ultimate guide to truly understand the nature of interior designer. Back then, when I was so clueless about interior design, I feel like this book could be the aid. For now, chapter three and four I think is the most helpful to my current situation. As a bachelor student of interior design, it is crucial for me to understand all the subdivision in interior before later I will have to chose the final major. Career selection is also another important aspect to think about. By reading this book, it kind of giving me a better vision on what is ahead of me after I graduate, and from where should I start. Overall it is a very beneficial book for those who are interested or are already walking in this interior design field.

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