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Interior Design

Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings, and commercial or institutional establishments, such as offices, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and theaters. They work with clients and architects to find individual and architectural requirements and preferences. They help choose carpeting, wall coverings, draperies, furniture, lighting fixtures, and other furnishings.

They submit drawings and illustrations of space layouts, lighting/electrical plans, furniture plans, color schemes, material requirements, and cost estimates to the client for approval and may purchase the furnishings for the client and arrange with the subcontractors to install them in the home or building.

Career Titles for Interior Design
  • Interior Designer
  • Interior Decorator
  • Fabric Designer
  • Sales Representative
  • Showroom Designer
  • Space Planner
  • Management Research
  • Furniture Designer
  • Exhibition Designer
  • Kitchen & Bath Designer
  • Lighting Designer
  • Set Designer
  • Facilities Planner
  • Environmental Planner
  • Design Assistant
  • Drafter
  • Product Design
  • Historic Preservation

Related Skills

  • Strong technical writing ability
  • Ability to generate ideas and evaluate feasibility of implementation
  • Aptitude for accuracy and attention to details
  • Computer skills
  • Knowledge of construction
  • Creative/innovative/artistic
  • Draft/draw
  • Spatial visualization

Hiring Institutions

  • Airlines/Auto Manufacturers
  • Architectural/Engineering Firms
  • Corporations
  • Home Furnishing Store
  • Interior Design Firms
  • Kitchen and Bath Design Firms
  • Freelance/Self-employed
  • Furnishing Manufacturers & Distributors
  • Government Agencies
  • Libraries/Museums
  • Medical Facilities
  • Office Furniture Suppliers
  • Religious Facilities


Career Paths of Recent Graduates

Related Web Sites

OU Department of Interior Design id.coa.ou.edu
Career Services University of Oklahoma www.hiresooner.com
American Society of Interior Designers http://www.asid.org
Interior Design Society http://www.interiordesignsociety.org
International Interior Design Society Association http://www.iida.org
Careers in Interior Design http://www.careersininteriordesign.com
National Home Furnishings Association http://www.nhfa.org
Industrial Designers Society of America http://www.idsa.org