Interior design is a very attractive career option for those who desire to combine their artistic skills with commercial acumen. Interior decorators specialise in designing functional spaces in a manner that is aesthetic and conducive to conducting business with clients or customers. There is also a booming opportunity for interior design for residential spaces as more and more customers want their homes to be designed in a manner that supports a superior lifestyle.
Educational qualifications
Interior design is to a large extent dependent on creative sensibilities, a formal education is not mandatory. However, due to the complex interplay of interior décor with architecture and civil engineering, most candidates are expected to be equipped with at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in the subject itself. Candidates with a degree in a different subject should ideally have completed courses in interior design that would have given them exposure to drawing as well as computer-aided-design and modelling.
What do hospitality designers do?
Interior designers can get involved in the design of virtually everything from a plush home to a corporate office, a shopping mall or even an airport. Hotels consider aesthetic values to be vital for attracting guests and building up customer satisfaction and loyalty. Almost all hotel chains set very strict benchmarks for every aspect of their operations. Interior décor ranks very high in the list as this is usually the first aspect that makes an impression on guests. According to the brief and budgetary indication provided by the client, the hospitality designer will determine the project scope and create detailed plans that address multiple considerations such as color schemes, furniture design and placement, wall décor and even extend his services to developing specifications and design for the bed linen and salon towels.
Balancing design aesthetics and economics
Clients will expect hospitality designers to have an intimate knowledge of innumerable items that a hotel requires for its operations. These play a key role in forming a positive impression on guests and make their stay pleasurable. The hospitality designer is expected to work intimately with the housekeeping staff and the purchase department staff to locate vendors for items that require continual replenishment such as linen, towels, bath mats as well as upholstery and curtains that are more permanent in nature. You will be expected to give value-additions with your advice to the housekeeping department regarding the best source of superior quality but cheap bed linen and towels. As an able hospitality designer, you are expected to find the right balance between the need for superior aesthetics and operational functionality, including safety requirements and above-all, economics.
Would you consider a career in hospitality interior design? Let us know below!
Photo: Andrew Malone / Flickr
Katherine Debussy teaches at a leading institute for commercial art and interior design. She also operates a consultancy for the hospitality sector that provides assistance for procuring bed linen carpets, furnishings, and a host of essential items, including cheap salon towels.
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