The Scope of a Bachelor’s in Interior Design

Table of Content:

• The Role of Interior Design in the Modern World
• Step into Creativity with a Bachelor in Interior Design
• Exploring the Role of an Interior Designer as… or Diversity of Roles for an Interior Designer
• Will AI Ever Replace the Role of an Interior Designer?
• Designing Your Future with Endless Career Choices

With a boom in the interior design industry, the Indian market size is expected to grow at 10.54% CAGR, hiking its value to USD 52.84 billion by 2029. Interior design is one of the most creative sectors, opening multiple career choices after attaining a bachelor’s in interior design.

The awareness of strategic planning and healthy spaces is one of the primary factors leading to the growth of the interior design industry. Let’s uncover the industry's current scenario and why one must enter this rewarding profession.

The Role of Interior Design in the Modern World

Why Interior Designers?

• Need for innovation in every nook.
• Enhanced taste in modern designs.
• The demand for cosy and trendy homes

From planning layouts to adding green materials to the palette, the complexity of handling spaces is best done by experts. This is why the demand for bachelor’s in interior design is increasing, and more people are investing in interior design studios. But what do you learn from an interior design degree course?

Step into Creativity with a Bachelor in Interior Design

A Bachelor in Interior Design aims at a holistic development towards a creative and technical approach to design. The programme explains the fundamentals of approaching design while allowing students to express their unique designs creatively.

The “love what you do” psyche gets fulfilled here.…

Enrolling in the bachelor in interior design programme requires a 10+2 degree in any stream from an acceptable board. The candidate must have a minimum of 50% marks in the boards to pursue the course.

While some colleges choose suitable candidates based on their All India Entrance Examination for Design (AIEED) ranks, others might conduct their entrance exams and interviews. The entrance exams typically involve aptitude, comprehension, and reasoning-based questions.

Top Courses to Begin Your Interior Design Journey

• Bachelor in Interior Design

Bachelor in Interior Design is an exciting course that lets one into the realm of design. The degree offers expertise in the profession that further leads to rewarding job opportunities. It begins by laying the foundation of design principles, and the course advances to train students with technical knowledge.

Top Features:

1. Offers a blend of technical, conceptual, and creative skills.
2. Prepares for interior design of commercial, residential, and public spaces.
3. Teaches 3D designs along with several visual media software.
4. Focuses on teaching design problems featuring unique shapes and sizes.

• Bachelor in Interior Architecture and Design

It is a pathway to unleashing one's creativity while ensuring functional and aesthetic spaces. This comprehensive course is about having architectural knowledge, spatial design, and environmental psychology with a holistic understanding of interior design. Through studio assignments, the course offers in-depth knowledge about design principles, design history, materials, lighting, furniture, and technical training.

Top Features:

1. A holistic approach to design ensures students grasp the fundamental principles of creating functional spaces.
2. A significant emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly design solutions.
3. Opportunities to work on real-life projects
4. The curriculum ensures that students become adept at using the latest software tools used in the industry.

• Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (B.Sc)

A bachelor in interior design degree is the first step to building a career in the sector. You can opt for a B.Sc. from a recognised university for better jobs. This course is more technically aligned, covering building regulations, lighting, materials, building systems, and sustainability principles.

Top Features:

1. Integrate innovative solutions with digital platforms.
2. Teach about practical limitations and materials for the built environment.
3. Encourage students to derive responsible and imaginative solutions.
4. Trains students for several domains of the design industry, like hospitality, retail, residential, furniture design, and many more.

• Diploma in Interior Design

Any candidate possessing the essential eligibility criteria with a 10+2 degree can opt for this course. It helps in understanding the design better. The candidate can also pursue a master’s degree after the diploma programme. This course spans about 1-2 years and equips students with the fundamentals of interior design.

Top Features:

1. Help in the development of analysing skills.
2. Teach about the meaning of colours, textures, and lighting in an interior design.
3. Offers knowledge to aspiring interior designers that helps them sustain in the industry.
4. Enhances designing skills along with software knowledge.

• MBA in Interior Design

After a bachelor's in interior design, one can opt for higher studies with this 2-year course. A degree from a recognised university helps land better job opportunities while adding to the knowledge. The course enhances design abilities and enriches students with knowledge of management, marketing, and accounting.

Top Features:

1. An integrated course for design and management.
2. Develop infrastructure and real estate management skills.
3. Helps in balancing creativity along with an increased demand for technology.
4. Enhances communication and coordination skills amongst students.

Exploring the Diversity of Roles for an Interior Designer

With an interior design career spanning a broad spectrum, let’s explore the diverse roles offered. Each niche plays a significant role in crafting creative and functional spaces. It also becomes crucial to understand the difference between architect, interior stylist, interior designer and an interior architect. While both professions focus on creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces, interior designers primarily focus on interior decoration and furnishings, while interior architects have a broader scope, including structural design and space planning. Here’s the list:

A Residential Designer

• Understand the client’s brief
• Plan the spaces to accommodate the requirements
• Responsible for defining the interior design style and curating the mood board
• The ultimate goal of an interior designer is to design comforting and practical spaces.

A Commercial Designer

• Plan the working spaces.
• Develop designs that enhance productivity in the workplace.
• Approach every space holistically, from planning the layout to developing aesthetics.

An Exhibition Designer

• Plan the seating arrangement.
• Designate spaces for the display of products.
• Work on the overall planning of an exhibition along with flooring, layouts, and apt fittings.

A Lighting Designer

• Plan effective lighting systems that set a mood.
• Keep the interiors functional with appropriate lighting.
• Prepare the scheme and suggest the right fixtures for every room.

A Kitchen Designer

• Offers expertise in designing functional and aesthetic kitchens
• Generates layouts and guides through the cabinet design, electrical connections, and the choice of appliances
• Curates the ultimate kitchen designs, exuding designer flair.

A Colour Consultant

• To ensure that the area reflects the user’s personality by selecting tones.
• Collaborate with paint brands to offer better personalisation in interiors.

A Retail Designer

• Looks into the planning and designing of commercial spaces like malls, shops, or restaurants
• Plans the furniture layout
• Dictates the apt colour scheme, materials, and patterns.

A Visual Merchandiser

• Arrange, display, and present products in stores or catalogues.
• Play a primary role in promoting and branding products and services.
• Their creative approach aids in boosting sales and catching buyer’s attention.

Average Income of an Interior Designer:

Let’s explore the salary packages offered by the interior design industry for distinct job roles:

Job Position	Average Salary (per annum)
Interior Decorator	INR 5,00,000
Lighting Designer	INR About 5,00,000 - 15,00,000
Colour Consultant	INR About 2,00,000 - 3,00,000
Exhibition Designer	INR 8,00,000 - 10,00,000
Production Designer	INR About 9,00,000 - 13,00,000
Visual Merchandiser	INR 5,00,000
Retail Interior Designer	INR 5,00,000
Corporate Interior Designer	INR 5,00,000 - 7,00,000
Kitchen Designer	INR 6,00,000 -7,00,000/ year

Will AI Ever Replace the Role of an Interior Designer?

While the emerging involvement of AI technology in interior design can’t be underestimated, at the same time, the fact that it can never replace human designers stays true. Its role is limited to assisting the designers by generating 3D concepts, offering design ideas and rendering the designs. Establishing a human connection, adding emotions and elevating senses stay with human designers.

Humans can understand the client’s needs and creative vision better than AI. Designers can also spruce up the designs with personalisation in every space, which AI can’t do. With interior design being all about designing experiences, a collaborative approach with AI can be efficient regarding time and budget, while the lead role of curating a thoughtful remains manual.

Designing Your Future with Endless Career Choices

In interior design, there’s no limit to creativity. If you’re always enticed by how spaces function and driven towards the creative side of every area, interior design is a profession to opt for! With the right educational course and practical training, a prospective interior designer comes across diverse career options with rewarding roles and salaries.

Enrol in the Bachelor in Interior Design to begin your exciting journey to reinforce your skills and broaden your creative horizon.

FAQs regarding a Bachelors in Interior Design Course

1. Why should I opt for a bachelor’s in interior design?

A bachelor’s in interior design helps you reinforce your creative skills while teaching about design's theoretical and practical aspects.

2. On average, how much does an interior designer earn?

An average salary after completing a bachelor's in interior design ranges from INR 0.3 lakhs to INR 6.5 lakhs per annum based on experience and skills.

3. What is the scope of an interior design degree?

Interior design is among the most rewarding careers, with many expertise markets to enter after a bachelor’s degree. The scope of interior design, especially in India, includes various solutions including remodelling, upgrading, refurbishing and restoration projects. Interior designers have a crucial role of enhancing spaces for improved functionality and aesthetic appeal. The demand for such expertise is consistently rising, reflecting the industry's robust growth.

4. Can AI replace an interior designer’s job?

While specific steps in the design process are automated, AI can only partially replace the role of an interior designer .

5. What are the job profiles for an interior designer?

The job profile of an interior designer is to plan and style spaces with layout curation followed by mood board selection and space styling. Apart from the traditional role of an interior designer, a bachelor’s in interior design opens up many career opportunities like commercial, residential, kitchen, lighting, furniture design, and many more profiles with expertise in the particular segment.

Check Out What’s Next

Interested in reading more? Other articles by architect turned writer Saili Sawant that might suit your interest are the importance of interior design in our everyday lives and interesting curation of the top 10 interior design practices. Saili also talks about creating a personal brand with social media, a must-know concept that all designers must practise.

Watch this comprehensive webinar on Career Opportunities in Interior Architecture & Design to gain more guidance and industry insights. IIAD also offers a programme in Interior Architecture & Design. Dive into this short video of insights from the Interior Architecture & Design at IIAD!