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What are some programs I should get into to start interior design?

I also would like to major in designer, I want to know about any programs or anything that you recommend before I graduate high school. I am also a 12th Grader.

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Abbas’s Answer

Congratulations on considering a career in interior design! Here are some programs and recommendations to help you get started:

1. _SketchUp_: A popular software for interior design, architecture, and landscape architecture.
2. _Autodesk AutoCAD_: Industry-standard software for 2D and 3D design.
3. _Adobe Creative Suite_: Specifically, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
4. _Revit_: Building information modeling (BIM) software for interior design and architecture.
5. _Figma_: A cloud-based UI/UX design tool.

For high school students, consider:

1. _National Art Honor Society_: Join to showcase your artwork and connect with like-minded students.
2. _Interior Design competitions_: Participate in local or national competitions to gain experience.
3. _Summer design programs_: Look for programs offered by colleges or design organizations.
4. _Online courses_: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, or Skillshare offer introductory design courses.

When choosing a college program, consider:

1. _Accreditation_: Look for programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) or the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
2. _Curriculum_: Ensure the program covers both creative and technical aspects of interior design.
3. _Faculty expertise_: Check if faculty members have industry experience.
4. _Internship opportunities_: Look for programs with established internship connections.

Some top interior design schools include:

1. _Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)_
2. _Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)_
3. _Pratt Institute_
4. _Parsons School of Design at The New School_
5. _Carnegie Mellon University_

Remember to research and reach out to schools, attend design events, and network with professionals to gain insight into the field. Good luck!
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Danielle’s Answer

Hi Jasmine, I agree with the detailed list of programs here, in particular anything 3D. Learning the basics of Sketchup, AutoCAD and Revit will be helpful as well as layout programs for creating presentations. Depending on the type of design field you are interested in, an internship in those areas would be time well spent. Sometimes the internship helps you to know what design field you Don't want... don't give up as there are so many interesting and valuable design-related opportunities! It is always good to ask questions about how a business is run, how client's are secured, the design process, timelines, etc. In particular if you work for a small business owner , soak in All those details. I would also suggest learning anything hands-on in the construction field- its immensely helpful to know how things are built when in the design process. One last thing is public speaking and sales, always a value. Hope you continue your interest in the amazing field of Interior design; Best of luck!
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kelly’s Answer

For high school students, you might want to look at what the curriculum for interior design school and explore some of those specific topics. You can even find used books from specific programs and start to look at them and see if they appeal to you and your specific likes/passions/etc. Learning how to do 3D drawings will be beneficial, even reading about things like art history and color theory will benefit you later on if you decide to pursue interior design.
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Robin’s Answer

Depending on the state you want to live check if Interior Designers are required to be licensed usually this is for commericial work only. If you want to do cmercial Interior Design look for colleges/universities that are CIDA ceritified ( https://cida.org/ ). If you want to do just residential the proffesonal orginization is ASID ( https://www.asid.org/ ) also check on NKBA which is kitchen and bath design ( https://nkba.org/ )
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Lucas’s Answer

Hey Jasmine, I'm happy to hear that you've found your passion, and I'm glad you're taking the steps to consider your options! Other answers have some good advice on programs & personal studies you should be taking, but there's something important to consider. Interior design, and most other creative jobs, are best learned through experience. Although getting a degree can be a viable option to pursue your passion, you must also consider the costs of a college degree. Student loans, stress, maybe you'd have to move to an area you don't like. In addition, that's a minimum of four years of lost salary + experience that you could have accumulated had you decided not to go to college. Also, college is not a great place for creativity to flourish, since many of these institutions are pretty resistant to change.

I don't mean to be a grump about college. For some people, it's a very good investment. But you should take some time to seriously consider the personal costs & benefits of attending college. TLDR: in creative fields like interior design, experience is just as applicable (if not more) as a degree in interior design.

Cheers!
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