Interior Design - UniHub - Middlesex University

Interior Design
Overview of Sector
o Interior and spatial designers plan and organise the design of commercial and
domestic interiors, including new projects or development/renovation work on
existing buildings
o Projects may take place in a range of settings, including: office space, retail locations,
leisure and entertainment venues, e.g. hotels, cinemas, holiday complexes;
residential developments; public buildings, e.g. museums and civic buildings;
transportation, exhibitions, environmental space
o There are limited vacancies for interior designers and competition is very strong.
o Many designers work freelance; success depends on reputation and nurturing clients
o Best method of finding employment is through networking, networking, networking!
Typical employers
o architectural practices
o interior design consultants and studios
o multi discipline design practices
o construction, property, shop-fitting companies
o property departments of retail and hospitality companies
o theatre, TV and film
o interior design showrooms
o commercial a & public sector employers
Job titles and related options
o Designer/assistant designer
o Space planner
o Architectural Assistant /Interior Technician
o Architecture model maker
o CAD technician
o Project Manager
o Property Design, Development, Space Management
o Construction Management
o Facilities manager
o Kitchen/bedroom planner
o Exhibitions
o Retail & display design
o Visual merchandiser
o 3D, furniture, lighting design
o Textiles, furniture, fittings sales
o Forecaster
o Colourist
o Games design
o 3D visualiser
o Set design ~ film & TV
o Stylist/style consultant
o Media, journalism
o Museums, galleries leisure parks
© Middlesex University Careers Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/careers

o Marketing and branding
Ways In
o Entry level jobs, e.g., design assistant/trainee
o Graduate training schemes ~ construction and property development
o Work experience, internships
o Own business
o Freelance
Skills you may gain from your degree and work experience
o CAD
o Vector Works
o 3D modelling
o rendering software
o Photoshop
o Presentations
o Client briefings/interaction
Who do Interior Designers work for? (examples from Middlesex & other university
graduates)
Employers include:
Saville Jones Architects, Inchcape UK, Whisper Designs, Bonomini Association, Grapes
Associates, Thorpe, Applied Design, Quantum Design, Moben Kitchens, Ikea, Sainsbury,
Stephenson Bell, Leach Rhodes Walker, Sheppard Robson, MBLC, Fosters and Co, Next,
Mark Gillette Interior Design, Simon Hamilton Interiors, BDP, Co-op, MBLA, Howie Design
Job titles include:
Construction Manager, Process Engineer, Architect, Architectural Assistant, Commercial
Artist, Interior Decoration Designer, Audio-visual Effects Designer, Interior Designer,
Designer, Art Department Runner, Design Draughtsperson, Model Maker, 3D Graphic
Visualiser, Trainee Designer and Planner, FE Teacher, Project Manager
Vacancy, work experience & internship examples
o Interior Designer, Laura Ashley
o Interior Designer, Paul Smith, fashion designer
o Property/store development departments of large retailers, e.g., New Look, M&S,
Tesco, Asda, Arcadia, Sainsburys
o Interiors Intern, WGSN- research & trend analysis to the interiors industry
o IKEA Interiors and Visual Merchandising internship
o Hannafords, St Albans area www.hannaford.co.uk
o Open-City & Open House London Internships & volunteering
www.londonopenhouse.org http://open-city.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteering.html
o Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour www.designcentrechelseaharbour.co.uk
o Merlin Studios ~ Property & Development Group (Create, Design, Display) ~ SEA
LIFE display developers, sculptors and LEGO brick modellers
o Junior Interior Designer, Edward Phillips
o Interior design work placement, 20:20 Ltd
o Intern, Country Living Magazine
o Wayfinding & Signage Artworker, 2012 Olympics
© Middlesex University Careers Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/careers

Vacancy sources
Some design jobs are advertised formally, but many jobs, internships and work experience
opportunities are found more informally through networking or sending out speculative CVs.
There are a few specialist recruitment agencies.
Careers Service JobsPlus http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/work/careers>Vacancies/Job search
Creative Opportunities http://www.arts.ac.uk/careers > Creative Opportunities
UCA Careers http://community.ucreative.ac.uk/studentcareers
Careers in Design www.careersindesign.com
BD4Jobs www.bd4jobs.com
Creative Pool www.creativepool.co.uk
Creative Jobs www.creativejobs.co.uk
Design Week Jobs http://jobs.designweek.co.uk
In Retail www.inretail.co.uk (display/visual, designers sections)
Adrem www.adrem.uk.com/jobs/interiors
Hotel Designs www.hoteldesigns.net/employment
Dezeen Jobs www.dezeenjobs.com
Designer Business Agency www.designersbusinessagency.com
Eden Brown
www.edenbrown.com/jobseekers/areas-of-expertise/architecture-interior-design
Opportunities on general job websites ~ search with key words such as interiors, design
assistant, showroom assistant, kitchen planner, space planner, etc.
Other sources of information
Interior Design careers information
o Graduate Prospects Interior/Spatial Designer job profile www.prospects.ac.uk
o Next Step Interior Designer job profile
https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/PlanningYourCareer/JobProfiles/JobProfile0528/Pages/def
ault.aspx
o Creative Careers (University of the Arts London) Interior Design
www.arts.ac.uk/careers/studentsandgraduates/findoutmore/interiordesign
o Creative Choices Interior Design
www.creative-choices.co.uk/industry-insight/inside/interior-design
o Design Council: Guide to Interior Design
www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design/Interior-design
Professional Organisations & Employer Directory
o British Interior Design Association (BIDA) www.bida.org
o British Institute of Interior Design www.biid.org.uk
o International Interior Design Association www.iida.org
o Design Council www.design-council.org.uk
o Chartered Society of Designers www.csd.org.uk
o Directory of Design Consultants www.designdirectory.co.uk
© Middlesex University Careers Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/careers

Journals/trade publications
o Design Week
o Architects Journal
o Architectural Review
o Building Design
o IDFX/FX
o Interior Designer
o Frame
o Blueprint
o RIBA Journal
o RIBA Interiors
o Intra
o WIDN
o House & Garden, Elle Decoration, Interiors, Prestige Interiors, Red
Prizes, Awards; Exhibitions, Trade Fairs
o 100% Design
o New Designers
CV & job search advice
o Careers Service website http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/work/careers/index.aspx > Careers
Advice > links to JobsPlus & information sheets on CVs, interviews, etc.
o Graduate Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk > Careers Advice > Applications, CVs &
Interviews
o University of the Arts London Creative Careers http://www.arts.ac.uk/jobs-careers/ >
Careers Information Guides > Self Marketing > Writing an Effective CV
o University of the Arts London Creative Living www.careers-creative-living.co.uk >
Moving On > CV Creative
o Creative CV Guide ISBN 9780950568065
o ArtQuest www.artquest.org.uk/building-a-career/how-to-create-a-cv.htm
Postgraduate study options ~ some examples:
o MA Interior Design/Interior Architecture/Spatial Design
o MA Design & Visualisation
o MA Decorative Arts & Historic Interiors
o MA Future Design
o MA Textiles/Surface Pattern
o MA Production Set Design
o MA Design Management
o MA Environment Design
o MA Sustainable Design
o MA Art Direction
o AutoCAD
o Web Design
Other sectors to explore?
o ‘Creative’: arts management, TV, film, media, communications, advertising,
journalism, publishing , heritage, museums, teaching
© Middlesex University Careers Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/careers

o ‘Technical’: property, construction , building, facilities management, health & safety,
landscape architecture, garden design
Updated September 2011
© Middlesex University Careers Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/careers