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An interior within Curtin's School of Design and the Built Environment. Photo: Joel Barbitta
If you know that ‘Mocha Mousse’ is not a dessert but Pantone Colour of the Year; if seeing Fallingwater is on your bucket list; or if you hear the name ‘Bobby Berk’ your first thought is ‘Queen of interiors’ instead of ‘ousted from Queer Eye’, you may just be an interior designer in the making.
There are numerous career opportunities for aspiring interior designers in Australia. With a buoyant real-estate market and steady population growth, there’s strong national demand for residential and commercial interior designers, particularly in urban areas.
So, what do interior designers do? And how do you become one? Read on to discover the beautiful realm of interior design, or skip to a particular section from the list below.
Interior designers bring spaces to life. They consider the structure, purpose and users of interior settings to create spaces that are beautiful, functional and safe.
Interior designers use 3D visualisation to concept interior spaces.
“Interior designers are skilled at designing habitable environments that evoke certain experiences,” says Dr Vanessa Galvin, Lecturer in Curtin’s School of Design and the Built Environment.
Interior design then, is much more than a carefully positioned vase or high-end fixtures – it’s about combining elements such as environmental psychology, social responsibility and colour theory, to give meaning and value to the places we inhabit.
Kevin McCloud, architect and host of the long-standing television series Grand Designs has said it’s our ability to create things with meaning that makes us human.
“Every decently made object, from a house to a lamp post to a bridge … is not just a piece of ‘stuff’ but … testimony to the magical ability of our species to take raw materials and turn them into things of use, value and beauty.”
Interior design can transform practical spaces like bathrooms into sanctuaries.
What’s the difference between interior design and interior architecture?
If you’ve ever been unsure about the difference between interior design and interior architecture – you’re not alone.
This is because the term ‘interior architect’ varies in its usage and regulation across different countries and regions.
“It’s easy to see why the terms interior design and interior architecture become confused,” agrees Galvin.
“At Curtin, interior architecture is the name of the degree that produces interior designers.”
“It shares six core units with Architectural Science, spanning design, communication, structures and building services, which is a testament to the close relationship interior architecture has to architecture.”
Like architects, interior designers must have a strong understand of engineering principles.
But Galvin explains that because the term ‘architect’ is legislated in Australia, it can only be used by registered architects.
“So interior designers can practise interior architecture but cannot call themselves interior architects,” she says.
In fact, the Design Institute of Australia is campaigning for interior designers to be formally recognised as licensed or registered design practitioners.
Until then, university graduates of interior architecture in Australia are called interior designers. Like architects, interior designers must have a strong understanding of engineering principles such as structural integrity, spatial planning and materials science, as well as building codes and regulations.
University graduates of interior architecture in Australia are called interior designers.
OK, so what’s interior decorating?
Where interior design (or interior architecture) considers the structure, function and aesthetic of a space, interior decorating is all about the aesthetic. Decorators consider a client’s needs and budget before selecting colour schemes, materials, furniture, artwork and lighting to style an existing interior space that reflects the client’s personality and taste.
How do you become an interior designer?
There are several steps you need to take to work as an interior designer in Australia:
1. Complete a recognised qualification in interior design
Such as Curtin’s four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Interior Architecture) degree. With specialist subjects, work-integrated learning and an honours research year that meets industry demand, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence you need to make your mark in interior design.
A feature of the course is that you can also choose to exit the course after three years with a Bachelor of Interior Design.
2. Get experience in interior design
Undertake internships or work placements during your studies, so you get a good idea of what interior designers really do and start finding your stride as a designer. You’ll also get to learn how to communicate effectively with clients and manage projects.
Curtin’s interior design course has embedded practical units to ensure you have local and global industry experience well before you graduate. Curtin’s interior architecture students have undertaken placements with leading companies including Woods Bagot and Hassel in Singapore, Neopla in Japan, and Hunt Architecture in Perth.
3. Build a portfolio
Start documenting your design achievements and experience, such as before and after photos, concept boards, material samples, technical drawings, sketches and client testimonials. Your portfolio is an important tool to showcase your talent, originality and style to prospective employers and clients.
Watch a recent graduate showcase of Curtin Interior Architecture students below.
Where do interior designers work?
Interior designers often work in residential settings, concepting the interiors of houses and apartments for individual clients. But they can also work in a range of places.
For example, many interior designers work in the commercial sector designing office spaces, retail stores and hospitality venues, such as restaurants and hotels. These designers may focus on functionality, branding and the customer experience.
There are interior designers who work in institutional design, ensuring places such as hospitals, schools and government buildings are safe, accessible and efficient.
The striking bathrooms of Curtin’s Hayman Theatre were designed by With_Architecture Studio, which won the Iwan Iwanoff Award in 2021 for their work. Photo: Douglas Mark Black
Interior designers also apply their craft in digital-based jobs, such as designing online stores or gaming environments. They work in museums, art galleries and even design the interiors of spacecraft.
Some interior designers may specialise in furniture and product design, creating custom pieces for clients or working with manufacturers to bring mass products to market, such as IKEA’s ubiquitous Billy Bookcase.
Interior designers can be freelance, or work for larger interior design firms, architecture firms or construction companies.
Thoughtful design can transform a simple bookcase into a visual statement. Photo: Alisa Fjolars (Pexels)
Making design sustainable
Within each industry sector, some interior designers may also specialise in sustainable design, ensuring products and materials are ethically and sustainably sourced, processed, packaged and distributed.
Dr Galvin says in age of mass consumption, sustainable design is becoming front of mind for many interior designers.
“Designers have a responsibility to be conscious of their selections,” she says. “It’s a great idea for them to promote locally sourced products to their clients and encourage clients to consider durability, both in terms of performance, but also subjectively. That is, ‘will I still like it in five years’ time?’”
What skills do interior designers need?
Not only do interior designers need to be creative, they must also have the following diverse skillsets:
Interior design is a creative and rewarding career for aesthetes, one where you can make a living applying your love of beauty in tangible settings, giving meaning to the places we inhabit. Find out more about the Bachelor of Applied Science (Interior Architecture).
