This is ideal if you have an office with a north-facing window and room to fill. Between meetings and material acquisitions, much of their time is spent out in the field, not sitting in an office sketching up the perfect living room décor. They may spend their days meeting with potential clients to outline their services, overseeing the decoration of a current project or tracking down the perfect lighting fixture to finish off a room. News outlets, schools, and text-book authors may use NASA content without needing explicit permission, subject to compliance with these guidelines. For designers, this could mean schools, retail, healthcare or office buildings. For designers, this could mean using more natural lighting, using Earth-friendly materials and being aware of off-gassing and other health effects of paints, carpets and adhesives. Even in states that don’t require a minimum level of education for designers, many potential applicants will choose to pursue a degree to help them gain private clients or get a job with an architectural firm upon graduation.

At the very least, in this competitive industry, it’s a way of getting your foot in the door, and of proving your design abilities and knowledge to clients and employers. They spend their days meeting with architects, clients and contractors, designing spaces and coordinating installation and project completion. The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. Throughout most of the world, the terms interior architect and interior designer are used interchangeably to refer to professionals responsible for layout, functionality and design of a space. This process involves up to six years of school and several years of hands-on experience and is much more difficult than becoming certified as an interior designer. In addition, there’s a strong possibility that more states will require licensing — especially as building technology evolves — making the certification process more important than ever. Because decorators are more focused on the surface appearance of a space than on the more technical design aspects, there’s less concern about safety and compliance with building codes than when it comes to design.

Decorators on average earn slightly less, but because many are self-employed, income is truly limited only by hard work, marketing and regional income levels. Don’t forget to study business, accounting and marketing as well to prepare yourself for running your own firm, if that’s something you may like to do. If you’re looking for an active place to live, sidewalks can be a good indicator that there are places like parks and other amenities nearby and within walking distance. Like those days following Katrina, when it seemed the people in charge were doing little more than handwringing, fingerpointing or back-slapping, no one in Iraq seemed to have a good plan for what to do next. If you plan to use only this office suite, you might find it a useful option, considering that it’s free. If you plan to get into the design field, balance your artistic interests with math and science courses, which can provide a solid foundation for the technical courses you’ll experience when working towards your degree. Along with the school requirements we discussed in the previous section, interior designers must also complete 3,520 hours of interior design work experience. Under NCIDQ standards, designers must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of course work, with no fewer than 60 of those hours focused on interior design work.

After these requirements have been met, the applicant is eligible to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification exam. Beyond these educational requirements, many states and organizations offer formal certification programs in interior design. Fortunately, the NCIDQ has a program known as the Interior Design Experience Program that allows new designers to partner with existing firms to gain experience and learn how the industry works. With the potential for additional states to adopt the NCIDQ educational standards at any time, those considering a two-year degree may want to select a 4-year program instead so they’re prepared for any upcoming changes. NCIDQ certification. Having a license from a nationally recognized governing body can not only help you get a job in the industry, it’s often required of all applicants by architecture and design firms. Gaining this certification can help build client’s trust in you and your skills, helping to expand your business and show your commitment to green building. Beyond traditional interior design certification and licensing, one way that both designers and decorators can show their knowledge of and commitment to the industry is by becoming LEED accredited by the U.S.