Poll

Most states in the U.S. require that in addition to having a degree in interior design, interior designers also need to pass a professional exam in order to become certified. Is this a good idea?

Yes
12 (80%)
No
3 (20%)

Total Members Voted: 15

Author Topic: Need Help with a College Assignment  (Read 760 times)

PLEASE NOTE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERIOR DESIGN AND INTERIOR DECORATING

Interior design is floor plan design. Interior decorating is picking out furniture. Interior design is figuring out where to put the lobby of a building, where to run electrical sockets, where to position ventilation ducts, and where to strategically place bathrooms. Interior decoration is figuring out which drapes match the wallpaper. I am an interior designer. Not a decorator.



So for my Intro to Interior Design class we need to conduct a random survey based on interior design consisting of a single question. This is my question. Obviously I have my own thoughts and opinions but I am not allowed to share them with you until the survey is over. Feel free to discuss why you think what you think via responses but please don't forget to vote!

Finally, please don't troll me with comments of interior design versus interior decorating. I'm trying to conduct serious data for a college project.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2013, 12:47:18 AM by StarHawk »

What is it you mean by professional exam, you don't do exams?

What is it you mean by professional exam, you don't do exams?
I take it professional exam in this sense means you need to take an exam set out by the government to certify as an interior designer.
So, you could study it at a university and get a degree in it, but you need to do an additional exam in order to be certified by the government in order for you to do interior design legally.

do you need a degree to be a painter? why should you need a degree to be an interior designer?

I definitely support these types of exams.

do you need a degree to be a painter? why should you need a degree to be an interior designer?
Read the OP.

He needs to literally design floor plans and stuff. He doesn't paint stuff.

do you need a degree to be a painter? why should you need a degree to be an interior designer?
Because, as OP states in the first half of his post, an interior designer is more than just decorating.
It is seemingly internal architecture.

I certainly want someone qualified to decide where to have electrical cables and gas supplies and water flow, as well as where to have emergency exits and whatnot. They're not things you can place will-he-nill-he. If done wrong you can cause fatal accidents.

And while earning a degree does show commitment and atleast some level of knowledge in the subject, I would quite like a professional examination for anyone who does this job, in order to be sure that they're up to the task.

Interior design would also affects the safety of a building if I'm reading what it does right. Like where to place exits and things. A test on your ability also helps let people know you're qualified more than a degree does, since it will use all aspects of interior design.

Interior design would also affects the safety of a building if I'm reading what it does right. Like where to place exits and things. A test on your ability also helps let people know you're qualified more than a degree does, since it will use all aspects of interior design.
Not to mention degrees can mean different things from different universities.

Most will teach you to the same degree, but you do get those few that really don't educate you much but still give you the same qualifications.

Although professional exams are hardly perfect tests of ability, they do help to weed out those who just aren't safe enough for the job.

Not to mention degrees can mean different things from different universities.

Most will teach you to the same degree, but you do get those few that really don't educate you much but still give you the same qualifications.

Although professional exams are hardly perfect tests of ability, they do help to weed out those who just aren't safe enough for the job.

A degree really doesn't show you're able to apply the content of your major either. It mostly shows you're able to put some effort into learning things. At least that's how I feel about it.