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Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space, through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment. Not to be confused with interior decoration, interior design draws on aspects of environmental psychology, architecture, product design and furniture design in addition to traditional decoration. An interior designer is a person who is considered an expert in the field of interior design or one who designs interiors as part of their job. Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmatic information, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the design direction, and produces graphic communication and construction documents. In some jurisdictions, interior designers must be licensed to practice.

Interior Design: the Profession

Interior designers may perform some or all of the following activities, among other duties and responsibilities:^[1]

Research and analyze the client's goals, requirements and objectives for adopting a design direction.
Negotiate with the client the contract terms governing the scope of the design project
Develop design plans, documents and drawings to depict the design concept
Determine design requirements to meet health, safety, accessibility, environmental and sustainability and building code guidelines
Perform quality inspections of design and installation work to ensure adherence to requirements and specifications
Perform space management, including measuring spaces and arrange placement of furniture, fixtures and other objects within the confines of the space
Provide project management services to oversee project from conception to completion
Coordinate services to be performed by builders and tradespersons to perform work according to design specifications and requirements
Engage in bid negotiations on behalf of client for purchases of products and services related to the design project
Prepare cost proposals to support requirements for materials and labor

To become a successful interior designer, the person must be able to (1) determine the needs of the client and the resources that the client can devote to the project, (2) determine the primary purpose and function of the space to be designed and (3) determine how to set the mood and appeal of the interior space for the customer.^[2]

Specializations

Interior designers can specialize in a particular interior design discipline, such as residential and commercial design, with some developing expertise within a niche design area such as hospitality, health care and institutional design. Some jurisdictions may require interior designers who specialize in certain design disciplines to acquire additional certification. For example, residential designers in the United States who are specialists in kitchen and bath design may be required to take the National Kitchen & Bath Association examination to receive certification in this design area. Interior designers who also possess environmental expertise in design solutions for sustainable construction can receive accreditation in this area by taking the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 1 (LEED) examination.

The specialty areas that involve interior designers are limited only by the imagination and are continually growing and changing. With the increase in the aging population, an increased focus has been placed on developing solutions to improve the living environment of the elderly population, which takes into account health and accessibility issues that can affect the design. Awareness of the ability of interior spaces to create positive changes in people's lives is increasing, so interior design is also becoming relevant to this type of advocacy.

Styles

Essential parts of all design styles are concept, color, proportion, balance, ergonomics and function of design. Although all styles differentiate their usage of each of these, they are all an integral part of the overall look and feel of a room or space. Designers incorporate the seven elements of design to create and enhance style: form, mass, shape, line, color, texture and pattern.

References

^ Definition of Interior Design. (2006) National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
^ Graphic, interior, fashion and industrial design careers, jobs, and training. (2004). Career Overview. Retrieved December 18, 2006.

External Links

Interior designers. (2006, August 4). Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved December 15, 2006.

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 ==Specializations==
-Interior designers can specialize in a particular interior design discipline, such as residential and commercial design, with some developing expertise within a niche design area such as hospitality, health care and institutional design. Some jurisdictions may require interior designers who specialize in certain design disciplines to acquire additional certification. For example, residential designers in the United States who are specialists in kitchen and bath design may be required to take the [[National Kitchen & Bath Association]] examination to receive certification in this design area. Interior designers who also possess environmental expertise in design solutions for sustainable construction can receive accreditation in this area by taking the [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) examination.
+Interior designers can specialize in a particular interior design discipline, such as residential and commercial design, with some developing expertise within a niche design area such as hospitality, health care and institutional design. Some jurisdictions may require interior designers who specialize in certain design disciplines to acquire additional certification. For example, residential designers in the United States who are specialists in kitchen and bath design may be required to take the [[National Kitchen & Bath Association]] examination to receive certification in this design area. Interior designers who also possess environmental expertise in design solutions for sustainable construction can receive accreditation in this area by taking the [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]][http://www.homeinteriors.co.uk 1] (LEED) examination.
 The specialty areas that involve interior designers are limited only by the imagination and are continually growing and changing.  With the increase in the aging population, an increased focus has been placed on developing solutions to improve the living environment of the elderly population, which takes into account health and accessibility issues that can affect the design. Awareness of the ability of interior spaces to create positive changes in people's lives is increasing, so interior design is also becoming relevant to this type of advocacy.