Career Opportunities after an Interior Designing Course
Once a hundred-year-old historical building, now a heritage hotel with lavish restaurants!
Have you heard of this haveli in Old Delhi, tarnished and formerly used as a go-down, now revamped into the trendiest tourist spot while maintaining its historical and cultural integrity?
Originally designed for both residential and commercial purposes, Haveli — Dharampura, a three-storied building, hosted 60 rooms poorly organized in small sections to accommodate kitchens, toilets etc. The inner area constituted personal living space while the central portion (diwan khana) acted as the drawing room. Service connections including open pipes, hanging wires, and weakened woodwork added to the chaos.
The Haveli was then stripped down and each part reattached, replastered and repainted for what is now a stunning display of heritage and homeliness. The three floors have now been repurposed into 13 grand rooms, a spa, two restaurants (Indian and Continental), a small art gallery, and a terrace with a fascinating view opening to the panoramic stretch of Old Delhi. Fire detection measures including smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, etc. has been installed to ensure complete safety. It is interesting to note that while the main structure remains the same, a decaying building was reinstated using modern techniques without hampering its archaeological features.
Design depicts how beautiful human creation can be and interior design is all about creating an environment that communicates! The interiors of any space enhance our experience and reflect our mood while simplifying routine work. Interior architects lend comfort, beauty, utility and accessibility to any space they work on depending on the needs of the user.
Wonder what makes a seaside resort so serene, a plush restaurant so exquisite or a bank so user-friendly? Designing such places needs people who can not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of an area but are also well-versed with architectural principles. This brings us to the flourishing career of an Interior architect and designer.
A course in Interior Architecture and Design involves theoretical and practical exploration of everything that goes into designing of interior spaces. Only a few designing colleges currently offer this unique course which is a perfect blend of formal education on design, styling and technicality. While learning, the enthusiasts get their hands on furnishing, positioning, space management, color scheme, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, lighting etc.
After successfully grasping the various aspects of interior design, fresh graduates are exposed to an array of opportunities to exploit their knowledge of design technology. Many of them are attracted to the field of residential space design while others may get to work on projects in commercial or institutional design.
A Residential Space Design project involves styling the interiors of a residence to convey homeliness and beauty while maximizing space. Time and again people spend on the interiors of their homes for a trendy outlook and it is a challenge for aspiring designers to give a distinct feel to an existing residence. For instance a client might want an unused bathroom to be converted into a toddler’s room along with other renovations in the house. Merely changing the décor wouldn’t complete such a task; one would need an expert with knowledge of plumbing, wiring, plastering etc. for desired results. Designers are expected to revamp the interior space using furniture, fixtures and artifacts depending on user’s requirement.
Similarly, there are other job opportunities where an interior architect can work on a Commercial Space Design project by designing public spaces like restaurants, hotels, health clubs, movie theatres, gyms, resorts etc. or Institutional Space Design project covering establishments like museums, galleries, libraries, airport terminals, educational institutes, and hospitals.
Not to forget there are some uncommon yet interesting areas of expertise for design enthusiasts like Exhibition Design and Set Design. A project on Exhibition Design includes creating stalls, displays, fixtures etc. for temporary events such as public exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, fashion shows, affairs in museums and libraries. It is the art of conveying information through visual storytelling while combining architecture, interior design, graphic design, technology and lighting around a theme or topic. On the other hand, an assignment on Set Design requires working on imitation set ups, which are integral to films, theatre, television, extravagant shows, grand weddings and the like. It is the process of transforming a vision into a three dimensional physical form that creates an environment close to realism.
Interior architecture and design is an innovative and experimental field, which leaves much to be explored in the sphere of problem solving, research, and team building amidst endless scope for creativity. Growing concerns on safety measures, sustainable design, and space constraints make the profile of an interior architect and designer a fascinating and challenging one. While pursuing a degree in the said field, creative individuals would learn everything about design and architectural principals and may successfully discover their area of expertise during operational endeavours.
