Overview: Do you also feel confused because you can't decide whether to choose a career in interior design or not? From appealing campuses to top design exams in India, know why you should choose a career in Interior design after 12th here.

With the broadening spectrum of Indian education into traditional and non-traditional career-centric programs, a career in Interior design has become more promising.

• This industry has scope for professional exposure, from firm-level jobs to freelancing.  
• Top universities across India offer Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in interior design courses.
• Top colleges and online learning environments also provide certificate programmes in interior design and associated disciplines.

Let's dive into the intricacies of why you should choose an interior design career and learn about the various courses and job scopes related to the field.

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What is Interior Design?

Interior design involves the study of the artistic, creative, and technical principles of creating inviting and appealing indoor spaces.

Interior design is the art and science of shaping a space's interior to be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and conducive to well-being. It involves a thoughtful blend of creativity and practicality.

They can pursue careers in design like interior, textile, and furniture design, architectural technology, property management, and more.

Career in Interior Design

A career in interior design is a creative blend of art and practicality.  Interior designers transform spaces, crafting environments that are both beautiful and functional. They combine creativity with technical knowledge, using their eye for design to choose colours, furniture, lighting, and materials.

The work is varied, with projects ranging from cosy homes to bustling offices.  Interior designers collaborate with clients, architects, and contractors, ensuring their vision comes to life.  

It's a fulfilling career path where you can make a real difference, shaping spaces that influence people's well-being and experiences.

Career Options in Interior Design

Job Role	Description	Average Salary
Interior Decorator	The interior designer plans the spatial layouts and aesthetics of the project.	₹2.8 LPA
	They provide clients with suggestions for decorating their residential or office spaces.
Colour Consultant	The role of a colour consultant is to ensure that a residential or working space has an atmosphere or surroundings that match the client’s personality.	₹2.4 LPA
	Colour consultants work with design and architecture firms or sometimes even with paint companies to help clients personalise home or office decoration.
Retail Interior Designer	Retail interior designers execute the interior designs of stores in commercial establishments like restaurants, malls, and other shopping spaces.	₹2.2 LPA
	Their job includes planning and designing the store layouts, product displays, colour schemes and understanding.
Production Designer	Production designer creates sets for films, dramas and videos based on the creative script and direction.	₹2.3 LPA
	They must be familiar with the different production phases, cinematography, lighting and camera techniques, sound designs, and other related areas.
Exhibition Designer	An exhibition designer designs the floor work, seating arrangements, displays, and fittings for various events or public places.	₹10 LPA
	Exhibition designers must thoroughly understand infrastructural designs wherever they plan the exhibition.
Lighting Designer	Lighting designers can convert the ambience of any space with adequate and effective lighting installations.	₹3.5 LPA
	They may have to implement the light design plan in offices, exhibitions, stores, or homes and coordinate with others to suggest lighting styles, arrangements, and types.
Corporate Interior Designer	Corporate designer works from small-scale offices to huge corporations.	₹2.2 LPA
	They may redesign, redecorate, or renovate existing spaces and develop designs for cabins, cubicles, boardrooms, conference rooms, and common spaces.
Landscape Architect	Landscape architects are responsible for designing outdoor spaces such as parks, grounds, campuses and open spaces.	₹4.2 LPA
	The landscape architect integrates existing landscape features into the design and creates an atmosphere that represents the brand.
Kitchen Designer	As the name suggests, kitchen designers specialise in aesthetics and dining spaces.	₹2.4 LPA
	These include designing and preparing layouts using sketches and blueprints, as well as an in-depth knowledge of cabinets, electrical connections, plumbing, colour schemes, etc.
Visual Merchandiser	Visual merchandisers present, display, and arrange in stores, catalogues, or online and help promote retailers' brands, products, and services.	₹3 LPA
	They define, design, and implement a creative visual merchandising strategy to increase sales, attract buyers' attention, and provide an excellent in-store experience.

Top 5 reasons to choose an Interior Design Career?

You may want to know everything about Design as a career, including why you should choose an Interior Design career.

Here are the top 5 reasons why an interior design career is the right choice for you:

Reasons	Description
Express Your Creativity	If you're brimming with ideas and have an eye for detail, interior design is your canvas.
	You'll play with colours, textures, furniture, and lighting, crafting spaces that are both beautiful and tell a story.
	Every project is a chance to express your unique vision.
Make a Difference	Interior design goes beyond aesthetics. It's about shaping how people live, work, and interact with their surroundings.
	Creating functional and comfortable spaces can positively impact people's well-being and productivity.
High Future Demand	The interior design career field in India is projected to experience high growth, indicating higher-paying job roles.
Growing Career Path	With more industry experience and work roles, interior design career salary ranges from INR 3,00,000 to 9,00,000 (approx.), much higher than other job roles.
Networking	When you pursue interior designing, you have higher networking opportunities due to different industry clients.
	This means you have more contacts in design as well as other industries.

Interior Design Career Courses After 12th

India has a thriving interior design industry, offering various educational paths to kickstart your career in Interior design after 12th. Here are some of the paths you can take to jumpstart your career journey -

Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Interior Design: This three or four-year undergraduate program provides a comprehensive foundation in design principles, space planning, furniture design, materials, and construction methods. Many prestigious design institutes and universities across India offer B.Des programs.

Diploma in Interior Design: A diploma program, typically lasting one to two years, offers a more focused curriculum on the practical aspects of interior design. This is a good option for those seeking faster entry into the field.

Certification Courses: Several institutes offer short-term certification courses in specific areas of interior design, such as kitchen design, lighting design, or sustainable design. These are ideal for upskilling or specializing in a particular niche.

Some of the undergraduate interior design career courses offered in the best design schools in India are given below -

Undergraduate Courses

Bachelor of Interior Design, BID	B.A Interior Design Hons
B.Des. Interior Design	B.Des
B.Sc. Interior Design Hons	B.Sc. Interior Design
B.Des. Interior Architecture and Design	B.A. Interior Design

Master's Programs

M.Sc. in Interior Design

M.Des in Interior Design

M.A in Interior Design

Entrance Exams for a Career in Interior Design

Here are the must-take exams that you should target to pursue your interior design career from top design schools:

NID (National Institute of Design) DAT (Design Aptitude Test)	UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)
NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture)	SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design)
CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design)	AIEED (All India Entrance Exam for Design)

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)

The UCEED entrance exam is an all-India national-level entrance test that offers admission to nationally acclaimed design colleges such as:

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIITDM Jabalpur and other participating colleges

NID DAT (National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test)

The NID entrance exam is for those who want to enter undergraduate or postgraduate programs of the National Institute of Design (NID), which is one of the most prestigious institutions to pursue interior design.

AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design)

It is a test aligned and held by the ARCH Academy of Design for admissions to UG and PG design programs for interior design careers. The AIEED test or exam is conducted in different phases.

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)

The Council of Architecture conducts this NATA entrance exam for admission to the 5-year B.Arch. Degree Course at all recognized institutions across the country.

Free Study Materials for Your Journey Towards a Career in Interior Design

How to Make a Career in Interior Designing

• Explore the Industry: Candidates who have completed their Interior design course are now well aware of their specialisation and its requirements and should start exploring more about the market trends and leading companies providing jobs in this field.
• Learn essential tools: Learning key skills will allow you to finish your work perfectly and bring fulfilment to your work life. Look to what best suits you and your professional world and learn the essential skills to help you succeed.
• Make a portfolio: Interior designers must have a portfolio of their ideas and works. A good portfolio opens doors for many new opportunities, so it is advisable for candidates to build a good and real portfolio.
• Grow your network: To showcase your portfolio, exhibit your skills, and land a good opportunity, you need a strong network of like-minded people to help you grow and learn more. Nowadays, there are many platforms to grow your network besides the basic old-school techniques.
• Build a resume: An excellent resume sells your strongest skills and accomplishments, eventually leading you to land your dream job. Always keep your resume up-to-date and include only relevant information, experiences, skills, and necessary personal details.
• Go for internships: Internships allow you to train yourself more on your skills. Choose internships that match your profile and try to go for as many as possible before you land your dream job.

Key Takeaways

An interior design career combines your talent, passion and dedication.

The key takeaways of the article are:

• Target the right design entrance exams to get admission into top design colleges.
• Keep a keen eye on the latest industry trends.
• Pursue a bachelor’s degree or a diploma in interior design to acquire technical knowledge and design principles.
• Master design software to build a strong portfolio and sharpen your skills.

Attempt: Creative Edge Scholarship Test