Wednesday, February 28, 2018
What You Need to Know About an Interior Design Degree
Interior designers greatly influence people's lives by creating the surroundings in which their clients live, work, and play. The may work with architects and builders to design the interiors of office buildings, restaurants, and custom-built houses, as well as with individual clients to develop the homes of their dreams.
Here's what you need to know to pursue this degree.
Interior Design Degree Coursework
There are a variety of courses offered through traditional programs or by earning your interior design degree online. The curricula in most interior design degree programs generally feature courses in:
Art history
Art theory and criticism
Drawing, drafting, color, and basic design principles
Space planning
Construction
Safety and building codes
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Types of Interior Design Degrees
Associate of science. An associate's degree generally takes two years and prepares you with the foundation to begin working in the field as an assistant after graduation or to further pursue a bachelor's degree in interior design.
Associate of science in kitchen and bath design. Kitchens and baths are the most used rooms in any house and typically offer the most resale value of any other room. Professionals in this interior design specialty learn to transform a regular kitchen or bath space into a luxurious, high-end masterpiece.
Bachelor of science. Bachelor's degrees are generally four-year degrees that give students the tools they need to succeed as independent designers or work with an agency.
Master of fine arts (MFA). Two-and-a-half year MFA degrees often mix studio work with a comprehensive course of academics. Most curricula integrate theory, design, and technology and may include hands-on work in a firm or corporate department.
General interior designers may also choose to earn optional certifications in residential kitchen and bath design from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). There are several different levels of certification that professionals can receive through the organization's training seminars and certification exams.
Career Opportunities
Design degrees open up a world of professional options. In addition to being a designer for a large firm, a corporation or running your own firm, job opportunities include:
Facility Manager
Sales Representative
Set Designer
Space Planner
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities are expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. With homeowners, business owners and builders' growing interest in sustainability, there's also a wealth of potential for those who specialize in "green" design.
Salaries
The mean annual wage was $51,990 in 2009, according to the BLS. Individuals holding degrees in this field can expect the highest levels of employment and salaries in the following industries:
Specialized design services: $52,400
Architectural, engineering and related services: $56,060
Furniture stores: $48,510
Building material and supplies dealers: $45,930
For creative, busy professionals, earning a degree online can create many new opportunities in the design field.
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Interior Designer Victoria Hagan Captures Comfort and Style With Quiet Sophistication
To be truly inspired for interior design ideas, one has only to look at the interiors by Victoria Hagan. One of the top New York interior designers today, Hagan's interiors epitomize refined sophistication and exhibit her talent for combining various styles. Her interiors showcase her ability to balance the old with the new and to create spaces that are full of texture, harmonious color and strong silhouettes. Interior designer Victoria Hagan captures comfort and style with quiet sophistication.
Victoria Hagan graduated the Parsons School of Design in 1984 and began an internship with designer Simone Feldman. This relationship led to a partnership up until Feldman's death in 1991. At that time, Hagan opened her own design firm and has been recognized by many as one of the leading interior designers. She was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2004 and has been listed in Architectural Digest's "Top 100."
In 2002 Hagan introduced a line of furniture, fabric and accessories that represents the inspiration that she finds in the people and places around her. She refers to her collections as the "new American classics." Victoria Hagan's designs illustrate her trademark tailored upholstery, strong silhouettes and innovative textures.
When implementing Hagan's style into your own home think simple, comfortable and interesting. You won't see an overabundance of embellishments. What you will see is an expert use of color, clean lines, interesting textures and the unexpected. You won't see one particular style of furniture or décor. What you will see is an eclectic mix that is well blended.
Hagan's interiors seem to be filled with light and have a well-balanced blend of comfort and style. Texture is definitely a trademark of the designer's, whether it is achieved with a luxurious throw, a unique piece of art, a decorative pillow or even the upholstery.
When you work with texture and concentrate on the scale of furniture, color should be used with discretion. That's not to say a room should be boring. Certainly, Hagan's interiors are far from boring. However, they exude a restful respite from overwhelming color proving that a dash of color in an unexpected form or place more than makes up for a roomful of overindulgence.
The trick to capturing the essence of Victoria Hagan in your own interiors is to keep it sophisticated, subtle and mix it up a bit. Choose neutral wall colors, blend subtle upholstered pieces for a sophisticated look and accessorize for touches of texture, color and interest. You would be surprised what a few interesting pillows will do for a sofa.
Don't be afraid to mix styles. It's okay to blend a contemporary acrylic coffee table with a traditional style modular sofa. That antique desk of Uncle Bob's would fit beautifully next to that upholstered club chair. The modern art sculpture that you just had to buy at that new gallery in town will work its magic as your "something unexpected."
Above all, make your space livable and make it yours. Add your treasured collections or furniture pieces. Keep the space uncluttered, enabling you to move freely about in total comfort. Experiment with different arrangements of furniture and accessories, as well as with mixing styles. Use Victoria Hagan's own mantra as your guide, "the beauty is in the mix." Above all else, take a cue from Hagan's approach to decorating: keep it fun. That's advice you can use from one of the top New York interior designers.
Victoria Hagan graduated the Parsons School of Design in 1984 and began an internship with designer Simone Feldman. This relationship led to a partnership up until Feldman's death in 1991. At that time, Hagan opened her own design firm and has been recognized by many as one of the leading interior designers. She was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2004 and has been listed in Architectural Digest's "Top 100."
In 2002 Hagan introduced a line of furniture, fabric and accessories that represents the inspiration that she finds in the people and places around her. She refers to her collections as the "new American classics." Victoria Hagan's designs illustrate her trademark tailored upholstery, strong silhouettes and innovative textures.
When implementing Hagan's style into your own home think simple, comfortable and interesting. You won't see an overabundance of embellishments. What you will see is an expert use of color, clean lines, interesting textures and the unexpected. You won't see one particular style of furniture or décor. What you will see is an eclectic mix that is well blended.
Hagan's interiors seem to be filled with light and have a well-balanced blend of comfort and style. Texture is definitely a trademark of the designer's, whether it is achieved with a luxurious throw, a unique piece of art, a decorative pillow or even the upholstery.
When you work with texture and concentrate on the scale of furniture, color should be used with discretion. That's not to say a room should be boring. Certainly, Hagan's interiors are far from boring. However, they exude a restful respite from overwhelming color proving that a dash of color in an unexpected form or place more than makes up for a roomful of overindulgence.
The trick to capturing the essence of Victoria Hagan in your own interiors is to keep it sophisticated, subtle and mix it up a bit. Choose neutral wall colors, blend subtle upholstered pieces for a sophisticated look and accessorize for touches of texture, color and interest. You would be surprised what a few interesting pillows will do for a sofa.
Don't be afraid to mix styles. It's okay to blend a contemporary acrylic coffee table with a traditional style modular sofa. That antique desk of Uncle Bob's would fit beautifully next to that upholstered club chair. The modern art sculpture that you just had to buy at that new gallery in town will work its magic as your "something unexpected."
Above all, make your space livable and make it yours. Add your treasured collections or furniture pieces. Keep the space uncluttered, enabling you to move freely about in total comfort. Experiment with different arrangements of furniture and accessories, as well as with mixing styles. Use Victoria Hagan's own mantra as your guide, "the beauty is in the mix." Above all else, take a cue from Hagan's approach to decorating: keep it fun. That's advice you can use from one of the top New York interior designers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)