Expert: Bob - 5/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
  I just did a certificate course on interior decorator. I am a stay at home mom for the past 10 years.I have computer science degree. but i want to pursue a career in interior decoration. Would it be helpful to learn Autocad for the pursuit of my career or is there any other software that would do good to enter the interior decorator field. Please give me an insight.

ANSWER: Hi--

You left out the locale --- practices vary. There are some English errors,  and you did a certificate course that did not require AutoCAD, so I am guessing you are in another country. (or maybe foreign born)
Pardon me if I am wrong.

AutoCAD is the most-used software, but others can be common in local practice. If you want to work at a design firm (you don't make that clear), you need to be expert in the software they use there. Your competition is computer savvy young girls, mainly.

For me, where I am in California, an "Interior Decorator" is an amateur who orders pillows and drapes. We use "Interior Designer" for a professional name.

If you are in the US, and want to be a complete professional,contact the local American Society of Interior Designers, and see if someone there can tell you the requirements of local firms. If you want to just do some simple drawings for decorating on your own, look at Sketch Up software.

If you are outside the US, I can't give you specific advice, except to remember that it is important to be as good as or better than the younger people entering the field, so a really good school helps --- AND to research the professionals you want to be like, and try to meet some, for advice.

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Bob,
  Thanks for the reply. I live in Pennsylvania,US. Soon i will get membership from CID(Certified Interior decorators International)which is an association for recognizing interior Decorators. I hope you are not aware of it. I am just doing research on job requirements for Int.Decorators in Design firms. If you have any idea let me know.
Thank you once again for taking the time to answer my question.

Shanthi

Answer
Hi --

Sorry if I did not say this plainly enough: you should investigate the requirements of LOCAL FIRMS WHO MIGHT BE OPEN TO HIRE YOU. Your help could come from CID contacts.

What I might be able to say globally isnt the point -- theory wont get you a job.  Also, I looked at the CID site -- they are definitely more on the decorating side (by a quick look), and I am more on the "build the whole building's interior walls, etc" side.
This means that a lighter software such as Sketchup might be plenty for you. This seems the best reply, from what you tell me.

YOU must do the local research -- if you have kids, I would imagine you want to work locally, not where I am.  You must form the ability to find the right local people and ask them the right questions, in order to be successful.

A designer must be very resourceful and clever at finding solutions: I suggest you approach the job investigation with courage, vigor, and all your abilities.

Good luck!

BOB