I go to Rochester Institute of Technology so naturally plenty of my friends are quick to laugh and say "Ha, you're just an art major. You never have work to do". It seems a lot of people at my school don't even know that Interior Design is a major here, and that we even have a club.What some people don't understand is that it's so much more than making things pretty.
First of all, Art is not a bad field to go into. Art is entertainment just like a song or a movie. It provokes thought. It provides a break in a rough day. To enjoy art is to be human. There is art in more than you think, such as the mug you drink from, the clothes you wear, and the shape of your phone. They are all designed to be appealing but also to function. The mug didn't just happen-- it was designed, everything from it's shapes, colors, patterns, materials, and textures were chosen by someone. If you play video games, that's art too.
Walking into a space is really like walking inside an art piece. There is no machine that mass produces entire rooms to be sold on the market. Each space has a personality and may intrigue or bore a person. The subjectivity of it allows for discussion. This discussion is entertainment as well.
Chances are you're sitting at a computer right now, indoors. Do you feel comfortable? Uncomfortable? Do you know why you feel that way? The Environmental Protection Agency states that "Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors". Hopefully 90% of your day isn't miserable. The colors, layout, and textures used in a space can affect one's mood. The amount of natural light in the room has been shown to increase productivity and general well being. Interior Design is art, but it is also psychology. I personally have experienced this, when there were places that I would rather not go into. In high school there was always one room that made me feel sleepy and I partially believe it to be because the walls were painted with a dull yellow. I prefer to go to Starbucks rather than Dunkin' Donuts because it appears more inviting and doesn't have that fast food image. Interior Design is marketing. Restaurants and hotels bring in more business and can charge higher prices if they have an atmosphere that adds to the customer experience.
ADA requirements assure that the disabled can function in a space comfortably. It's probably not fun to roll up to a reception desk in a wheelchair when the desk 42" high all the way around. Interior designers are also responsible for making sure restrooms and any room is accessible by allotting additional square footage. Interior Design is about accessibility and safety. Building codes and fire codes are created and we have to follow them.
The U.S. Green Building Council has founded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED to help initiate "green" design and a greater Now interior designers are coming up with solutions such as reclaiming old materials and processing them to make new furniture and architectural elements. There is also a focus on reducing or eliminating pollution involved in recent projects.
Interior designers demonstrate the importance of teamwork. Often they work closely with an architect and engineers. Modern office design portrays an emphasis on collaborative work spaces, even with recreational elements to help build the character of a group.
This post is very brief and merely scratches the surface of what Interior Design really is. Here are some links that delve further into the industry:
http://www.usgbc.org/leed
http://www.ncidq.org/aboutus/aboutinteriordesign/differencesbetweeninteriordesigndecorating.aspx
http://www.ada.gov/adastd94.pdf
Interior Design: Because it's what's on the inside that counts!
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