By Dean Forster
With people becoming increasingly conscious about the beauty of their homes, the interior design industry has cashed in, big time. It is now a blossoming trade that is competing on the same level with its external counterpart civil engineering. Given such a scenario, it is only natural that there be a demand for qualified interior decorators. Consequently, this led to the establishment of several institutions that offered an interior design stream for education. This article traces the growth and establishment of interior design colleges.
The first question to be answered is always a why. Why is an interior design college necessary? Firstly, while it is a large field in itself, customers started becoming more particular. Design tastes started evolving as time passed. Design colleges ensure that their students are kept up to date with the current trend. Moreover, customers started looking for some sort of accreditation from the interior decorators they were recruiting. This was provided by the educational body that the designers studied in. There are numerous other reasons, but the substantial ones are quoted above.
Next, we take a look at the course structure. This differs from institution to institution. While some colleges specify a three year course, there are also longer courses as well as crash courses. The duration of the course also depends on the type of degree sought. For instance, a B.Arch degree may take up to four years while a diploma may take 2 years or so. Also available are post graduate courses that make take up to two more years depending on the specialization that one chooses.
Interior design also encompasses other fields such as textiles, jewelry, fashion and accessory design. These are more are taught at an interior design college. Also taught are computer oriented courses on 2D design, programming languages and other such subjects. Again, these courses depend on the degree selected. While undergraduate studies give students a basic overview, most postgraduate courses are specialized in nature. Some institutions also make a difference between interior designers and interior architects. This difference is made by the courses taught and the general direction that is given to the students. The course fee varies accordingly. Find out more about courses and places of study at http://www.interiorhousedesignideas.com
Most colleges are usually approved and accredited by the educational authority of that region. Some might also opt to get approval from specific bodies of interior design. For example, bachelor of fine arts program at Harrington's College of Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
As an ending note, one must consider all the available options before settling on an interior design college. The college that one graduates out of often holds high value with prospective customers. A good college also serves as a launch pad for a successful career. Most students have the chance to land jobs in well known institutions as they are about to complete their education. In short: choose wisely.
