Choosing an interior design school does not have to be a painful process. Yes, you will definitely think of looking for a school that cultivates your talents – and also one that can help you with your future as a professional interior designer. It is natural to be confused at this stage. Every school has different advantages over the other. So it is best to visit different schools and observe the kind of quality you will receive as a student.

It is important to know what subjects an interior design course offers. If you have any difficulty understanding it, ask the education consultant for help. They will be happy to assist! Doing so prevents you from enrolling into a course blindly only to find that your course is 100% theory-based without hands-on practice. Have a good look at what each interior design course offers, and make sure that you have a good balance of theory and practical modules. A balanced curriculum helps you remember theory lessons better. Also, it is physically impossible to fall asleep in class while working with heavy workshop machinery.

Research before enrolment pays off well. When done right, you will be rewarded with a fun, yet character-building college life. Here is a checklist for you to go through while selecting the best interior design school for yourself:

#1: Do you get to learn important software skills?

Ability to create digital artwork is often an interior designer’s meal ticket. Interior design agencies will use 3D renders of spaces for client proposals. These computer-generated artworks often look like real photographs.

Your school should teach you:

– Adobe software like Photoshop and Illustrator for presentation artwork and floor plans
– 3D Max or Maya for 3D renderings

#2: How good are the school facilities?

It is not the tools that make the designer. But as a designer, you should be familiar with your arsenal. A good school will familiarize you with industry-level software and equipment. You should attend a school with computer labs equipped with professional software mentioned above. And if your modules include furniture design, your school should have a workshop with tools to manipulate wood, metal, and plastic.

Having a well-stocked library helps too. Design-related books are great sources of inspiration, but are usually expensive. So if the school has a library with a good collection, it is an extra benefit!

#3: Are your lecturers capable and experienced?

Good lecturers will have industry experience. They often share about first-hand experience on what it is like to be a professional designer. This shows that they practice what they preach. And also means they can introduce influential industry contacts who can help you land jobs.

After going through working life as a designer, they will know what industry standards are. And this ensures that your portfolio will meet quality standards of future employers. They can also teach you tips and techniques that are tested and proven. By the way, we do recommend Look schools that give you at least 1000 contact hours with a lecturer per year.

Author Bio: Donald Pang, International Admissions Director at Raffles Design Institutes. We offer interior design courses such as diploma, bachelor and master degree these countries; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Manila in Philippines, Singapore, Sydney in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, New Delhi in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Bangkok Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia and Cambodia.

Category: Education
Keywords: interior designer courses,interior designing,design school,art school,interior design diploma