Harper College - Interior Design

Career Program

Interior Design

For more information about this program contact
Diana Batzkall 847/925-6790

Interior Design is a two-year career program leading to an associate in applied science degree for students interested in careers in the furnishing and design industry. The program offers creative, artistic and challenging career opportunities. Graduates are trained to work as retail designers/salespersons, interior design assistants, assistant buyers of home furnishings, manufacturers' representatitves or Merchandise Mart showroom managers. Students may elect to concentrate their study in residential or contract design. They may elect courses in computer aided design (CAD), sales or merchandising. Those wishing to work in the contract design field are advised to elect CAD courses and should consult with an advisor. Periodic field trips to Chicago are required and will help students learn more about current design trends.

Nature of Work

Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings and commercial establishments such as offices, restaurants, hotels and theaters. With a client's tastes and needs in mind, they develop designs and prepare working drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings, lighting and finishes. They design lighting, custom cabinetry and architectural details, coordinate colors and select furniture, floor coverings and wall and window treatments. They also plan additions and renovations. Interior designers must design the space in accordance with federal, state and local building codes. In addition, they plan spaces that meet accessibility standards for the disabled and elderly. Designers in some specialties are increasingly using computer-aided design (CAD) to create and better visualize a final product.

Earnings

Wages vary with skills, education and experience. In 1996 Interior Design magazine published job openings for interior design-related careers that listed an average salary of $35,000/year for those with experience. In 1998, beginning salaries for graduates of interior design schools ranged from approximately $19,000-$27,000/ year. The Illinois Department of Employment Security in its 1996 Occupational Wage Survey found that the middle 50% of Interior Designers surveyed had salaries between $20,250 and $44,200. The survey also revealed that the median entry salary in Illinois for an interior designer was $16,400. Wages for those who are self-employed depend on their volume of business, professional reputation and the economic level of their clients.

Careers

Possible careers for those with less than
an associate degree

Furniture designer

Assistant manager of home furnishing department

Possible careers for those with an

associate degree

Designer of model homes

Kitchen and bath designer for a home center

Residential designer

Designer's assistant

Assistant buyers of home furnishings

Retail designer/salespersons

Photostyling interiors

Showroom sales

Manufacturers representative

Real estate model designer

Lighting design apprentice

Draftsperson

Computer aided design operator

Possible careers for those
with a bachelor's degree

Contract designer

Computer aided design operator

Commercial designer

Corporate design services

Facilities management

Lighting designer

Related Careers

Bookkeepers

Stenographers

Personnel clerks

Typists and word processors

Paralegals

Medical assistants

Medical record technicians

Certificates/Degrees

Associate Degree: Interior Design

Professional Associations

American Society of Interior Designers

National Council for Interior Design

National Kitchen and Bath Association

Transferring to a
four-year school

Traditionally this program is not designed to transfer to a four-year university in its entirety. However, if you intend to pursue a bachelor's degree, contact a student development faculty member in either Academic Advising Centers located in the Science, Math and Health Careers Center, D142 or the Business and Social Science Center, I117, as special arrangements may have been made with certain universities.

Academic Advising and Counseling

Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Harper's many resources.

New students should contact Center for New Students

Currently or previously enrolled students should contact Academic Advising

Harper's Career Center offers occuptational-related resources

Admissions and
Registration

For an admissions application or registration information call 847/925-6707. Admissions and registration information is also available online.

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Career Program
Interior Design		For more information about this program contact Diana Batzkall 847/925-6790
	Interior Design is a two-year career program leading to an associate in applied science degree for students interested in careers in the furnishing and design industry. The program offers creative, artistic and challenging career opportunities. Graduates are trained to work as retail designers/salespersons, interior design assistants, assistant buyers of home furnishings, manufacturers' representatitves or Merchandise Mart showroom managers. Students may elect to concentrate their study in residential or contract design. They may elect courses in computer aided design (CAD), sales or merchandising. Those wishing to work in the contract design field are advised to elect CAD courses and should consult with an advisor. Periodic field trips to Chicago are required and will help students learn more about current design trends.
Nature of Work	Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings and commercial establishments such as offices, restaurants, hotels and theaters. With a client's tastes and needs in mind, they develop designs and prepare working drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings, lighting and finishes. They design lighting, custom cabinetry and architectural details, coordinate colors and select furniture, floor coverings and wall and window treatments. They also plan additions and renovations. Interior designers must design the space in accordance with federal, state and local building codes. In addition, they plan spaces that meet accessibility standards for the disabled and elderly. Designers in some specialties are increasingly using computer-aided design (CAD) to create and better visualize a final product.

Earnings	Wages vary with skills, education and experience. In 1996 Interior Design magazine published job openings for interior design-related careers that listed an average salary of $35,000/year for those with experience. In 1998, beginning salaries for graduates of interior design schools ranged from approximately $19,000-$27,000/ year. The Illinois Department of Employment Security in its 1996 Occupational Wage Survey found that the middle 50% of Interior Designers surveyed had salaries between $20,250 and $44,200. The survey also revealed that the median entry salary in Illinois for an interior designer was $16,400. Wages for those who are self-employed depend on their volume of business, professional reputation and the economic level of their clients.

Careers	Possible careers for those with less than an associate degree Furniture designer Assistant manager of home furnishing department	Possible careers for those with an associate degree Designer of model homes Kitchen and bath designer for a home center Residential designer Designer's assistant Assistant buyers of home furnishings Retail designer/salespersons Photostyling interiors Showroom sales Manufacturers representative Real estate model designer Lighting design apprentice Draftsperson Computer aided design operator

	Possible careers for those with a bachelor's degree Contract designer Computer aided design operator Commercial designer Corporate design services Facilities management Lighting designer	Related Careers Bookkeepers Stenographers Personnel clerks Typists and word processors Paralegals Medical assistants Medical record technicians

Certificates/Degrees	Associate Degree: Interior Design

Professional Associations	American Society of Interior Designers National Council for Interior Design National Kitchen and Bath Association

Transferring to a four-year school	Traditionally this program is not designed to transfer to a four-year university in its entirety. However, if you intend to pursue a bachelor's degree, contact a student development faculty member in either Academic Advising Centers located in the Science, Math and Health Careers Center, D142 or the Business and Social Science Center, I117, as special arrangements may have been made with certain universities.

Academic Advising and Counseling	Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Harper's many resources. New students should contact Center for New Students Currently or previously enrolled students should contact Academic Advising Harper's Career Center offers occuptational-related resources

Admissions and Registration	For an admissions application or registration information call 847/925-6707. Admissions and registration information is also available online.
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