Becoming a Hospitality Interior Designer

Hospitality interior design is a profession unlike any other within the design field. Whilst interior designers for homes, offices and commercial spaces only have to take into account the wants, needs and desires of a single or small group of people, hospitality interior designers are tasked with figuring out what a certain demographic will want from their experience in a bar, restaurant, coffee shop or any other hospitality-orientated space. Hospitality interior design is considered as one of the best design professions and it is easy to see why.

Not only this, but hospitality interior designers must be in the know when it comes to regulatory requirements, codes and relevant laws. They work closely with architects and project managers to achieve the desired result.

#1: Education Requirements

To become a hospitality interior designer, in most cases, you will need to achieve a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in interior design. These programmes often include classes which include drawing, art and design, art history and computer-aided design. It all depends on where you take the course and who provides it, though—most interior design courses are largely the same.

There is usually the option to take extra credit modules and whilst you may be tempted to take something different such as a language, it is always a good idea to stick with courses related to design, especially if there are hospitality-related modules on offer.

#2: The Day-to-Day Job

As a hospitality interior designer, a huge part of your job involves meeting with clients to get the most accurate idea possible of what they want and require. You will work hard to develop designs which suit your clients’ needs whilst fitting within their budget and prepare sketches and blueprints for approval.

You will also advise on colour schemes, types of furniture, themes and work out costs and estimates for the job. The process for designing a hospitality interior is long and drawn out, much more than other types of interior design, but the end-result has to satisfy a group of people you don’t know and will never meet, so this is necessary.

#3: Applying for Internships

For budding interior designers, especially hospitality interior designers, there are lots of internships and study programmes on offer.

You can typically start applying these from your final year onwards and they are a great way to get your foot in the door with a reputable firm. If you gain nothing else from it, you still have the experience and you can use that to reflect on your skills and improve them. Not all internships end in job offers, but they are your best shot.

Internships are fiercely competitive, and decent grades are always your golden ticket in.

Pursuing a career as a hospitality interior designer is no easy feat. The competition is fierce, and the standards are high, but by being aware of this early-on you can avoid setting yourself up for failure. By working hard and doing everything you need to in-order to be prepared and get ahead there’ll be a career waiting for you.