Interior Design Careers

I had no intention of doing interior design; it just happened organically. While I was working at a large A&E firm, several colleagues suggested it would be a good idea, a way to expand my professional practice and the scope of what I could offer clients. It was while I was working for a big firm in San Francisco that focuses primarily on commercial design that I realized several really important facets of the architecture and interior design industry.

Interior design is faster in terms of project timelines; there is reduced risk based on insurance/liability; there are fewer complications like settlement issues, etc.; and, importantly, there is greater profitability with interior design. This realization was further cemented while I was working at RAPT Studio and observed them also doing retail. But what I really found enticing about interior design was that clients were more directly impacted by interiors than exteriors. We spend lots of time inside spaces — interacting with them. That’s where I wanted to be, at the center of the action, and that means interiors.

In the beginning of my career, I didn’t intend to own my own practice. Being part of multiple large and well-respected firms was my goal. The benefits of being with a large company or firm are numerous. You get incredible exposure, the firms can invest in projects, you learn a lot, and you can make wonderful professional connections. Plus, my work took me to fabulous locations around the world.

But my overarching goal was to pursue and win international design competitions. However, when you are working at a large A&E practice and you enter a competition, you are entering under the name of the company. The whole idea of working really hard and giving credit for my creativity to someone else didn’t appeal to me.

Ultimately, I learned a lot in my time at large firms and working with people I didn’t necessarily like but whose work I respected. But I didn’t learn how to design at those firms — that was a skill I already possessed. There was also a lot of, in my opinion, wasted time in meetings and playing politics and games instead of designing. So, I used what I had learned at those big firms to open my own. But I discovered that there was a lot I didn’t know how to do, like contracts, marketing, and HR.

I consider it a benefit that I was forced to wear multiple hats and to understand IT, legal, financials, tech, office management, and the biggest challenge: marketing. In the brief amount of time (nine years) I’ve owned my firm, the way I pursue and get work has completely changed, and I expect it will continue to change. That’s part of the challenge of owning my own business that I really love. Ultimately, I’m making far more money owning my own business than I did working for someone else.

I don’t believe it’s common. There are far fewer practices than there are interior designers. You have to have clients to have a practice, and that isn’t just a matter of opening up shop and hoping it’ll work. Some designers do get lucky and have one client who trusts them and refers a friend and then it snowballs. But that’s the exception, I believe.

And you need to understand what you are getting into. You have to assess your weaknesses and find people who can assist you with those areas because you can’t do it all. You’ll have to learn to delegate, hire hourly people, subcontract, and more. We remind ourselves often at Britto Charette to “play to your strengths” and to ask for help when you need it.

Also, I’ve had students ask me what I think about starting their own firm right out of college, and I tell them I don’t recommend it. There is SO much you can learn from working at a firm. Even if you don’t enjoy it, or it isn’t your “dream” job. Keep an open mind and really listen and learn from the people around you.

You have to be able to make mistakes, but those mistakes should be the result of calculated risks. Research. Research. Research. Experiment. Accept that there’s a lot you don’t know. Control fear. Be intuitive. Be aware of trends (social media, technology, etc.). Be able to communicate to clients. Question your skills and what new things you need to learn and improve.

Of course, you’ll need to not only attract but retain clients, and that process is really tough. If someone hasn’t met you, you can’t build trust, and trust is an absolutely essential element in establishing a rapport with clients. Interior design is very personal. You need to convey to clients that you will respect their privacy and their home. When you meet, make eye contact, listen carefully, and recap/repeat what you heard them say.

It’s also really important to clearly articulate who you are through social media, lectures, write-ups, etc. You can’t be everything for everyone. Instead, you have to have a distinct idea of who you are and what you do.

Get used to being rejected. You will design something you believe is totally amazing, and the client will show up and hate it. That’s ok. Someone else out there may love it. Also, remember to trust your gut when meeting with potential clients because sometimes people just want to steal your ideas and have no intention of actually hiring you.

Finally, don’t worry about what someone else thinks about you; it’s not important. Just know who you are, and the work will follow. And keep in mind that when clients approach you, they are often confused about what good design is. They are coming to you for advice, and you need to remember you are the expert. And you aren’t desperate.

I’ve taught at two universities, and I always give students the same advice: have an internship and obtain as much experience as possible before graduation. I also encourage students to have a website showing their work and to have social media platforms/posts that represent them in a professional manner. Please don’t get political or personal.

Don’t complain. Don’t expect to have everything explained to you. Your ingenuity and curiosity are key — as well as your talent. Have a very good understanding that you are at the beginning of your career and, if you work at a firm, the senior members have vast knowledge that you can have access to. Look for a mentor. Go out of your way to make connections, ask questions, listen, and learn. And in return, help that mentor with things they may not be as adept at as you are.

Have an overall vision of what you want to do. In what part of the country do you want to live and work? What market sector? Interested in teaching in higher education?

Learn to accept criticism; it’s how you will grow.

My biggest bit of advice? Take any licensing exams ASAP. And if you fail, keep taking them over and over and over again.

I LOVE Savannah. And I’m absolutely blown away by how SCAD is completely integrated into the historic city center; it reminds me of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Also, I really admire the vision of the founders as it relates to historic preservation. In my opinion, they saved the city and now it’s one of the most impressive petite cities in the country. I’m also impressed with the provincial and modern interiors that I see throughout Savannah.

SCAD is celebrating its 40th year and continues to have a great reputation within higher education. I wanted to be part of that tradition by giving back to the interior design profession — sharing what I know as a designer and business owner. I deliberately chose adjunct teaching because I wanted to maintain my business and professional practice.

Also, I believe it’s important to challenge myself to learn new skills, whether they are public speaking, engaging learners (students, like clients, are learning information), or research. There’s a knowledge gap in education regarding the luxury design field. There’s also a gap regarding what really happens in an interior design office. I want students to walk into a firm having ideas about the critical parts of a practice that they’ll never be exposed to in a classroom.

Be a dreamer. Practice positive visualization. I use these techniques often, creating in my mind and then doodling my ideas. I don’t agree whatsoever that everything has been done already and that there are no new ideas. And that is thanks to technology. If you want to be innovative, interior design is for you. It’s exciting. Don’t believe people who say technology will render interior designers obsolete. AI, in my opinion, will never replace us in this field because it won’t be able to create innovative, compelling, emotional work like we can.