Freelancing can be a great way to have a fulfilling career as an Interior Designer. Whether you pursue e-design, gather clients by word of mouth, or find work through online job boards, freelancing can be worthwhile. This article will help you learn more about freelancing, how you can find work, and what steps you need to take to land your dream freelancing career.
Freelance vs. In-house Interior Designer
There are many differences between freelance and in-house interior design work. Freelancing offers you more flexibility: you can work from home (or wherever you choose), can choose your own clients and projects, and also dictate your level of involvement. While all these things may sounds appealing, freelancing does have its drawbacks like a lack of paid time off, employer-provided health insurance, and the potential for less stability long term.
In-house interior design offers all these things that freelancing lacks, but it comes at the cost of flexibility. Working for a design firm means you aren’t responsible for sourcing your own clients and don’t have to worry about where your next paycheck will come from. You can also typically make substantially more money as an in-house designer. This path will lack some of the creative freedom that freelancers have, but the trade off is worth it to some.
Benefits & Potential Challenges of Interior Designer Freelancing
Create a comparison of the benefits and possible challenges of freelancing as an Interior Designer. Highlight advantages such as the potential for higher earnings, control over scheduling, and the ability to work remotely. Challenges may be issues like inconsistent income, the need for self-discipline, and business management responsibilities. It may be helpful to use specific examples or scenarios to illustrate these points.
What is an Interior Designer?
Interior Designers are professionals who are hired to create floor plans and layouts for the interior of various buildings, including offices, homes, hotels, businesses and virtually any other building. As more and more research is done into how the spaces in which we live and work impact human mood and productivity, learning interior design is about more than just learning how to create layouts and floor plans that are aesthetically pleasing. Learning how to design an open concept workspace is very different from designing a kitchen, though professional Interior Designers are likely to need to know how to do both.
Interior Designers are almost always either freelancers, independent contractors or employees of a company that specializes in interior design, meaning that these designers will work on a wide range of different projects (though they may be working in specific niches or sub-fields). They will be brought into projects when their services are required and they will often be given a basic outline of the kind of space that the client is looking for, though they may have increased creative freedom depending on the individual project. Interior Designers may find themselves working on a purely theoretical level (in so far as they will provide mock-ups and designs but not actually handle any of the physical furnishing) or they may find themselves tasked with going to the physical space.
Many interior design professionals will also have to work within constraints involving time, budget, logistics and the affordances of physical space. A 17th floor office renovation project, for example, can only cost so much and make so many changes to the physical building. This means working alongside contractors, estimators and other design professionals to get an understanding of the limitations of the project and what can and cannot be done during each stage. While being a professional Interior Designer offers a lot of opportunities for creativity and unique design decisions, learning to work within constraints is an essential part of the job.
What is Interior Design Freelancing Like?
Working as a freelance designer is a great way to pursue a career from home. The most common way this is done is through e-design, a virtual interior design service that allows you to work remotely with clients to create beautiful interior spaces. To work in e-design, you need to develop strong design skills, master interior design software, effectively communicate with clients virtually, create detailed digital design plans, and market your services online to attract clients.
E-design as a service provides a step-by-step plan for creating a space that meets each client’s individual style, tastes and budget. It is ideal for clients seeking a designer’s expertise, yet who are able to implement the plan on their own. Clients receive a design package devised specifically for them that is both accessible and affordable. If you’re looking to meet with clients virtually and develop design plans all from the comfort of your home, then e-design is the perfect freelance path for you.
Learn Interior Design
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Career placement assistance
- Authorized Autodesk training center
Is Interior Design Freelancing Right for Me?
Being a remote Interior Designer will require both technical savvy and interpersonal skills. It will also require a fair amount of upfront leg work to find potential clients, understand their needs, and pitch proposals. Tracking down clients or projects will be easier if you’re well connected, so networking will be a huge part of freelancing.
If you pursue e-design specifically, your technical acumen will be extremely important. You’ll need to be an expert in design software and skilled at phone and video calls so that you can present your work to clients in a confident manner.
Finally, as a freelancer you’ll be responsible for your own budgeting, accounting, taxes, and various other general managerial related tasks. You’ll have to keep your own books, track all your profits and losses, and be responsible for all the logistics of your projects.
Steps to Become a Freelance Interior Designer
It can seem daunting when you’re first beginning your journey to becoming an Interior Designer, so it’s best to break it down into individual steps. Outlined below are the main ones but, depending on your education, location, and experience, these steps can vary.
Get an Education
The traditional pathway is to earn a bachelor's degree in interior design, architecture, or a related field. An associates degree is also acceptable, as is a professional training program offered in-person or online. What matters is that you learn the needed skills and obtain some sort of certificate of completion to prove your competency.
Learn Specialized Software
As an Interior Designer, you’ll need to be adept in various software applications, like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit. Each of these applications will require you to master various tools so you can design 2D and 3D models of your interior spaces. You can take specialized training courses in each of these programs, or gain experience in all of them through an interior design degree or certificate course.
Gain Experience
This is both the most important and challenging step of the process. After completing your education (or while pursuing your education), you’ll want to intern at a design firm, or work in a related field like construction, furniture design and sales, or architecture. Gaining professional experience will help you develop both the hard and soft skills needed to succeed. It’ll also help you with the next step, which is building a portfolio.
Build a Portfolio
Your portfolio isn’t just for potential employers like design or architecture firms; it’s also for potential clients. Showcasing your previous work, whether that’s from a training course, internship, or previous job, will allow potential clients and employers to get a better idea of your design style, the ways you’ve handled past projects, and how you’ve navigated challenging spaces, timelines, and budgets.
Pass the NCIDQ Exam and Get Licensed
The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) tests your knowledge of building codes, construction standards, and more. This may or may not be required for you, depending on the job you’re applying for and the area you work in. Additionally, depending on your state, you may need to get a license to practice interior design.
Network
Interior design is all about connections. You’ll need connections to get jobs, find clients, and hire the best contractors and suppliers for your projects. You can attend industry events, get involved with professional organizations, and promote your work on social media to form these valuable connections.
Learn Business Skills
In addition to all the skills of a regular Interior Designer, future freelance Interior Designers will need to learn skills for running their own business (such as finance and contract law) and marketing their business (such as web design and social media marketing). Even freelance Interior Designers who plan to contract consultants to help run their small business should have a basic understanding of these areas in order to understand what kind of outsourcing they need to support their freelance work.
Learn the Skills to Become an Interior Designer at Noble Desktop
AutoCAD Certification Program
In this Noble Desktop course, you'll learn beginner through advanced AutoCAD skills from a live instructor. You'll start with basic drawing and editing commands, then progress to higher-level techniques like using collaboration tools, customizations, macros, and more. You'll be able to ask questions, receive real-time feedback, and interact with fellow students in a supportive classroom environment. As a bonus, you’ll receive six hours of private AutoCAD tutoring and dedicated 1-on-1 time with an instructor, ensuring you're fully prepared for the certification exam. You can finish this course by taking the Autodesk AutoCAD exam, since this program includes the exam's cost, proctoring, and a free retake. Passing the exam and earning this professional certification will help you stand out in the competitive world of architecture, drafting, and design.
Interior Design Bundle
Offered by VDCI, this course combo will cover the main software applications used by Interior Designers to create drafting floor plans, 3D models, render realistic visuals, and design polished presentations for their clients. You’ll master computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling (SketchUp) software to plan, design, and furnish rooms or buildings. You’ll also learn to use Photoshop to prepare additional visuals for their presentations. This course bundle is 100% online and self-paced with no live class sessions. Course materials are accessible immediately after purchase and you can choose when to start the training, offering the most flexibility possible.
AutoCAD Fundamentals Bundle
Also from VDCI, this programconsists of two courses that introduce you to the basics of using AutoCAD for Computer-Aided Design (CAD). You’ll learn how to create drafting symbols, kitchen and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable sheet files. All courses are taught by practicing professionals through hands-on, real-world, project-based training. This course bundle is online and self-paced with no live class sessions, making it ideal for those with busy schedules.
SketchUp Pro Fundamentals Bundle
This program from VDCI consists of two courses to develop your SketchUp skills for 3D modeling and rendering from the very beginning. You’ll learn the fundamentals of SketchUp to create individual 3D models, components, and topography in a series of professional projects. All courses are taught by practicing professionals through hands-on, real-world, project-based training. While offered on-demand, scheduled due dates help to keep you on track while you learn at your own convenience.
Revit Fundamentals Bundle
Consisting of two Revit classes, this VDCI program is designed to develop your understanding of Revit and its involvement in Building Information Modeling (BIM). You’ll be introduced to Revit and how information is interrelated throughout the Revit (BIM) model to design 3D models, generate 2D architectural drawings and create 3D perspective views. You’ll master Revit with the help of an expert instructor and hands-on, real-world, project-based training.