Interior Designer Course
How to Pick the Right One Near West Bend Wisconsin

So it’s time to start the process of choosing an interior design school near West Bend WI now that you have made a career decision to study to be an interior designer. Even if you have always had a gift for designing commercial or residential spaces, it's imperative that you obtain the appropriate training to put your talents to work. And because interior designers must be licensed in a number of states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass any required licensing test as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. So it's essential you do the proper research so that you can analyze and compare each school that you are looking at prior to making your ultimate choice. But exactly where do you begin? A number of potential students will start their research by searching for interior design schools near their home and then comparing tuition expenses. However, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation must be taken into consideration also. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the interior design schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's cover a little bit more about what interior design is and what degree and class choices are available.

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Interior Design Compared to Interior Decoration

Often people mistake interior decoration for interior design and vice versa. The primary difference between them is the amount of training required. Any person can do business as an interior decorator if they possess a basic knowledge of or a talent for decorating interior spaces. On the other hand, doing business as an interior designer necessitates a formal education and in many states one must have an accredited Bachelor's or Associate Degree as well as be licensed. Interior designers are trained to make work or residential areas attractive as well as functional. On various projects they may work together with building engineers and architects. There are 2 broad categories that an interior designer in West Bend WI can specialize in:

• Residential Design. Interior Designers typically work on existing homes as well as new construction. They can design basically any room of a house, including bedrooms, basements and closets. Or they can specialize in designing one specific room, for instance bathrooms or kitchens.
• Commercial Designing. When working on public or commercial spaces, designers frequently concentrate predominantly on either aesthetic appeal or functionality but take notice of both. For instance, business meeting rooms and reception areas are areas where aesthetics may be stressed over function. Designs for banks and hospitals might concentrate more on functionality over looks as the main concern.

There are several areas of residential and commercial interior design that a designer needs to learn, for example lighting, color schemes, furniture and acoustics. They must be able to read blue prints and use graphic design in order to produce their visions. From choosing wall paper and carpeting to including Feng shui principles, West Bend WI interior designers utilize a wide range of skills that help bring about their ultimate creations.

Interior Designer Degrees

There are four degree alternatives offered in interior design to receive the training required to start your new career in West Bend WI. Your choice will no doubt be influenced by your career objectives as well as the money and time that you have to invest in your education. But regardless of which degree program you choose to enroll in, make certain to pick one that is accredited. Accreditation is required in order to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination required in some states. More will be addressed on additional accreditation benefits later. Below are short explanations of the interior design degrees that are available.

• Associate Degree. Associate degrees in interior design provide the minimum level of education required to enter the field. They take roughly 2 years to complete and programs are offered at numerous Wisconsin vocational schools and community colleges. Graduates can usually obtain entry level employment as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are four year programs that furnish more extensive training than the Associate Degree. They deal with the technical and creative components of the trade required to become a designer. They are the lowest credential needed by a graduating student in order to obtain an entry level position as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These two year programs provide advanced training in design after achieving a Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees provide choices in specialty majors for such things as residential bathrooms or business offices. A number of students enroll to advance their skills to be more competitive in the job market.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctoral programs are mostly for those professionals who wish to teach interior design at a college or university level. The degree programs vary in length but are typically completed in three to five years.

To work as a professional and adopt the title of "Interior Designer", a number of states require that graduates of accredited degree programs become licensed. In several instances, two or more years of field experience may be needed before an applicant can sit for the licensing exam.

Online Interior Design Courses

For individuals who wish to study in the convenience of their West Bend WI homes, there are online accredited interior design degrees. Attending classes online can be an excellent alternative for those students that are working or have hectic schedules that make going to classes on campus difficult. Classes can instead be attended on a home computer or laptop when convenient for the student. For some students online colleges may be the sole option if no interior design schools are within driving distance. And as an added benefit, the tuition may be cheaper than for more conventional options. Additional costs for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated as well. Just make sure that the program you enroll in is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (more on accreditation later). Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. If you have the dedication to obtain your degree without the structure of a physical classroom environment, then an online interior design school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Interior Design Programs

When you have decided on the interior designer degree that you would like to earn, you can start the task of analyzing your school options. Location will be a critical factor, particularly if the college has to be within commuting distance from your West Bend WI residence. Naturally if you have decided on attending a school online, or are prepared to move to attend classes, then location might not be a qualifier. The fee for tuition will decrease your options as well. But picking the least expensive college or the one that is closest to your house are not the ideal ways to make your selection. There are other factors that you need to look at also, such as the accreditation and reputation of the school. Following are a few concerns that you may want to address with the colleges you are reviewing to get those answers in addition to others to help you compare and subsequently select the appropriate degree program.

Is the Interior Designer School Accredited? It's necessary to confirm that the interior design program and college that you select has earned accreditation from either a national or regional organization. One of the most highly regarded in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have undergone a rigorous assessment of their programs and teachers. Just make sure that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the college and the quality of the education are excellent, it might also help when applying for financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of West Bend WI employers will only employ graduates of accredited colleges for entry level positions.

Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, a number of States do require that interior designers become licensed. This would require a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination as well as a degree from an accredited school. And in several of those States mandating licensing, at least 2 years of work experience may be required as well. So in addition to furnishing an excellent education, the West Bend WI school you select should also furnish the proper training to pass the NCIDQ examination and fulfill the minimum licensing requirements for Wisconsin or the State where you will be employed.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and obtained your interior design certification, you will no doubt need some help in finding your first position. Ask the schools that you are considering if they have a job assistance program. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are held in high esteem within the interior design profession and its graduates are in demand. It could also indicate that the college has a large network of West Bend WI business relationships where they can place students to obtain internships or jobs after they graduate.

Is Financial Aid Available? Contact the financial assistance offices for the West Bend WI schools you are reviewing and ask what kind of support they provide. A number of interior design programs offer financial aid to their incoming students. Certain colleges provide partial scholarships while others provide support in acquiring federal student loans or grants. Again it must be stressed that selecting an accredited school is imperative for qualification in most cases. In some cases a school that has a higher tuition may effectively be cheaper than its competitors because they offer more generous financial aid.

How Small are the Classes? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you probably will receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. Find out from the West Bend WI programs you are looking at what their average teacher to student ratios are. If convenient from your West Bend home, go to the campus and monitor a couple of classes. While there speak with a few students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching approaches are and what their backgrounds are in interior design.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Finally, verify that the interior designer program you enroll in offers classes the fit your active schedule. This is particularly important if you will continue working while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Bend WI, confirm that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, check that is an alternative as well. Finally, check what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, family or illness.

Find Out More About How to Become an Interior Designer in West Bend

Choose the Right West Bend Interior Design School

Selecting the right interior design program is a critical initial step toward launching your career in this creative and fulfilling profession. Locating a college where you will obtain your education and develop your skills in a particular area of study is a challenging task regardless of what major you have decided on. As with any endeavor to receive a higher education, there are many things to consider before selecting a course, program or school. At a minimum, check that the program and design school are both accredited and highly regarded in the profession. It is still essential that you perform your due diligence analysis. By doing so and following the balance of the recommendations provided in this article, you will be able to properly evaluate and compare interior design colleges so that you can make the appropriate ultimate selection. And with superior training and your desire to succeed, you can reach your goal of becoming an interior designer in West Bend Wisconsin.

 

West Bend Interior Design Schools | West Bend Interior Design Programs