Understanding the role of an Interior Designer
An interior designer’s role is multi-faceted, but begins with providing accurate and professional advice for the development and execution of interior design services across the commercial contract or residential sectors. An interior designer can provide initial design concepts and space planning proposals, product and material specifications, as well as coordinate with intersecting trades to manage a project from concept to completion. This can include duties like:
- Providing advice on the interior layout of a space/building and proposing reconfigurations.
- Generating 2D or 3D interior design plans, drawings, mood boards and project visualisations.
- Curating a considered selection of Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings (FF&E) required for implementation and procurement.
- Supplying projected timelines and product schedules to coordinate trades, purchase orders and deliveries.
- Being the point of contact for construction contractors on site, as well as consulting with engineers, architects and trade specialists.
The main goal is to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, functionality and aesthetic appeal of an environment in a way that ensures the safe and optimal occupation and use of the interior space. An interior designer will consider the intended function of a space to curate an environment that is fit for purpose, as well as understand how an interior design scheme can positively impact the end-user. A successful design project will also address sustainability and minimise its environmental impact.
With differing laws for product use and specification across residential and contract sectors, an interior designer must be aware and comply with all related health & safety codes, building regulations, and installation requirements.
Assessing the impact of an interior design
As a designer’s choice directly impacts on the wellbeing and safety of those who will occupy an interior dwelling, the advice offered must be accurate and where necessary, obtain independently verified and transparent advice to support recommendations. Inaccurate advice and inappropriate specification may breach laws, incur additional cost, generate delays or increase risks to those who invest and ultimately use the space. Error will impact on the designer, their suppliers reputation and generate industry complaints. For example, when a PC (provisional costs) price is quoted for a light fitting, additional costs may be necessary for the designer to instruct expert, independent advice so as to be confident that the design specification is compliant, as well as safe.
Consulting with specialist stakeholders
An interior designer is not only an advisor to the client, but often, also a consultant to the contractor and experts. Designers from time to time are also expected to negotiate with various industry experts in their procurement of products and installation of materials, such as structural engineers when commissioning a light fitting or Asbestos reports before commissioning wall panelling. Designers also need to consult with planners due to compliance obligations from changes generated in the design scheme. A designer must therefore possess knowledge of a multitude of skills. These skills include a strong grasp of mathematics for measuring, calculating dimensions, quantities and budgets for financial control. This is regarded by SBID as ‘basic knowledge’ and is a tested requirement of experience to obtain full SBID Accreditation status.
This multi-faceted profession of design specialisms and the specific laws that apply to each is not simply ‘a flair’ as many assume, but it requires practical training and experience. Find out more about membership requirements and training opportunities.
Providing the interior design service
A professional designer’s minimum task is to define the space and safety performance of the interior, as well as produce plans to demonstrate proposed layouts for clients to review before agreeing to the design. This is known as the design scheme. The designer should also include schedules of the materials required to procure the design scheme, including CAD drawings and tested ability or use codes. When the scheme is approved by the client, the designer generates specification schedules which the client approves before declaring ‘design freeze’.
Some designers also act as the Project Manager by giving instructions to the contractor and specialists, this is a different role to interior design and should not be confused as part of a designers role. Interior Designers should plan the space to maximise the function and safe movement within it as well as take airflow, heat, extraction, electrical and plumbing regulations into account.
