Interior design is the art of artistically decorating and arranging a space to create a pleasing and visually impressive atmosphere.
The art of design requires significant amounts of training. Interior designers must be aware of many factors when they prepare to design an area, a few of which are architecture, proper spacing and placement of décor and the environment surrounding the space.
An interior designer is a great asset to any person or business who wants to create a stunning, functional space but lacks the creative spark or know-how to achieve what they want. A designer will sit down with a client and go over all the details of what they are looking for: color palates, feel, a particular piece of art or furniture that they love and would like to base the room around, whatever the case may be.
Once the designer has a full understanding of all of their client's important goals, they will usually create several different palates that offer possible design solutions. Once the client and designer agree on a plan, the execution begins and the space is transformed.
Businesses use interior designers to not only create a visually appealing and functional space, but to create a feel for what their business represents to its customers.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Architecture offers a fully accredited Interior Design major. According to the college's Web site, the undergraduate degree consists of a four year program which includes two years of a pre-interior design program and must include a professional internship between the third and fourth year of study.
In the program, students learn to solve problems relating to functionality of space in interior areas, understand and execute design analysis, space planning and aesthetics, understand building codes and prepare all documents that are required to fully execute a design of an interior space.
Betsy Gabb, a professor of interior design at UNL, said students entering the design program must take four courses their freshman year in order to create a knowledge base. These courses include an Introduction to Design lecture, two introduction studios, Visual Literacy and Computers in Architecture and Design.
A design studio is a course where students meet for a longer period of time, usually three to four hours, and apply their knowledge to a design problem to get hands-on experience.
When asked what her favorite part of being an interior design professor, Gabb said, "First, helping students grow and develop, and second, helping individuals understand the importance of design in our lives."
Michele Malerbi, a previous interior design student at the Design Institute of San Diego, said she has always fascinated with design.
"It's great because you are able to be creative, which is fun, and you get to help make people's homes comfortable and into a space that reflects their personality," Malerbi said. "You get to make someone's space into their haven. It's very satisfying"
jessicaschweppe@dailynebraskan.com
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