Interior/exhibition designer

Interior and exhibition designers use design techniques to make the best visual and physical use of space - a process known as spatial planning. Interior designers specialise in the design of working and living environments, whereas exhibition designers specialise in planning the design and layout of exhibition venues.

Also known as:

• Exhibition designer

Work activities

Interior and exhibition designers make the most effective use of space. They design working environments for organisations and living environments for private homes. Exhibition designers design and oversee the creation of exhibition projects. Typical exhibition projects may include designing individual exhibition stands or organising and designing the layout of an entire exhibition site. Interior design projects begin with a design brief, followed by detailed research. Interior designers make sure that the designs they produce suit each client’s requirements and fit within their budget limits.

Research helps the interior designer to understand technical processes and their limitations, environmental and health/safety issues, as well as architectural practice. Without this research, interior designers may waste time preparing designs that look attractive on paper but may be impossible to construct.

Rough sketches and drawings are made and shown to the client. Once designs are approved, interior designers refine their original sketches to produce detailed working drawings, specifications and models, which contractors refer to during the work. Interior designers then supervise and oversee the work. Some interior designers specialise as interior decorators and make suggestions about curtains, wall-coverings and furniture, all of which add the finishing touches to an interior design.

Exhibition designers follow a similar process to interior designers: research, consultation, feedback, sketches, working drawings and models. Exhibitions are staged in a wide range of venues, so exhibition designers must be able to adapt their ideas to suit the setting. The arrangement and layout of a museum exhibition, for instance, may create a different mood and atmosphere from that of a trade exhibition.

Exhibition stands need to be imaginative, eye-catching and easy to recognise, especially if the client is a well-known organisation. They must be designed in such a way that they can be put up and taken down quickly and easily, fit into confined spaces and be easily transported.

Personal qualities and skills

As an interior/exhibition designer, you need:

• Good organisation and planning skills.
• To be creative and artistic.
• An understanding of colour, shape and form.
• To keep up to date with new design developments.
• To work to deadlines and budgets.
• Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of building and safety regulations.

Self-employed or freelance interior/exhibition designers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for interior/exhibition designers vary with the industry and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Interior/exhibition designers earn in the range of £18,000 - £45,000. Highly successful designers can make more.

Interior/exhibition designers usually work a basic 40-42-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on the project they are working on. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

Most interior/exhibition designers begin their careers as design assistants in design consultancies or design departments of building and construction-related organisations. Other opportunities are with large retailers or with hotel groups. Opportunities for interior/exhibition designers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for interior/exhibition designers to work as self-employed, freelance designers in consultancy and fixed-term contract work. You can obtain this work through specialist recruitment agencies.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector now operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market. Entry to this area of work is competitive.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all interior/exhibition design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications to potential employers can be useful.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is via a foundation course in art and design followed by a degree, HND or foundation degree in a subject such as interior or spatial design. The British Institute of Interior Design can provide a list of relevant courses.

You could also do a level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of fitted furniture design technician. This is a mainly work-based programme, although you will work towards relevant qualifications as well. An interior designer apprenticeship is in development but not currently available.

Most of your training will be on-the-job. Many designers become self-employed. With experience, some move into senior roles within an organisation.

Qualifications

The usual entry requirements for a relevant Foundation course are:

• One to two A-levels. You’ll need an A-level in art or in an art-based subject.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects. Some courses ask that you have a pass in English.

Many other qualifications are also accepted so check prospectuses for more details. The entry requirements for relevant HNDs and foundation degrees are similar to those needed for foundation courses.

If you go on to a degree directly, you’ll usually need:

• Two or more A-levels. Many courses ask that you have at least a B grade in an art-based subject.
• Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4. A pass in English is often required.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or in a design consultancy are valued. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the industry you want to work in is an advantage. To enter the work or relevant courses, a portfolio of work showing your creative ability is normally required.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses. The British Display Society approves various courses, relevant for exhibition designers. A wide range of colleges and universities offer degrees in interior design, or interior architecture, including at postgraduate level. Study can be full or part time/flexible or via distance learning. Some courses have been developed in partnership with industry.

Related careers

• Architect
• Design assistant
• Designer
• Furniture designer
• Textile designer
• Theatre/television designer
• Visual merchandiser

 Interior designers specialise in the design of working and living environments, whereas exhibition designers specialise in planning the design and layout of exhibition venues.

Also known as:

• Exhibition designer

Work activities

Interior and exhibition designers make the most effective use of space. They design working environments for organisations and living environments for private homes. Exhibition designers design and oversee the creation of exhibition projects. Typical exhibition projects may include designing individual exhibition stands or organising and designing the layout of an entire exhibition site. Interior design projects begin with a design brief, followed by detailed research. Interior designers make sure that the designs they produce suit each client’s requirements and fit within their budget limits.

Research helps the interior designer to understand technical processes and their limitations, environmental and health/safety issues, as well as architectural practice. Without this research, interior designers may waste time preparing designs that look attractive on paper but may be impossible to construct.

Rough sketches and drawings are made and shown to the client. Once designs are approved, interior designers refine their original sketches to produce detailed working drawings, specifications and models, which contractors refer to during the work. Interior designers then supervise and oversee the work. Some interior designers specialise as interior decorators and make suggestions about curtains, wall-coverings and furniture, all of which add the finishing touches to an interior design.

Exhibition designers follow a similar process to interior designers: research, consultation, feedback, sketches, working drawings and models. Exhibitions are staged in a wide range of venues, so exhibition designers must be able to adapt their ideas to suit the setting. The arrangement and layout of a museum exhibition, for instance, may create a different mood and atmosphere from that of a trade exhibition.

Exhibition stands need to be imaginative, eye-catching and easy to recognise, especially if the client is a well-known organisation. They must be designed in such a way that they can be put up and taken down quickly and easily, fit into confined spaces and be easily transported.

Personal qualities and skills

As an interior/exhibition designer, you need:

• Good organisation and planning skills.
• To be creative and artistic.
• An understanding of colour, shape and form.
• To keep up to date with new design developments.
• To work to deadlines and budgets.
• Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of building and safety regulations.

Self-employed or freelance interior/exhibition designers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for interior/exhibition designers vary with the industry and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Interior/exhibition designers earn in the range of £18,000 - £45,000. Highly successful designers can make more.

Interior/exhibition designers usually work a basic 40-42-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on the project they are working on. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

Most interior/exhibition designers begin their careers as design assistants in design consultancies or design departments of building and construction-related organisations. Other opportunities are with large retailers or with hotel groups. Opportunities for interior/exhibition designers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for interior/exhibition designers to work as self-employed, freelance designers in consultancy and fixed-term contract work. You can obtain this work through specialist recruitment agencies.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector now operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market. Entry to this area of work is competitive.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all interior/exhibition design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications to potential employers can be useful.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is via a foundation course in art and design followed by a degree, HND or foundation degree in a subject such as interior or spatial design. The British Institute of Interior Design can provide a list of relevant courses.

You could also do a level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of fitted furniture design technician. This is a mainly work-based programme, although you will work towards relevant qualifications as well. An interior designer apprenticeship is in development but not currently available.

Most of your training will be on-the-job. Many designers become self-employed. With experience, some move into senior roles within an organisation.

Qualifications

The usual entry requirements for a relevant Foundation course are:

• One to two A-levels. You’ll need an A-level in art or in an art-based subject.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects. Some courses ask that you have a pass in English.

Many other qualifications are also accepted so check prospectuses for more details. The entry requirements for relevant HNDs and foundation degrees are similar to those needed for foundation courses.

If you go on to a degree directly, you’ll usually need:

• Two or more A-levels. Many courses ask that you have at least a B grade in an art-based subject.
• Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4. A pass in English is often required.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or in a design consultancy are valued. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the industry you want to work in is an advantage. To enter the work or relevant courses, a portfolio of work showing your creative ability is normally required.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses. The British Display Society approves various courses, relevant for exhibition designers. A wide range of colleges and universities offer degrees in interior design, or interior architecture, including at postgraduate level. Study can be full or part time/flexible or via distance learning. Some courses have been developed in partnership with industry.

Related careers

• Architect
• Design assistant
• Designer
• Furniture designer
• Textile designer
• Theatre/television designer
• Visual merchandiser