Decorative Lighting Design for Homes and Offices

Why does lighting design play a major role in interior design, and why is a lighting plan an important part of an interior designer’s proposal? Find out why lights and lighting are important, and how they are integral parts of any interior design concept.


Lighting is the most practical, exciting and mysterious of all design mediums. It's exciting because of the ability to transform any physical object it illuminates. A mysterious medium, because light rays are invisible to the naked eye until they touch an object. And it is practical, because of its value to our lives and aesthetic properties.

Light possesses the absolute power to enhance and display objects to the human eye so it's virtually impossible to evaluate any visual effect without the presence of lights. To understand lighting and to design effectively, an electrical lighting designer must understand its technology and at the same time aim to be decorative.

Types of Lighting and How It Relates to Interiors

Illumination and the use of light to achieve a general, creative, or aesthetic effect include artificial lights at night and natural daylight that captures the day. So, whether you’re lighting your home or office, incorporating all three types of lighting into your interior design theme will ensure you create the ideal stylish space in every room. Three types of lighting are directly related to interior design.
  1. Ambient lighting
  2. Accent lighting
  3. Task lighting
 
Ambient lighting
Ambient lights are general lights that are a necessary part of any good lighting plan. These are the lights that provide an overall glow to interiors. They are meant to set the tone for space and create enough light to see and move around safely and comfortably.

Ambient lighting generally consists of overhead light fixtures that include recessed lights, ceiling lights, spot and track lights, pendant lights, and chandeliers. Table and floor lamps also fall into this category.

Accent lighting
They create a focal point that builds on the ambient lights in a room. By adding dimension, accent lights are used to draw attention to decorative features like wall art, plants, or a display statue, and highlight them as special design elements of the interior.

When well placed, accent lights draw attention to the elements, without drawing attention to how it is being lit. Examples of accent lighting include track lights, recessed lighting, picture lights, and wall sconces. They can be set at an angle and directed to serve as a spotlight.

Task lighting
These are localized lights and are provided by a variety of different sources. This allows for adjusting the lighting of a workspace and brightening or darkening it as required. Effective task lighting is ideal for reading, cooking, studying, or working. Basically, it is meant for whatever activity or work it is needed for.

A good task light should provide about 40 to 100 watts to a workspace. Task lighting can be created using various light sources like recessed lights, track lighting, desk lamps, or adjustable task lamps. Halogen bulbs can be used for task lighting because they produce white light similar to natural daylight.

Lighting and Interior Design

One of the few design elements that can be changed or manipulated easily and quickly is lighting. With the click of a light switch or the turn of a dimmer switch, light can alter interior space aesthetics, moods, colours, patterns, or intensity.

Lighting is used to direct attention to some great interior décor piece within a room because the eye always (unconsciously too) seeks out the brightest and most interesting object in its field of vision. At night, outdoor lighting is used effectively to direct movement through or within an outdoor environment.

There is no doubt about the importance of lighting design and how it is being used as a direct source of interior design and decoration. Below are some examples of how lighting properties can be related to the area, space, and interior design.
  • Lights reveal objects' shapes and forms. It can make an object look flat, or it can visually increase its dimensional form.
  • Effective lighting design can cause objects to seem to recede into the background, or it can visually accentuate the separation of planes.
  • On stage in the theatre, an effective lighting design can make old starlets appear younger, and younger stars with elderly roles will actually look aged.
  • In the home, a good lighting design with a warm effective ambiance can make home occupants and guests look calm, healthy and refreshed.
  • It is a well-known fact that light placements are used in jewelry shops to enhance glass, making them look like gems. This is achieved by cleverly manipulating lights through a lighting designer's creative skills.
  • Interior designers know that costly furnishing may look like discount store copies with the wrong lighting. So beautiful qualities such as sheen and colour should be properly revealed with enhanced lighting.
  • Store lighting designers have a way of lighting up meat counters so that meat looks fresh throughout their opening hours (even though stale food may be slightly off-colour). Vegetables will look crisp and fresh at all times with the right lighting illumination.
  • Silhouette projections produced by lights can form interesting surface patterns on floors, walls, or ceilings.
  • Transparency projections can produce an impression of detailed realism or visions of the wildest 'flights' of our imaginations.

The Architecture Of Light (2nd Edition): A textbook of procedures and practices for the Architect, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer - This is a vivid, image-packed book of lighting concepts and techniques. It is the perfect companion for lighting design students and professionals alike.

Effects of Lights on Colours

Colours in an interior space can be delicately balanced by selecting different light sources, each with its own specific attributes. So for example, if the interior décor is dominated by reds and blue tints, it's possible to subtly alter the emphasis of each colour by supplying different artificial light sources.

In interior spaces, no single source of light is visually pleasing. It is good to have a mix of portable lights such as lamps and installed lighting fixtures. Using excessive light from one source and in one place causes a wild glare and can become (quite) unpleasant. It is better to use more light sources for a successful and more effective lighting scheme.

Lighting, as an abstract and intangible design component, has a significant influence on our perception of the environment around us and whether or not our visual experience will be pleasant (or not) depends on a lighting designer's skills in creative lighting design.

(Article originally published by Viryabo at Maven/HubPages)

 

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9 Golden Rules for Beginner Interior Design Project Managers

 If you are a beginner project manager in the interior design industry, this article is for you. It examines the nine golden rules to follow if you are seeking ways to improve your project management skills. They must be regarded as the top guidelines required to help ensure you manage your building construction project with ease.


The simple but vital rules will help improve your project deliverables and assist in approaching your project management tasks professionally. As an interior design project manager, you must satisfy your client’s needs by creating a comfortable and conducive environment for those occupying the interior space when the project is completed.

The Golden Guidelines

  1. Practice positive teamwork.
  2. Have a good client/project manager relationship.
  3. Have a good relationship with project team members.
  4. Keep project promises.
  5. Coordinate methodically.
  6. Work and learn as you go along.
  7. Always expect the unexpected.
  8. Collaborate with all stakeholders.
  9. Be a listener.

Practice Positive Teamwork
Adopt the practice of teamwork. For successful project implementation, you need to approach issues from various perspectives. As a project manager, you must realise that what you see visually is different from what you think in your mind. With teamwork, you will find that what you may miss may be observed by others. Endeavour to make it a habit to find out what others see that you may miss.
 

Have a Good Relationship with Your Clients
It is important to stay close to your clients and be aware of their feelings about the project. If you can, ensure you over-deliver than expected, to allay their reservations, fears, or concerns which may be major or minor. As their concerns continue to evolve through the course of the project, take advantage of that to give more than what is expected of you. Once you are in tune with your customers and stay in constant contact, they will see you as a gem.
 

Have a Good Relationship with Your Project Team
Your team members are important—almost as important as your clients are. You can't have a great relationship with your clients if you ignore your construction project team. With the right mindset, achieving a form of camaraderie-ship with team members should not be a challenge. Yes, there are some decisions you may take on behalf of the whole team, but for a wonderful working relationship, taking care of each team member as an individual is important.
 

Keep Your Project Promises
This is a top golden rule for project managers. Project management in the building industry can be challenging at times because it is easy to lose sight of what you are doing, especially if it is a large project. It is also easy to go off-track if you don't pay attention to details. You have to keep to your project promises and constantly remind your team of all promises made, plan on how to work them and plan how to fulfil them.
 

Coordinate Methodically
You must pay attention to critical details and discussions. Remember that a construction project is an ever-evolving network of obligations. To avoid drifting from the important issues, make sure that contractors, sub-contractors, and craftsmen/artisans are clear about their requests in writing, give you pledges that have completion dates, and share with you their opinions that advance the purpose of the project.
 

Be Prepared to Work and Learn
Couple your actions with learning because working on a construction project is a wonderful learning opportunity. It's like learning on a job because each project has its peculiarities. Inculcate the art of incorporating actions with learning in all your projects, large or small, and encourage your team members to learn as they work. They will appreciate this concern for their own good. While your clients will benefit from your smart insights, it will also make your job easier to accomplish.
 

Always Expect the Unexpected
A professional project manager must embrace the uncertainty that's rife in the building of structures. It is not always smooth sailing—far from it! Issues do rear their head while on a project, and you'll find that there is far more that you don't and can't know than what is expected. You must learn to be resilient to any unexpected occurrence and be aware that you and your team will learn something new about tackling challenging issues. There may be changes in promises to clients, altering of agreed concepts, or price changes, for instance, but what is important is how you solve them so you can still deliver on your promises.


Collaborate with All Stakeholders
Collaborate fully with all people and performers of the building construction project. Make this one of your golden rules. Waiting for the project to reach a critical stage without collaboration will result in disaster. Carry all along, and don't wait until the project has gone south to get their contributions. Start the collaboration process from the onset and continue throughout the project. This will guarantee that everyone has a focused purpose and will ensure a successfully implemented project.

Be a Listener
If someone on the project has something to say, as the project manager, listen attentively. This doesn't mean you don't have your own ideas or impressions, but listening is a quality that those you work with will appreciate. Some people can only voice what they feel in a flash of a moment with well-intended suggestions, so take the time to listen. Ask them questions and engage them. At times, ask for other opinions on matters relating to the project.


A Must-Have Book for Beginner Project Managers


What are the major challenges faced by interior design project manager, how can they be avoided, and what are their solutions? This interior design handbook – Interior Design Project Manager: Challenges, Solutions, and Golden Rules, will instruct you on how to overcome the challenges of managing interior design projects and how to avoid failures caused by unclear plans and objectives.

How to Create Stylishly Ethnic Bedroom Designs

Ethnic or tribal (two words, same thing) interior decor offers various style potentials that are not necessarily restricted to African, North American, or Australian native themes. Many people generally believe that ethnic designs are tribal, while many more believe that tribal designs connote ethnicity. They are all right in many ways.

Stylish ethnic bedroom theme.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

In modern-day interior styling, the concept of the ethnic interior layout can often be associated with the exotic. From subtle earth tones to rough textures, vivid colours, and elaborate patterns, ethnic decor is a beautiful mix of tradition, art, nature, and native elements.


Turn your Bedroom Into an Ethnic Haven


Transforming a bedroom into a stylishly tribal haven from scratch is simple and fun to put together because there are no rules per se. The basic requirements typical of the theme are:

  • Natural (plants, jute, clay)
  • Traditional (wood, fabrics, furniture)
  • Artsy (carvings, sculptures, local art, handmade crafts, animal prints).

If your bedroom is already designed contemporary or modern, then all you require are tribal accents and complements. These include many items in the above list, enough to make an impact (if you wish for a dramatic style).


Points to note:
  • Unless you want to create an eclectic-styled bedroom, try not to combine elements from different cultures. For instance, if you wish to go for African, combining it with Mexican or Native American will give the space an undefined (and unrefined) look.
  • Do not over-clutter the space unless again, you desire eclectism. The best look is minimalism.


Examples of Ethnic-Style Themes


Different tribal communities often reflect their cultural identity and traditions in homes, furniture, and furnishings. And in fashion as well.

In the examples below (assuming you already have a bedroom set-up and only wish for a room enhancement or makeover), if you already have the basics, a bed, nightstands, and a dresser unit, choose one of the themes, and enhance or upgrade the room with some of its listed elements.

African

  1. A wall-mounted African tribal mask.
  2. Wall-hung talking drums.
  3. Handwoven rug with tribal patterns.
  4. Large floor pillows covered in rustic textiles or African prints.
  5. Leath pouffs (as footstools).
  6. Display of small-size artefacts on surfaces (tables, stands, floating shelves).
  7. Simulated stone or hardwood floor coverings.
  8. Faux animal skin.
  9. Handwoven baskets.
  10. Wood carvings and sculptures.
  11. Brass, copper, or terracotta urns.
  12. Pendant, floor, and table lamp shade covers, that are made with local Ankara or loom-woven fabrics.
Add no less than four of the items to create an aesthetically pleasing ethnic bedroom decor.

Japanese

  1. Umbrella-art-inspired ornaments.
  2. Oriental hanging lanterns and table lamps.
  3. A two-panel foldable screen with oriental features.
  4. Traditional Japanese plants like bonsai or bamboo.
  5. Tabletop water feature (elements of water are popular in Japanese homes).
  6. Simulated bamboo wood or stone flooring (for makeovers).
  7. Bamboo window shades.
  8. Sheer and gauze fabrics for curtain panels.
Japanese style revolves around a clean, orderly, and uncluttered look, with all elements set together in a balanced order. For an oriental inclined ethnic bedroom décor, use a low bed with side cabinets and a chest and introduce some of the furnishings listed above.

Mediterranean 

  1. A white backdrop of walls with the focal wall textured.
  2. Wrought iron light fixtures - sconces, table, and floor lights.
  3. Moroccan (Berber) rugs.
  4. Wall tapestry.
  5. Wrought iron chandelier.
  6. Throws with geometric patterns and vibrant colors.
  7. Wall art with images of Mediterranean scenery.
The Mediterranean style is primarily a fusion of several different sub-styles influenced by the colourful and classic Spanish, the Greek hues of blue, turquoise, and white, the Old-world charm of the Italians, and the bold influence of the Moroccans.

Indian 

  1. Handwoven Ikats textiles and upholstery.
  2. Indian embroidered cushion covers.
  3. Wood floor lamp.
  4. Ottomans and footstools.
  5. Colourful lanterns.
  6. Ethnic wood bedside tables.
  7. Copper vases.
  8. Silk cushion covers and ethnic cotton bedcovers.
  9. Traditional India/Kashmiri rugs.
  10. Glasswork and ceramic vases.
  11. Brocade upholstery.
Indian designs with rich colours and exotic textures add intriguing effects to their cultural decor.


Mixing Different Themes


Combining styles can be dicey (except for eclecticism) and if you don't know how to pull it off, it is best to keep it simple. Do not combine Moroccan with Asian or Hispanic. Morocco is in Africa, so if you want a mix, it's best to keep it African. A good one is Moroccan with a dash of Safari East Africa.

Also, a blend of American prairie with Latin American basics will give a surprisingly stylish look, the same with a combination of Native American and Prairie.


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How to Shabby-Chic Your Bathroom Decor for That Well-Worn Appeal

The shabby chic design has become a very popular style, judging by the heightened interest in the old and well-worn look that many homeowners are applying to their home décor theme.
Hand-drawn shabby chic bathroom with a beautiful old worn look.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)


As interior designers and decorators are selling the concept to clients who favour the traditional old-country look that a shabby chic décor is, the popular decorating style didn’t start off as a design theme until a few decades ago when the term was first coined and when it became fashionable to join the shabby chic enthusiasts’ bandwagon.

The shabby chic style embraces the look of aged scruffy-looking furniture and furnishings like wood that shows layers of paint, scratched and pitted wood, washed-out prints, white-washed or bleached floors, and pastel tones, all typical features of the famed ‘distressed’ shabby look.

How to Create a Shabby Chic Look


If you want to upgrade your bathroom on a shoestring budget without compromising on quality and style, or if you desire a timelessly chic look that gives a warm relaxed feel, then you need to take the shabby chic style into your bathroom.

Bathroom designs themed after the shabby chic style are one of the easiest design concepts to achieve because their design attributes are simple to put together. So, what do you need to create a shabby chic bathroom décor?

Wood elements – There is no shabby chic decor that is complete without wooden elements. The wooden elements (furniture) like vanity units, cabinets, shelves, and general storage items must be wood that has been distressed to make it look old and worn. Paint all wood trims and crown mouldings white because white is the main base colour of shabby chic themes.

Floor finish - Whitewashed and pickled floors are typical of the shabby theme. If you desire a bleached effect for the bathroom floor finish, consider using pine and whitewashing it after installation. However, you will also find faux bleached wood and ceramic floor tiles that will give a bleached effect, on the market. Pickling is a method that is best used on oak wood and involves applying a white stain that will brighten the wood surface while still exposing its grain pattern. Ceramic floor tiles must be neutral shades if faux-bleached floor tiles are not preferred. Remember that words such as faded and bleached remain common terms often applied to the shabby chic bathroom style.

Fabrics – You will require some textile materials in the bathroom like the window blinds, curtains, or shades. The colour scheme must be pale while their prints and patterns must be vintage-inspired, preferably florals, just like chintz fabrics. Shabby chic décor always calls for a soft and feminine feel which can be achieved with the type of fabrics and textures chosen.

Palettes - Pale palettes are characteristically shabby chic colours, so the bathroom colour scheme must be in soft and pale tones. Pastel colours come to mind here. Paint the bathroom walls with a matte finish for an authentic country-style look. The walls must not be shiny or glossy, but rather, they must look dull and worn. Good combinations are white and off-white, white and pale yellows, and white and cream. Another popular combination is vintage yellow or pale gold and a sand hue finish which creates a soft warm feel that is typical of the shabby chic look.

Wallpaper and wallcoverings – The best and easiest way to integrate the shabby chic theme into your bathroom is to finish the walls with shabby chic wallpaper and wallcoverings. It is not only easy to apply wallcovering to complement the décor, but it is also an inexpensive way to give your bathroom a fresh new country-style look. You can be as bold or as neutral as you like and can paper the entire walls or a single wall to complement the other three walls in the room. Most shabby chic wallpapers come in neutral colours with elegant, Georgian, lace-style patterns. Wallpaper with subtle features or trailing patterns will give the shabby chic bathroom a stylishly modern twist.

Bathroom furniture - You can use old or discarded wood furniture and upcycle them. You can also utilize old home décor objects, and other reusable interior materials, including antique and vintage furniture. If you have none of these, you can buy cheap furniture items from the stores, then ‘distress’ and paint them. The essence of the shabby chic style is basically decorating with and displaying furniture that is old and worn as in 'passed down' antique or vintage items. You can use some of your old furniture, with their original old paint or stain, if they possess distinct signs of age.

Tip 
You can imitate the worn look by painting the furniture and allowing it to dry thoroughly. After it is dry, hand-sand it by gently rubbing the top coat of paint with sandpaper to show a bit of the wood and patches of the base coats.

Furnishings – The furnishings you choose must complement and enhance the new bathroom makeover. Choose linen and cotton fabrics if you can, instead of synthetic or man-made textiles. Use white linens inspired by the old French and ensure they look vintage, worn, or lightly bleached. To add a modern twist to your theme, add pastel pinks, blue, or green colours, preferably tiny floral prints on a fresh white or off-white background. Hues and tones can be introduced in towels, curtains, glass jars, candles, floor mats, and other accessories.

Bathroom Accessories to Complement the Shabby Style


Your bathroom makeover demands that you must accessorize it and it is equally simple to do this. You probably have some décor items or other objects around the house but just in case you do not, the list below will open your imagination. Find some of these fixtures and decorations and use them to enhance your bathroom décor . . . to add the ‘chic’ to the ‘shabby’.

  • Oval or round-shaped antique gilt mirrors or rectangular silver-framed mirrors
  • Classic style wall sconce light(s)
  • Shallow shelves
  • Roll-top bath (if you plan a total makeover)
  • Lace, chintz, or voile curtains
  • Set of Oka baskets to store towels, toiletries, and other bathroom things
  • Wooden robes rack or wall-mounted vintage hooks
  • Ornate toilet roll holder
  • Cottage-style towel rail
  • Shabby chic cupboard
  • Classic style lacey shower curtains
  • Shabby chic framed artwork
  • Ornate antique-style table-top clock

White towels are good with shabby chic themes but soft creamy colours like shades of champagne are great too

Good design practices allow for a mix of the traditional with the modern, so, bathroom sinks, faucets (wall mounted taps keep lines clean), bathtubs, WC, and shower enclosure can remain contemporary or modern.

Shabby Chic décor ranges from the stylishly traditional to the modern and understated. The style will fit in any room, from the foyer and kitchen to the bedroom and bathroom and has become a lifestyle and worldwide design movement.

For further information, graphic illustrations, and beautiful photographs, this book titled - Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets by Rachel Ashwell, is lavishly comprehensive and well-detailed. If you are a designer, a decorator, or somebody interested in home designs, styles, and themes, you will draw much inspiration from this book.


(Article originally published at https://hubpages.com/@viryabo)


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Need a Short Course in Interior Design? Study Online for a Higher National Diploma (HND)

Interior layout. (Image used under license from iStockPhoto)

If you want to have the ability to create design concepts and professionally communicate your designs to clients, a higher national diploma (HND) course is the minimum qualification you must have.

With an HND in interior design, you can work on various non-complex residential projects and increase your chances of success in your career as a designer. You will have a good understanding of the elements that define interior spaces. And by the end of your 2 years (full-time) study, you will have professional skills as a designer and understand the fundamentals of plumbing, lighting, electricity, heating, and other services integrated within building structures.

Some of the vital requirements that go with the interior design profession are:
  • Project management skills.
  • Marketing skills.
Project management skills are vital requirements because, as a professional, you will be required to manage projects that involve a workforce that includes contractors, subcontractors, artisans, fitters, etc. Marketing and other business skills are also needed to complement your professional skills.

HND in Interior Design – 6 Major Topics Covered

  1. History of Design and Period Décor
  2. Construction & Structural Renovation
  3. Design Communication
  4. Design Materials & Furnishings
  5. Commercial Design
  6. Professional Interior Design Practice


History of Design and Period Décor


It is inevitable that throughout the career of an interior designer, there will be times when you may have a project where you have to recreate period interiors to various degrees of authenticity. You will learn about the main historical events and their influences on design developments and movements. Subjects covered in this class include:

Critical Analysis
How political and social circumstances in the past have influenced present-day styles.

Early Design Styles
Design styles from Egyptian and Gothic to Victorian, Georgian, Rococo, and other eras.

Turning Points in the History of Design
The turning points in history - the Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, Dark Ages and the Information Age. And how they may have impacted and influenced the way we live.

Global Design Styles
The development of regional variations in terms of Western and non-Western design styles.

Review of Design Styles Throughout History
Design styles from the Baroque to the Victorian ages and onwards will be covered in this topic.

Modernism
About modern design styles of the 21st century. And possible futuristic design developments.


Construction and Structural Renovation

This topic explores construction in detail as it relates to an interior architect. You must be able to communicate professionally with architects and contractors. Subjects covered in this class include:

Principles of Building Design
Building construction and understanding how things are done and why, from foundation to roof construction.

Interior Renovations
How to alter interiors and make minor structural changes to an existing structure while meeting legal and building requirements.

Planning Building Layouts
Working on commercial project layouts and how to plan the interior space and partitioning of such structures.

Staircases and Disabled Aspects of Design
Learn how to incorporate staircases into your interior design creations and develop access for the physically challenged.

Building Services
Plan electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) layouts and how to do full specifications for all building services.

Lighting and Security
Learn how to design commercial lighting systems and the required security regulations that it demands.

Whole Building Design
To improve the quality of life of building occupants, you will learn how to plan your building interiors so that layouts, finishes, and systems work together efficiently and effectively.


Design Communications

This class is about specialist techniques and how to produce professional drawings, clear and detailed specifications, and contractual agreements. This ensures that projects are executed correctly without unnecessary delays and costly mistakes.

Drawings and illustrations cross all language barriers. They illustrate design concepts and ideas at the early stages of all projects. With this, and at this stage, you get the all-important feedback and the necessary approvals before the commencement of any construction work. Subjects to be covered include:

Advanced Drawing Techniques
Learn how to achieve clarity, precision, and accuracy in working drawings.

Detailed Drawings
Prepare detailed drawings to help communicate construction and installation methods.

Design Briefs and Specifications
Learn how to create specifications templates and prepare work schedules for contractors.

3-Dimensional Representations
Learn how to do axonometric, isometric, and perspective drawings and step-by-step instructions on how to do these manually and digitally with 3D software.

Rendering
Learn how to produce simple but visually stunning, impactful rendered drawings and sketches.


Design Materials and Furnishings

Interior architects and designers have a wide choice of materials for structural designs and how they can or should be used within a design concept. The design materials available range vastly and include materials such as stainless steel, granite, marble, glass blocks, mirrors, wood, and concrete. In this class, you are taught how to examine them and the advantages and disadvantages of their individual use. You will learn how these materials can be used creatively and effectively. Subjects covered in this class include:

Designing the Environment
How design choices affect our environment, and all about green living and sustainable design.

Consumer Response
What people choose and believe in, and the psychological associations attached to individual client choices.

Design Methods
Learn how design decisions are based on production, installations and general maintenance.

Performance versus Cost
How well, how long, and how suitable the choices of materials are in the long term.

Mass Production
How the scale of projects and the demand of consumers has an influence on modern design approaches.

Regulation and Standards
Legal standards and ethical standards, and how they should conform to the selections of materials made.


Commercial Interior Design

Helping clients choose styles relevant and appropriate to their corporate identity and business strategies. You will learn how to create/achieve themes that will excite and impact corporate staff and customers and help increase their business profits.

The many stages of commercial design are identified in this class, and you will be able to produce effective results for your clients without compromising on your own creativity. You will also learn about the latest in neuroscience and architectural fields and know how these can be incorporated to produce more beneficial designs. Subjects covered include:

Ergonomics and Universal Designs
You learn how to create great designs for individuals and the community at large.

Business and Design Psychology
Finding out what works, how, and why.

Designing for Industries
Learn about designing for industries and identifying the common design requirements of the various industrial sectors.

Establishing Goals
Your clients will have goals that you have to adapt to and work around.

Commercial Design Cycle
Learning how to create effective designs for medium and large-scale projects.

Teamwork
How do you work as a team member to achieve success in a design project? Learn how to identify your role and coordinate with fellow team members.

Effective Selling
Creating designs that sell you and your client’s products and/or services.


Professional Practice

As a professional interior designer, to successfully plan and organize your tasks and schedules, you require project management skills. With the HND interior design program, you will discover the various ways you can use your talents as an employer, employee, or freelance designer.

Additionally, you possess the ability to market yourself as a professional interior designer and go out to the world confidently pursuing your chosen career. Subjects covered include:

Define your Role
Identify the services you wish to provide and how to implement turn-key projects.

Project Management
Schedules, work orders and time management of projects. Learn how to use all the effective templates and techniques required for designers.

Budgeting
Learn how to prepare a workable budget and avoid/prevent unwanted cost hikes.

Project Monitoring
Oversee a successful design execution with progress reports and amendments.

Marketing
Learn to research simple ways to help you get the clients.

Contracts and Pricing
How to use legal documents and work with contract agreements to protect yourself and your clients.

Professional Responsibilities
A code of ethics must meet ethical and legal obligations.

Career Paths
You will learn about the various niches available to choose from.

Presentations
How to have a good portfolio that sells you and presents your works to a variety of audiences.

Building Contacts and Resources
This subject teaches you the basics of building up a good database of a core team of contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers.


(Article originally published at https://hubpages.com/@viryabo)


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