Interior Design Association and Courses

My wife recently gave up work to look after the kids until they reach school age which would mean another 3 years. She aims to go back to work but doesn't want to go back to what she was doing. She worked in a bank but didn't really like the whole office thing.

While things are tight we can get by on my salary so I said when she goes back she should do something that interests her and something that she would enjoy.

She's quite creative and has been thinking of something that would be suitable to this.

At the moment she's investigating interior design. The idea would be to do a course probably part time over the next 2-3 years and get a diploma or higher in the area.

Can anyone help point her in the right direction in terms of whether there is a Irish Association of Interior designers etc We want to be sure whatever course shes thinking of doing is recognised by any relevant association or professional body.

Or if any one can recommend a good interior design course that would be helpful.

At present the she's looked at one run by Griffith college and she plans on visiting their open day but is there any other one that she should consider.

Hi...

I'm starting a design course this Sept so have done a lot of research into the this area, if you are based in Dublin, the good courses are...

www.dublindesign.ie Dublin Institute of Design

Or

www.gcd.ie Griffith Collge - Design Dept

Also, if she is interested in distance study [broken link removed] have fabulous courses, one of which is class room taught at the Dublin Institute of Design.

Hope this helps!

Edited to add, there is no formal academic requirements to practise Interior Design, all the above provide decent courses from the decoration side of things to the more technical Interior Architecture.

[broken link removed] - Insitute of Designers in Ireland

Hiya,

If she's creative & artistic maybe she should also see what other courses/avenues appeal to her. Maybe she could be a brilliant fashion stylist either.

What no one tells you is that Interior Design is a cut throat business and you have to be a mega expert in selling yourself. You have to be able to convince people you are brilliant and unless you have experience no one is going to give you a look in. Plus these days with all the tv programmes and magazines available, every one thinks they can do it and just aren't hiring. The best option maybe, if she did pursue this, would probably be to try and get a sales position in the likes of Habitat etc.

Last comment is very true, very hard to get into the business because it is very difficult to get experience. Most are sole operators so its not like they take on anyone so you can get the experience. Most likely to end up working in sales in associated area, ie curtain, furniture shops etc.