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Interior Designer

Kaitātai o-Roto

Interior designers plan, design, decorate and furnish spaces in residential, commercial, retail and leisure environments.

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Secondary education

You usually need NCEA Level 3 or University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Useful subjects include history of art, design and visual communication (graphics), maths, physics, and painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking combined.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Diploma
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Up to NCEA Level 3

Useful experience

Useful experience for interior designers includes:

  • any work related to rebuilding or refitting building interiors
  • industrial design or other design work
  • architecture or architectural draughting work.

What you will do

Interior designers may do some or all of the following:

  • discuss design ideas and provide advice to clients
  • analyse clients' requirements
  • plan and design building interiors, rooms, shops, and residential and leisure spaces
  • plan interior infrastructure such as lighting, air-conditioning and communication cabling
  • prepare drawings, samples and decorating instructions
  • advise on hiring tradespeople
  • design furniture or fittings
  • buy and arrange furniture and fittings
  • work with architects and other contractors.

Skills and knowledge

Interior designers need to have knowledge of:

  • past and present styles of architecture, design and decorating
  • interior materials such as paint, fabrics and glass
  • building regulations
  • how to analyse a client's requirements and create a design to fit
  • design, drawing and presentation skills.
Pay

Interior designers usually earn

$52K-$87K

per year

Interior designers can earn

$48K-$118K

per year

Job opportunities
Average
Chances of getting a job as an interior designer are average due to stable numbers of people in the role.
Length of training
3
years of training usually required.

Industry

Architecture, Technical Design and Mapping

Interior designers plan, design, decorate and furnish spaces in residential, commercial, retail and leisure environments.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

You usually need experience to become an interior designer and a qualification may be useful.

You may need:

  • experience in interior design
  • a New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Residential) (Level 5)
  • a New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Commercial) (Level 6)
  • a relevant tertiary qualification in designed environments
  • a bachelor's degree in architectural studies or design
  • a Master of Interior Architecture
  • a portfolio of work.

Chances of getting a job

High competition for interior designer vacancies

Opportunities for interior designers are average as the occupation is small with limited job vacancies. There is high competition for vacancies when they arise. 

According to the Census, 1,815 interior designers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Opportunities best for qualified interior designers in cities

You chances of securing a job as an interior designer are best if you have a degree in design.

There are more job opportunities in commercial interior design. This type of work is mainly found in the larger cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. 

Types of employers varied

Interior designers may work for:

  • interior design or architecture practices
  • construction consultancies
  • design showrooms
  • bathroom and kitchen design companies
  • furniture or homeware stores or manufacturers
  • companies that furnish homes for real estate sales
  • polytechnics or universities as tutors and lecturers.

Opportunities for self-employed designers are limited.

Find out more about training

Progression and specialisations

Interior designers may progress to set up their own interior design business, or move into management roles.

Interior designers may specialise in:

  • commercial or residential work
  • colour consulting
  • feng shui design
  • kitchens
  • lighting
  • room styling
  • home staging for real estate sales.

Working conditions

Interior designers:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may need to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines
  • work in design studios and on-site at private, public and commercial properties.

Useful personal qualities

Interior designers need to be:

  • imaginative and creative
  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • good communicators
  • persuasive and able to negotiate
  • able to relate to a wide range of people
  • able to inspire confidence in their clients
  • able to accept criticism.

Industry

Architecture, Technical Design and Mapping

Interior designers plan, design, decorate and furnish spaces in residential, commercial, retail and leisure environments.

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