The possibilities are endless...

Here I am sat in the gorgeous old library building of CCAD, thinking about what on earth I want to do with my life. It's kind of always been a standing joke that I want to do EVERYTHING, with my wise older sister telling me wisely, "Christina, JUST PICK SOMETHING. Pick something, go with it and from there the options will be endless" So I did. I picked textiles, and proving she was right, with masses if industry research before me- I am faced with endless options!

I spent lots of time over the summer reflecting on "life" and what path I'd like to go down. Through the renovation and decoration of my own home, I have definitely developed a love for interior decoration and design (Lookout for my posts on my own pad renovations by the way, I'll keep you in the loop). The term "interior design" is very vague however- my personal opinion of the definition is much more architectural and spacial related than that of "curtain and blind making" which seem to be fairly apparent when searching the term- I'm definitely not knocking curtain and blind makers here by the way- we all need curtains and blinds! But whether or not that classes as interior design, I believe is to be questioned. Feeling that my interpretation of "interior design/ interior decoration needs clearing up lets turn to figuring this out.

So here goes, my "Interior Design" google search.............................

Ignoring the top search result which is a design school, and the second which is Hammonds who are  a fitted room/ furniture business offering a "design" service. This I feel doesn't fit the bill of the wikipedia definition showing below it- 

Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an "effective setting for the range of human activities" that are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who coordinates and manages such projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, communicating with the stakeholders of a project and the management and execution of the design. 

Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interior_design

Lets have a look at the oxford dictionary definition...

The art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/interior-design?q=interior+design

I still feel like this is hazy, I'm going to try some more design specific sources, possibly describing the job role. 

"Qualified by education, experience and applied skills, the professional Interior designer accepts the following responsibilities:

1. Identify, research and creatively solve problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment;
2. Perform services relating to interior spaces including programming, design analysis, space planning, aesthetics and inspection of work on site, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building regulations, equipment, materials and furnishings;
3. Prepare schematics, drawings and documents relating to the design of interior space, in order to enhance the quality of life and protect the health, safety, welfare and environment of the public

http://www.biid.org.uk/education-and-careers/definition-of-a-designer

This is also more helpful, 

Interior designers are creative, imaginative and artistic. They also need to be disciplined, organized and skilled business people. Combining knowledge with aesthetic vision, interior designers work with clients and other design professionals to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, attractive and meet the needs of the people using the space.

The website goes on to describe attributes of successful interior designers, and what it takes to be involved in this career- http://www.careersininteriordesign.com/what.html

From what I'm gathering, interior designers plan, implement and see through/manage all elements of design work taking place in a space. Lots of companies I've found offer various different levels of service, from consultation through to the entire management of a project. I LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS!

I have found a fab looking company based in Newcastle who work on commercial sites. Their portfolio consists of bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and even hair salons. Thie variety of their work sounds really exciting and their standard of finish looks very high. I am definitely contemplating contacting these guys regarding work experience.

http://www.collective-design.co.uk

I also found a gorgeous little place at the other end of the spectrum to collective, they are called The Forge. Based in Bedael, N'Yorks they have a fabulous shop with studio above selling homewares/ interior products / kitchens / wallpaper and fabrics. Alongside this they offer interior design services...

Interior Design Service

Interior Design is an area in which we excel. Not only do we enjoy its challenges but also the hard work which goes into creating a truly bespoke solution for our clients.

We understand that with so many possible styles to contend with, the prospect of choosing a new look for your home can be a daunting one, where hours of decision making often lead to nowhere.

This is where we come in!

We provide a three- tiered service to suit your needs:

Free Colour Consultation

A free colour consultation service is available to all our customers in-store, offering our expertise across the board on paint, wallpaper, fabrics, flooring and more.

Home Consultation

Being able to understand the space in which you need help with is invaluable. Opting for a home consultation allows us to fully assess your problems and ideas,

ensuring that we are able to give you the best possible advice.

This Service costs from £60.00

Full Room Design

A full room design allows you to benefit from every aspect of our knowledge. Mood and sample boards, evoking the intended look and atmosphere of the finished space are skilfully combined and presented to our clients.

We work with you to understand all of your problems and to provide a solution

for every element of the design.

This service costs £270.00 per room

If you then wish to go ahead with the design of your space, we will provide you with a quote to complete the work and are able to make the experience one that is stress and hassle free by project managing the entire refurbishment. Take a look at our Project Management page for further information on this.

Phhewwww lots to take in, I'm pretty certain that I'm leaning mostly towards interiors as my area focus.  I'm going to sleep on this and follow up with a post on interior decoration tomorrow, highlighting the differences between the two.

Night folks.

F XOXOX