Not necessary. Get an MBA.



Go buy some books, get a subscription to Interior Design, Metropolitan Home, and what ever others and just read, look and learn. Get samples sent to you (be careful, I once circled everything on one of those postcards and got boxes and boxes of shit for years!), know the brands, names, etc.

Learn about furniture designers, manufacturer's, costs, etc.


All this is easily available.


Start playing with renderings, experimenting with colors, designs, spaces, etc. Go to www.e-interior.com for a massive library of real 3D furniture, lighting, etc., etc.


Just takes a little leg work, and fun leg work, and you'll be set. I strongly recommend the 3D route, learn to render very well, use the the 'real' items from the manufacturers and you'll be all set.

Hi liruo-

I have my Masters in Architecture, and teach in an Interior Design program (UG and Grad). So obviously there are overlaps, but there are differences too.

I'd consider the curriculum at the places you are considering studying at. Are they things you want (or need) to learn? Will they help you grow as a designer? Do they look like fun, or work? Are they worth the sticker price?

Second, do you need the masters for your career goals? Do you want to teach? start a firm in a market where a masters is necessary to attract clients? make partner at a big firm?

Finally, what do you think interior designers do? How about interior architects? or the dirty word -- interior decorators? Where do you see the work that you enjoy between these three professions?

Finally, there are the questions re: certificate or license. If your arch degree is NAAB accredited, you are quite likely to be only about 6 months from being able to take the ID exam. But how far are you from an Architects' license? Is it worth it to stick it out?

Hope this helps.