Which interior design online course will teach you all you need to know to become a professional working employable interior designer uk?

[Treegarden]

I already have a degree (not subject related) so don't want to go down the route of more student debt if I can avoid it. There are so many courses online and wondered if any working interior designers could shed some light on ones that employers will take seriously.

Anyone...

This might be useful

Thank you @Celibacyinthesticks that's really helpful.

@Treegarden My DD changed career to become an Interior Designer. I’m not sure if you realise there are differences in work and capabilities required. If you are purely looking at “cushions and curtains” plus a bit more, on line could work. DD, on the other hand, works with utilizing space. Far closer to architecture. She’s using CAD. She did an intensive 1 year course at KLC for a diploma and it costs a lot of money. Inchbald and KLC school of design and interior design are the market leaders. In London they have the contacts. It took hours and hours of work. They did real life projects. They worked collaboratively in groups. It was very very intense and hard. She’s got a job and works mostly on commercial property like high end hotels and private clubs.

In my view, you need the backing of the top schools to get a job and you need high level CAD competence. It’s not a shoe in to get a job even with decent skills and it’s impossible to get a full design curriculum on line. Just a suitable lap top costs over £1000 to support the software! There is a reason why the top schools charge a lot.

DD loves her job and it’s varied as she does get involved with sourcing interiors, but getting a worthwhile qualification is vital. She already had a fashion degree from UAL. She’s also very computer design savvy. So look at all possibilities and be careful about on line. If you have to compete with properly trained interior designers, it might not lead to the job you want. Many on DDs course were career changers.

I doubt any online course is going to get the job. Unless you already have a large circle of wealthy friends and contacts who use interior designers, you're going to be dependent on corporate work and they're going to want someone fully qualified. Have you looked fully into the prospects in interior design? Are you thinking you'll be employed or set up SE?

Those interior designers used by friends are often the cushions and curtains types.

I think I want to go down the employed route. I have managed to find a really
Good course that would advance me to year 3 of a degree when qualified if I want to degree option offers a work experience placement and is fully accredited 😊

Accredited by whom? @Treegarden Employers know who they trust. What are your computer design skills like? What program do you need for the course? Many on DDs course struggled with cad but it’s vital.

It's btech and it covers ac. I'm already familiarising myself with sketch up and am good with photoshop already & canva. I've compared the modules to degree ones and am really happy with my choice. If I feel I need to learn anything more I will book some top up courses when I've completed this one 😊

What do you mean by dd?

@Treegarden Its the Mumsnet shorthand for daughter.

Of my, I need a nap! I definitely know DD meaning! How did I forget that! 🤣🫣

Thanks for the advice regarding cad. That side really excited me so I'm going to definitely enrol on a in depth cad course after I finish the module on my course.

I worked as a supplier in this industry for years and it’s hard work. The trajectory for success is either to be rich and well connected, or be rich enough to do Inchbald or KLC as mentioned above (they are NOT cheap courses) and then work in a big studio for long enough to develop your own style and address book.

The Inchbald diploma does look wonderful though - https://www.inchbald.co.uk/courses/interior-design/inchbald-diploma-in-architectural-interior-design

Not cheap. KLC was the cheaper of the two. Both are good for employment prospects.