Interior designers create and enhance interior spaces. They ensure the spaces they work on are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and focused on quality of life and safety.
They plan new interiors and renovate existing ones. They work on residential single- and multi-family dwellings. They also work on non-residential buildings up to a limited size, such as offices, restaurants, and stores.
When creating plans, interior designers consider:
- Health and safety requirements
- Lighting and acoustic requirements
- How the interior should work with the exterior shell of the building
- Physical location
- Social context
- Environmental sustainability
Responsibilities vary from one position or project to another. In general, interior designers:
- Identify and analyze client needs and goals
- Prepare preliminary plans and design concepts such as drawings, sketches, renderings, perspectives, colour and material boards, photographs, or models
- Prepare working drawings and specifications for non-load-bearing construction including materials, finishes, millwork, and furnishings
- Confirm that the project has the required permits
- Ensure the project complies with building codes, safety codes, and other regulations
- Conduct field reviews of construction and installation of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment
Interior designers may perform some project management tasks. For example, they may:
- Estimate costs and prepare budgets and schedules
- Prepare tender documents
- Coordinate the bid process
- Help clients choose contractors and award contracts
- Manage costs to remain within the client’s budget
- Coordinate delivery, installation, and labour to stay on schedule
- Review and evaluate projects on clients’ behalf, both during implementation and upon completion
Interior designers may work with other professionals such as architects, engineers, and environmental specialists. For some project types identified in the Architects Act [pdf], interior designers may work under the supervision of registered professionals.
They work closely with general contractors to ensure that workers interpret their drawings correctly. When there is no general contractor, they may coordinate the activities of trades such as painters and carpenters.
In Alberta, only licensed interior designers can practice the full scope of interior design as defined in the Architects Act and Architects Act General Regulation [pdf]. They are considered registered professionals by the Architects Act and the Alberta Building Code. Interior designers are sometimes called interior architects. In addition to the duties described above, licensed interior designers can:
- Work on any building project in Alberta, regardless of building type or size
- Be the registered professional of record (primary consultant) for projects
- Stamp or seal drawings to get building permits
In Alberta, architects can perform all the duties of licensed interior designers. In addition, they can handle issues related to the exterior building shell, environmental separations, and exits.
Both interior designers and interior decorators are concerned with how a space looks and functions. However, interior designers are involved with more technical considerations such as acoustics and health and safety issues. (Interior decorators focus on the ornamental and moveable parts of interiors such as furniture, rugs, and curtains. They also focus on fixed details that can be easily added, such as moldings and built-in furniture.)
