Business, Technology, and Other Skills That Will Help You Maintain Your Edge

Whether you’ve been out of interior design school for three years or three decades, the field has changed since you’ve graduated. There’s always more to learn in this competitive and evolving industry. Ellen Fisher, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the New York School of Interior Design, encourages designers to consider their goals when they are thinking about investing in continuing education. “There are two ways to be financially successful in interior design,” says Fisher. “Join a big design firm or start your own firm and manage other designers. If you want to start your own firm or collaborate on a product line, you are going to need to understand business management, branding, marketing, and sales. If you want to transition to a job at a big firm, in addition to an awareness of business and project management practices, you will need to hone your technology skills and acquire new certifications.” We’ve culled advice from Todd Class, NYSID’s assistant dean, and Ashley Rose, the new director of NYSID’s Institute for Continuing & Professional Studies (ICPS), on the knowledge mid-career designers need now to keep up with changes in the industry.

01 | Know Which Computer Program to Master

Todd Class, NYSID’s assistant dean and an expert in academic computing and technologies, says, “What most design firms use now is the Adobe suite, AutoDesk (including Revit and CAD), and SketchUp. There is this perception that all you need is Revit, but it isn’t used as much in small interiors firms. A deep knowledge of Revit is critical at a large architectural firm. AutoCAD is like a Swiss army knife—it has a knife, a corkscrew, scissors; it offers a variety of tools, so AutoCAD is what’s generally used for digital drawing at boutique interiors firms. SketchUp occupies the space between the two markets, and is used at both large and small firms.” NYSID offers three or four different levels of courses in all of these programs, both online and in person, through ICPS.

02 | Approach Social Media Professionally

Ashley Rose, the new Director of ICPS, is a veteran of online marketplaces for antiques, art, and collectibles, including ArtOrigo.com, Ruby Lane, RubyLUX, and 1stdibs.com, and she has a deep knowledge of social media and digital advertising. She says, “Social media, particularly Instagram, can be an invaluable resource for designers. But it has to be approached professionally, with a mind to how you want to grow your business and reinforce your brand. Striking on the right hashtag for your desired customer is critical. I’m really impressed with what Peti Lau, who was a classmate of mine at NYSID, has done with #Aristofreak. Creating a whole style and linking it to a hashtag takes research and intentionality.” Rose believes a great jumping off point for that research is the course Instagram for Interior Designers, taught by arts journalist Katy Hamer.

03 | Build Your Business Skills

Ashley Rose is particularly excited about the ICPS’s suite of six, one-session business courses taught by luxury marketing strategist Tomaï Serdari, Ph.D., founder of Brand(x)Lux, who has also taught at Wharton Business School and NYU Stern Business School. Says Rose, “In just six evenings after work, a designer can learn how to create a business plan, carve out a brand, go to market, manage staff and clientele, and scale. This is the kind of educational experience that can change lives and launch businesses.”

04 | Get an Update in Sustainable Design

Sustainability, that is, clients’ interest in spaces that are non-toxic, healthy, energy efficient, and resilient to the effects of global climate change, is one of the leading movements in interior design, and it’s here to stay, according to Todd Class. Large firms are starting to hire sustainability specialists. Class says a great way to get a basic foundation in sustainable design is NYSID’s online course Introduction to Sustainable Design and the Built Environment. For those who want to go deeper and become leaders in sustainable design, NYSID offers a post-professional master’s degree in sustainable environments, the MPS-S, as well. There is an online option for both the course and the degree.

05 | Acquire More Letters Next to Your Name

Certifications help designers get leadership roles faster, especially at large firms. The most important certifications right now are NCIDQ (interior design certification), LEED (a Green building certification focused on energy efficiency and environmentalism), and WELL (confirms one’s expertise in designing buildings that advance health). If you need to brush up on what you learned a few years ago in school, NYSID’s ICPS offers a three-week course that prepares students to sit for the NCIDQ exam.

06 | Get the Most Out of Your Interiors Photos

“Photo shoots are significant investments for firms that are just starting out. Understanding something about how it’s done will make you better able to market the work you do,” says Ashley Rose. ICPS offers two courses that can help you capture the images that do justice to your interiors: “Working with a Photographer to Capture Your Designs” and “Styling Interiors for a Photo Shoot.”