Corey Damen Jenkins’s 8 Tips for Aspiring Interior Designers

Interior designers work on architecture and interior space planning, creating cohesive and aesthetically pleasing designs for home interiors and businesses for a variety of clients. Many interior designers specialize in particular design fields, such as home design (even as focused as specific rooms), corporate office spaces, commercial interiors, environmental design, or accessibility standards.

If you want to become an interior designer, there are a few qualifications and skills you should seek out:

• Schooling, experience, and licensure: Many states in the United States require prospective interior designers to pass an interior design certification before they can start work independently—and in order to qualify for the test, you need an interior design degree (or similar) and around two years of work apprentice experience. Once you’re eligible, you’ll take the exam, called the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam (or NCIDQ exam, for short), which tests your knowledge of things like building codes, building permits, inspection regulations, construction standards, contract administration, design application, professional practice, and project coordination.
• Project management skills: Interior designers are in charge of a design project from start to finish, so they need keen project management and communication skills to get the job done, including keeping the project organized, hitting deadlines, and communicating with clients, vendors, and building contractors to ensure everyone is happy and understands expectations.
• Computer-aided design skills: While sketches and drawings are part of the interior design process, almost all professional-level interior designs finalize their project blueprints in software programs called computer-aided design programs (CAD). Aspiring interior designers need to have a good grasp of the basics of these programs to complete any design project.

Interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins offers his eight tips for up-and-coming designers:

1. 1. Master mood boards. You can talk about a theoretical design story as much as you want, but until someone can see the colors, patterns, and, well, mood with their own eyes, you’ll have a hard time getting everybody on the same page. A strong visual presentation of the plan will help you and the client align on the project, saving time down the road. Put simply: Mood and color boards are where you’ll really sell clients on your vision. “You really want to be mindful of mixing and matching in such a way that actually looks good on your mood board or color board,” Corey advises. “By doing a strong color board and mood board in advance, you can avoid financial and creative disasters.”
2. 2. Stay on top of new technology. Corey lays out his spaces with renderings. It’s just one of the many digital tools available to you—and new ones are always arriving. Utilizing these will help you show clients how furniture and lighting will flow in the space as well as ensure that everything you’re planning to put in the room is to scale. So take the time to learn about computer-aided design (CAD) software, which allows for full 3-D modeling. Keep yourself apprised of the latest tech by following or subscribing to design industry blogs and trade publications.
3. 3. Mind your money. This is twofold advice. First, research market rates so you know how much to charge a client. And second, learn how to manage a project budget. You want to push your clients toward quality, but you also don’t want to blow your entire budget on a single big-ticket item—even if you (and they) love it. Work with your client to contextualize those higher-priced items within the larger mission and, if it ends up being a must-have, really plan ahead for how to spend the remainder of the budget. “Everybody has a budget,” Corey says, “Even the people who you think have just gazillions in cash and have no budget, trust me, you pitch something to them that they think is astronomically priced, they suddenly have a budget.”
4. 4. Build a high-quality website. Corey was discovered by the American television network HGTV via his website. Nowadays practically everything happens online, so you will want to get your portfolio site up and running as soon as possible. Take photos of each room of every project you work on, and if you don’t have anything in your portfolio yet, share your renderings. Make sure to learn basic search engine optimization techniques so potential clients can find you through an internet search, and make your contact information clearly available. “You need to have a website. It’s okay if you don't have imagery available to showcase on your website. But have a website, no matter what, and have it referenced on your business card.”
5. 5. Design a memorable business card. Though they may seem somewhat dated, business cards are a must. They’re perfect for networking with potential clients, other designers, and shops. No need to go over the top with the design, but keep in mind it should represent your visual sensibilities. “When developing your corporate identity, you need business cards. Business cards are still a thing. I know V-cards, those virtual cards, are hot and that's great. But not everyone is on that level yet. So, having a physical business card is important where a number and preferably an actual, real address versus a PO Box is easily accessible.”
6. 6. Focus on interpersonal skills. Learn how to listen. You may have a million good ideas, but if they aren’t aligned with what your client wants, they’re not actually that useful. Listen first and foremost to what your client wants out of a space, how they plan to use it, and how they want to feel. Once you understand what their hopes for their home are, then you can give them a truly custom design plan.
7. 7. Know the right way to say “no”. While the client’s needs are important, you are still the professional here. If a client wants something that is too expensive or impractical, it is your job to guide them toward a better solution. A simple “no, that won’t work” is never enough; always have an alternate design plan at the ready.
8. 8. Become a calming presence. In a perfect world, it is just you and the client executing one perfectly in-sync vision. But there are often more cooks in the kitchen. Hear everyone out to make sure that no feelings are hurt and you’re creating a space that works for all parties.

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the MasterClass Annual Membership and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.