Becoming an Interior Designer? Interior Architect?

sunlee
Sat, 05 May 2007 19:26:11 +0000

After researching for quite a while now, I came down to a few options of choosing my major for undergrad.

I was originally interested in interior design, but I ignored my initiative interest in it due to a misinterpretation of the term “interior design”.

Well, now I know that interior design isn’t just about decorating, in fact, there’s a whole another aspect to it (which I find very interesting). But as I looked through alotta colleges, I’ve noticed the major named “interior architecture”. This really confused me.

I literally looked through every single thread in this forum, and I did find out few things about architecture/interior architecture/interior design. I read that you can become an interior designer or interior architect (i really dont get the difference) after getting a degree in architecture.

How is that possible? if that is so, why does the major called “interior design” even exist? I’ve read that most successful interior designers have degrees in architecture. What happened to those who acquire a degree in interior design/interior architecture?
Wouldn’t your roles at the firms at least be different if you hold a degree in architecture rather than interior design/interior architecture?

And for RISD, interior architecture program that leads you to Bachelor of Interior Architecutre was a 5-year-program. So is that like an architectural program now…? Would this degree get me any farther than getting a Bachelor of Interior Design or Bachelor of Architecture? (in terms of being an interior designer) would my roles at an architecture firm differ according to my degree?

if it is too hard to differentiate interior design/interior architecture, can any of you at least help me with choosing my major? I like the idea of interior design. I enjoy viewing interior more than exterior of a building. I think I’m interested in going for Architecture for undergrad and work as an interior designer at an architectural firm more than anything; if I’m not misunderstanding this whole concept

ah, pardon my wordy thread
but seriously, I need you guys’ help
thank you.