Interior Design as a Career

18 Mar Interior Design as a Career

The role of a professional designer involves so much more than selecting colour, furniture, and fabrics.  

Everyone has the potential to be a designer or decorator, however, the quality of the design outcome is subjective and is it worth the fee paid. The most successful interior design project is the interpretation and implementation of the client’s design brief by the designer to a predetermined budget. 

The Role of the Designer

The professional designer is duty bound to provide design recommendations and implementation services to clients in a legal and ethical format. As the client’s representative, the designer’s role may also involve the ordering, purchasing and installation of products and services thus involving a financial component. A professional designer provides a design service. Should the contract involve merchandise supply, this must be explicitly advised to the client and charged for separately to the design fee.  There is a tendency for non-professionals to charge a nominal fee (to get the work) and accept hidden kickbacks from suppliers unbeknown to the client. Undisclosed financial benefits in the way of product supply (e.g. soft furnishings) may be illegal under the Trades Practices Act 1974.  

Contracts for Interior Designers    

A contract or letter of contract specify agreed services offered by the designer to the client. Should the contract include design services and the retailing of interior products, it is essential that this be clearly stated in the contract.  Typically, a set fee is confirmed by the designer for design and implementation services, and a separate fixed price for furnishing supply as detailed in the client/designer contract before any works commence.  If design services include the supply of finishing and furnishing goods, it is important to disclose any additional retail fees or percentage add-ons in the client/designer contract. (Ref. Trades Practices Act 1974).

Interior Designer Fees    

Professional interior designers generally charge an hourly fee for design services as recommended, detailed and confirmed with the client prior to commencement of the services required. A detailed Contract or Letter of Contract is then confirmed and signed by the Client and the Designer.

The fee can vary depending on the detail of complexity of the works required, the degree of documentation and implementation services provided to the client. Fees can vary from $35.00 – $50.00 per hour (recently qualified less experienced designers) to $350+ per hour (senior designers with extensive experience and qualifications).

It is advised to seek confirmation of the designer’s qualifications and experience. If this seems difficult, then it’s a case of buyer beware.  As with other industries, there are many “unqualified consultants” ready to take advantage of an unsuspecting client.

Should the supply of furniture and fittings be required additional to the design contract, the following is advised.  It is professional practice for the client and designer to agree to an additional supply contract to include supply lump sum prices, deposits required, and payment options prior to the designer purchasing, ordering and taking delivery of merchandise on behalf of the client. This process protects the client, and the designer should disputes arise during the implementation of the supply contract.

In the Supply Contract, a designer may charge a fixed fee for the supply of merchandise with the client paying trade discounted retail prices. An option is to supply the merchandise to the client with a fair (15% to 25%) percentage added for supply.  There has been evidence in the past where up to 100%+ has been added to retail prices unbeknown to the client.

A professional designer not only provides sustainable, timeless and eco-friendly designs but also ensures contracts are executed legally and ethically in the interest of the client, regardless of the budget.

On-line and E-courses vs Contact Training

Interior designers offering nominal fee online course qualifications may charge an additional undisclosed mark-up percentage for the supply of finishes and furnishings on-line. The ethics and legality of this practice depends on whether course applicants are informed in writing prior to contracts or registration forms being agreed and signed.

Despite the availability of many online courses, it is impossible to complete a comprehensive professional interior design course entirely online.  Failing to acknowledge the legal and ethical consequences of misrepresentation to on-line course graduates has resulted in “designer/decorators” defending expensive lengthy court battles. Misrepresentation has been the demise of many designers and decorators in my time working as a designer.  To undertake and survive in the professional design industry, it is wise to consult with a long-standing professional designer or your legal consultant regarding the on-line training contract you are about to enter.

Consult with an Accredited Member of the Design Institute of Australia for course selection guidance.

Interested in finding out more: –

• Website – https://www.molyneuxdesigns.com.au/
• Contact – Judith Molyneux Interior Designs at 0408 176 455 or
• Email – judith@molyneuxdesigns.com.au.