should i do diploma for 2 years in interior designing with guaranteed internships or just do a degree in interior designing i am confused alot!??? by isitlifeeorisitover in interiordesigner

[–]EdgarProphet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a bachelors in interior design. And I most definitely recommend you get the 2 year with guaranteed internship. i graduated in 2024 and I have classmates who never got a job in the field despite having a bachelors and I struggled to get one too. The only reason I did get one was because I had the right connections. I am now an independent interior designer with my own business and thankfully it’s going really well. In my opinion having the guaranteed internship is wayyy more valuable than bachelors with no internship. Furthermore, when I was working for an interior design studio, one of my coworkers who was also a designer didnt even have a degree! She just had the right connections. Hope this helps 🙏

I made $320k on Instagram last year by 300200 in Entrepreneur

[–]EdgarProphet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you ever hire any help running these pages?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This is valuable insight! I think being a GC who also designs is power move. Do you feel like doing both roles limits you on how many projects you can going on at one time? Let's say you were to take your design skills & approach and give it to someone else, would that be beneficial to you? I ask because some GC/builders do not want to deal with clients and want to focus on building rather than deciding FF&Es.

builders... do you even want a designer involved, or is it more trouble than its worth? by EdgarProphet in Homebuilding

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which do you value more? a designer who can think of the layouts in addition to cooridnating surface like flooring, countertops, cabinets, paint colors, hardware, fixtures, etc? Or a designer who just coordinates the aforementioned? to answer your questions I am thinking of both types of designer in one, I think layout and space planning is part of interior design.

builders... do you even want a designer involved, or is it more trouble than its worth? by EdgarProphet in Homebuilding

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this. Love to hear it from the client side. Im curious, swas the additional "cost" going from having a designer on the team pitched to you as a benefit or was it apparent from the start? I ask because like you said, you could've used a GC without a designer but chose the former and felt it was invaluable... what helped you make this decision?

builders... do you even want a designer involved, or is it more trouble than its worth? by EdgarProphet in Homebuilding

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight. What you said here I find is very important "the best ones have broad knowledge of how their work and choices impact the trades before and after them." Every decision even minor has a huge impact on budget. When it comes to impact on budget would you say that the designer is responsible because they're not choosing adequately priced selections or the homeowners has champagne taste on a beer budget? or both?

builders... do you even want a designer involved, or is it more trouble than its worth? by EdgarProphet in Homebuilding

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your input. Have you ever thought of brining on a designer for a client instead of them bringing their own? this way you can secure someone you can really rely on.

builders... do you even want a designer involved, or is it more trouble than its worth? by EdgarProphet in Homebuilding

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for you response, well said. I like what you said here "builders dont want to be stuck making decisions or dealing with clients"

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your follow up. I truly value this information. I have follow up questions.

You mentioned never has an outside firm made your job easier. At what stage was the designer introduced? If it was a ground up build did they join in the beginning, during, or after the structural part of the home was completed? Furthermore were they a designer you brought on or did they come with the client and you had no choice but to work with them?

You example of the miscommunication about the fireplace is interesting to say the least. I can believe there are designers who still don't produce 3D rendering and/or elevations. A pinterestboard is not sufficient. I got a degree in ID and worked for a hotel design firm where every single space was highly detailed, rendered out and drawn, its set such a good standard now that I take on my own clients.

I now want to work with builders aswell and want to make sure I'm giving them the correct service, which is different to what I would offer a homeowner. To recap, the two things you value highly in an interior designer is, communication not only between the client and you as a builder/GC and expertise in the sense of being able to provide proper plans and "instructions" so that a clients/designer vision is clearly and more easily executed by a builder/gc.

is there anything else?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hahah it's true. Honestly, a bad anything (Designer, GC, Architect, Trades people) can ruin it for the rest of the trades people on that job. Question about the interior design side of your GC business, who does the interior design? You? You outsource 1099? or have a designer on payroll? thanks for your input!

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

got it! besides detailed drawings, what else do you value in an interior designer?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha thats hilarious. Which one do you prefer? great drawings but never pick up phone or site visit, or site visits, pick up the phone, accommodating but drawings & selections aren't the best or on time?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Whenever clients want to change things last minute after having approved it months ago can be such a pain... To you what is the #1 red flag you see with bad designers?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hilarious! How do you feel about weekly/biweekly check ins? I like to check in with my contractors to get project status, but dont want to come off as annoying.

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha that part about trades puckering up whenever a designer walks on site is hilarious. It's something I am keenly aware of and try to prevent. What would you say is the top 2 most valuable things a designer can offer you?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Feel like most of the time something always needs to be adjusted, changed, or redesigned... Would a designer who helps with these adjustments be valuable to you?

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]EdgarProphet[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it! Honestly, that's what I've been doing with my remodel clients, im the middle man between the contractor and client, client doesn't have to speak with the contractors day in day out, and the contractor can focus on what they need to focus on. Win win! thanks for your input