Most people believe that an interior design degree can only be completed in a classroom or a workshop setting since the field requires a lot of hands-on training, along with the study of fabrics, room design, and style/trend analysis. While completing an interior design degree online is very different from a campus-based equivalent, it does offer some extra benefits and skill-building options. If you’ve decided to become an interior design guru, here are some tips for completing your interior design degree with success:
Completing Your Interior Design Degree Online? Brush Up on the Software
Interior design students are expected to render computerized images and designs throughout the course of the program. If you’re unfamiliar with the software program, take the time to explore tutorials and online guides so you’re not stuck with learning as you go along. Being well prepared for each assignment is one of the keys to success, and many online courses do not provide training or guides on the actual software you’re going to use. Spend a weekend getting comfortable with your tools so you don’t have to waste time during a project.
Completing Your Interior Design Degree Online? Buy a Drafting Table
If you don’t have one already, a drafting table is one of your absolute necessities. An online interior design degree program offers the lectures, assignments, and worksheets over the web, but most of your projects will still take place offline. A drafting table is necessary for sketching, designing, and blueprint reading so be prepared to create an offline workspace for upcoming projects.
Completing Your Interior Design Degree Online? Be Prepared to Travel
While most of your studying will take place in the comfort of your home (or office), there will be a few assignments that require some offline effort. Taking pictures of different living spaces, finding color swatches, and sketching different types of rooms and buildings are a part of the degree program. Be prepared to spend a few days per week collecting information form the ‘real world.’
Completing Your Interior Design Degree Online? Attend Online Workshops
Web-based lectures and discussion groups are just a part of your online degree program, but you’ll also get to take part in online workshops to build your skills. From studying color systems to space planning projects, online workshops are a great way to complete a project in real time.
Completing Your Interior Design Degree Online? Publish Your Samples and Work Log
You’ll get to build a portfolio as part of your interior design program, and the best way to save your research and projects is by creating an online version whenever possible. Take pictures of completed work and projects, and build a reference library of resources online so you can organize and manage your projects with ease. A digital camera and a couple of hours organizing your work each week is all it takes to build a working portfolio throughout the semester.
When you want to enjoy the freedom of working at your own pace, explore the world of interior design, and make use of internet for research and web applications, pursuing an interior design degree online makes sense. From attending online design workshops to drafting blueprints, you can enjoy a high-quality educational experience with an online degree in interior design.
