evolution of interior design

I have been reflecting on my career and where it currently is. In school, I would have never expected to be where I am right now. since I'm not currently practicing design, I feel I can offer some criticism of the industry. Interior design is such a specialty field; all classes were tailored around one specific niche market. The design market is a high-end luxury service that previously only the uber-wealthy, most discerning clients would pay for such a service.

In school, we had many influential professors who did not offer alternative career choices. It was always this attitude: "You will work hard to prove you want to go into this profession, you will go on a fantastic internship, you must intern with a famous designer in New York City, and then you will practice design and be happy the rest of your life."

Alas, life is not that simple. Design is not that simple. Career choices are NOT that simple. Family life takes precedent and maybe one has to take an internship at small unknown design firm. Maybe you choose the career that pays well, but is not exactly design. Maybe you apply for the promotion that is tough, but you do it because you know it can offer more opportunities in the long run. Then you find yourself in a job that is not creative at all, not related AT ALL to what you studied in college. But, then one realizes that you are content with where life has progressed and how your career has evolved.

This reflection is meant to point how narrow-minded I was about "interior design." I had this elitist attitude that you couldn't be a designer unless you went to school and learned about the principles of design, learned AUTOCAD, practiced photoshop/illustrator/indesign, sacrificed way too many hours of sleep and became intensely competitive among your peers. Four years ago I would have scoffed at the following conversation:
"Oh what is your major?"
"Interior Design"
"Fur fun! My aunt/cousin/neighbor does that!"

I hated that response. I felt it undermined all the hours I put into renderings and creating logos and coming up with a concept for projects. I felt it was disrespecting my talents for drafting and understanding technical aspects of construction. Usually I didn't want to respond with a diatribe about interior design as a PROFESSION, not just a hobby.

With the decline of the economy, I have seen a rise in design blogs tailored for the do-it-yourselfer. The SAHM/apartment dweller/starving student can replicate the designer look for a fraction of the price! You can upholster your own furniture! Paint your own murals, sew your own window coverings! Then, post your favorite pics of your re-invented thrift store furniture.

But you know what? I LOVE all these design blogs. I think it is inspiring how people can transform their spaces after watching or reading a sewing tutorial. I think the world of design as seen through the blogosphere is an excellent medium for trading ideas, receiving criticism, and sharing talents. People may be exposed to many new forms of design, many more styles than they would have 10 years ago trying to pick a sofa on their own from RC Willey. 10 years ago you may have NEEDED an interior designer to show how proportions of a room can affect traffic flow, how a certain pattern may tie it all together, and how art can transform a space. Now, I feel you can go to the internet and find all that information yourself. Good design is so much more accessible now. I will always be a fan of good design.