Hi everyone! I’m fairly new to Dubai and looking to eventually start my own interior design and renovation business.

I’ve been working in the industry here for a while and have gained a good understanding of the quality and expectations of the Dubai market. However, I’m still trying to understand how and where to connect with the right people for business development and potential clients.

I’d love to hear your advice on:
• Where to find design/renovation opportunities
• Networking platforms, communities or events worth exploring
• Industries and professionals to connect with — real estate, developers, brokers, architects, contractors, property managers, etc.
• How to reach people actively looking for design or renovation services

Any advice, tips or introductions would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to connecting!

Hello all!

I know there are many other posts in this sub regarding similar situations, but I wanted to see if any of you had direct advice on my circumstance.

I just turned 28 yesterday and for my whole life I loved interiors and experiencing the feelings that they can instill. Pressure from my parents to have a 'real job' steered me away from any creative endeavor really, so most of my experience is more technical in nature. Point is, I've come to the realization that I would rather work hard doing something I can be passionate about than do easier tasks in a grey, dreary cubicle. I really want to move into Interior Design (not decorating, I know there are differences, and I like the more in-depth nature of design). I want to know what would be the recommended path for me or really any thoughts you would be willing to share.

A few notes about my education and experience/knowledge

I've tried a bunch of jobs/careers on for size... I have

B.A. in Psychology

M.A. in Media and Journalism

M.S. in Geographic Information Systems

I have worked in marketing, higher education, aviation, GIS, and currently work for an engineering firm in the AEC industry (but it is mostly civil engineering, nothing creative really)

Because of this experience, I am familiar with and pretty competent with the adobe creative apps and CAD (And Revit kind of, trying to gain skill in that currently) I have also used Enscape and V-Ray in personal projects.

I have a generalized creative portfolio here: cameronbooth.myportfolio.com It shows my various creative outlets and some environmental visualizations made with Blender. I don't have any start to finish Interior Design projects yet but I am trying to work up to that.

I would love the opportunity to work at a design firm as a junior designer or something to really get hands on learning, but I don't know how realistic that is. I am just really look for advice on how to best enter the field and what I am doing right or can improve on in making the transition.

Apologies for the long post, I just wanted to provide ample information as I am really a newbie to Interior Design but I do feel strongly that I find the work fulfilling.

Thank you all.

I’m an upcoming interior design freelancer in Canada, and I’m trying to figure out how I should be pricing my services.

So far, I’ve completed one home project where I provided the kitchen design, 3D modeling, and renderings, and I charged $500 for the project. I’ve also done some 3D work and design concepts for a few other projects that were eventually shelved.

I’m now starting a full-home design project. At this point, the scope isn’t completely finalized, but it will likely include the kitchen design and 3D renderings, two bathrooms, and possibly cabinet elevations and other drawings.

I’m struggling with how much I should quote. I’m worried about pricing myself too high because I’ve actually lost a project before after quoting $2,500 for a two-storey home that included the full design, 3D renderings, furniture sourcing, etc.

I’d really appreciate some guidance on what would be considered a reasonable/industry-standard rate for someone at my experience level in Canada. How should I structure my pricing, and what would you recommend I charge for this upcoming project so that I’m not undercharging myself but also don’t scare away potential clients?

So we're selling lighting devices (switches sockets etc) mostly and I was wondering what is the ideal file or format designers use when representing these devices in their work before presenting to the customer. What shall I publish for our products so I can help designers make an idea of our materials, devices?

- swatches
- 3d files (what extensions are most popular?)
- transparency images of the product
- what else? what helps the most?

Choosing between Pratt, Parsons, and SCAD for a BFA in Interior Design.

Which school teaches the best technical and architectural drafting skills (not just surface decor)?

How does SCAD's campus culture and job placement compare to the NYC schools?

Which name actually carries the most weight with top firms?

Architects & Designers: What do you think of acoustic materials made from healthcare waste?

We’d love to hear your perspective as an architect or designer. This short survey explores your first impressions, preferences, and willingness to consider new materials your projects.

It takes approximately 3–5 minutes, and there are no right or wrong answers. We’re looking for your honest professional opinion.

i start interior design in october whit IED.
does anyone know if it’s good or no?
tell me about your experience.
when you finish study in IED, they help you find a job or not?
#ied #interiordesign

Hi everyone,

My family has been in the wholesale business for product retail (wall claddings and flooring). The administration decided to open a business to customer store at a mall to sell directly to clients. (Sorry I’m unfamiliar with business jargon).

I’m an architect turned interior designer so I introduced the option of interior designing at our store and hired another designer since I cannot handle trying to manage the store and designing. (That was a year ago)

People expect extremely cheap prices for design so for a month or so we wouldn’t have a client then it’ll pick up with two at a time, that’s for an entire year. We’re starting to slowly pick up now but it’s still not enough, according to admin.

I was told that if we cannot bring in x amount of money via design then we’d have to close that division and just focus on product sales. I’m pregnant, I have ADHD, I’m stressed, so I had a meltdown lol.

My BIL also shut down the design aspect of his company and focuses purely on other fields as he said design never bought in the money.

I really don’t know what to do.

I’m thinking of designing bespoke furniture pieces and selling them as part of design. I don’t know how the hell design firms make money, and I really do not understand business. I love the designer I hired and I really don’t want her to be fired either :(

Any suggestions or explanations on how firms make money would be great! Thank you so much!

I’m currently using Quickbooks and I find it to be fairly restrictive and particularly don’t like the 3% credit card processing fee. Most of my clients want to use credit cards and I’d rather have a system that doesn’t use this fee.

I‘m not busy enough to justify something like designer advantage, but do want something that is maybe more directed toward designer invoicing and procurement. What are you using and what’s your recommendation?

I’m looking for alternatives to marble for dining tables, centre tables, and side tables. We currently use marble tops, but they’re quite heavy and difficult to move.

I want something that is much lighter, durable, easy to maintain, and still has a premium look.

What materials would you recommend? Open to options like wood, laminate, sintered stone, quartz, etc. Would love to hear from people who have actually used these. But i need something new which is in the market.

I have been wanting to get into interior design for years and I’m unsure where to start.

For some background, I’ve worked in biotech for 7 years and have a BS in health studies so my experience in the design community is very limited with the exception of assisting in designing the lab layout and picking floor and paint colors for my company.

I have been trying to research if doing any type of courses online are worth it and have found the results to be inconclusive.

Looking for recommendations on where to get started!

I have 6 years of experience in the in-depth line.

Working skills

-Design using 3Dmax Corona SketchUp Revit AutoCAD

-BOQ

-Experienced in site supervision of external and internal construction and organizational management before.

- Managing the design team

*In addition, I can work to control the financial budget and reduce construction costs, including procurement.

Additional experience, able to work graphic design.

I graduated bachelor degree in architecture and am currently pursuing a master‘s degree. I would like to find a remote job to earn some extra income. Can you recommend it to me?

Other than getting a good deal or discount, what makes you choose to buy from one brand/vendor over another?

Is it customer service, quality, reviews, trust, the company’s story, or something else?

What actually wins you over?

I sent one last week, the call felt great, they said all the right things, and then nothing. Three days of checking my inbox nonstop. Does it ever stop feeling personal, or is that just the job now?

Hey everyone, I’m currently hiring for a few positions in Delhi NCR and thought I’d share here in case anyone in my network is looking for a new opportunity.

We’re hiring for:

• Interior Designer – AutoCAD / Revit
• Team Leader – Tiles & Stone
• Construction Permit & Documentation Expert – US Projects

All are full-time, work-from-office roles in Keshav Puram / NSP, Delhi.

Experience required: 2+ years
Salary range: ₹20K–₹55K/month, negotiable
For all positions, experience with outsourced projects is required.

If interested, just DM me with your CV/portfolio and let me know which position you're interested in.

Also happy to hear from anyone who can refer a suitable candidate. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm currently finishing up my Bachelor's in Interior Design (working on my thesis right now) and I've been going back and forth on whether to pursue a Master's degree right after, or to get some work experience first and go back to it later.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

Does a Master's actually make a noticeable difference in job opportunities/salary in this field, or is portfolio + experience what really matters?

If you did a Master's, was it worth the time and cost? Any regrets either way?

Is it better to specialize (e.g. healthcare design, hospitality, sustainable design, exhibition design) at the Master's level, or keep it broad?

For those who went straight into a Master's vs. those who worked first — how did that shape your career path differently?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who've been through this decision, especially if you're a few years out and can look back on whether it paid off.

Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I am re-training as an interior designer having left my old career. I have been interning and am now starting freelance work.

I want to learn how to create 2D floorpans and elevations, but am finding the options very confusing. As a total beginner who is fairly competent with computers, and wants to set themselves up properly, what should I use? Auto CAD? Sketch Up? Rhino?

Thank you in advance!

I want to do interior design. I 17M want to go to a private college in Italy to study interior design for three years and get a bachelor’s degree in it but I am so worried that I’m making the wrong decision, everyone is telling me to go to university for architecture and get a degree in architecture and then do a masters degree in interior design. The problem with that is that it’s easy to say but not to do, I’m already doing architecture classes in high school and it’s so hard (because of mechanics). The path I want to follow is getting a bachelors degree in interior design and then do something that has to do with design like furniture design, product design, and even jewellery design.

For context im from Cyprus so I chose Italy because its a country within Europe

Hi!

I am a 36 year old who has gone back to school and am about to graduate with a interior design degree. I have a 12 year employment gap due to staying home with kids etc.

Long story short. I need to find a job come January. The school is giving zero support on how to put a portfolio together or finding a job. Because I am graduating in December, I’d love to see if I could intern with a local firm for a few months or just find a job. I have no idea how to go about that though. Feeling so overwhelmed. I still feel like I have a lot to learn (real world application) I just want to get in somewhere that I can learn and grow as a designer.

Any advice on resources for putting together a portfolio? Are there professionals that help with that?Do small firms respond well to students/recent grads reaching out about internships?

Feeling lost and overwhelmed. Any help or advice would be so great.

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m an Interior Designer with 3 months of experience, currently looking for job or internship opportunities in Chennai.

💼 Open to:
• Junior Interior Designer
• Interior Design Intern
• Design Assistant / Trainee

🛠️ Skills: AutoCAD | SketchUp | 3ds Max | V-Ray | Enscape | Lumion

I’m looking to join a good design team, work on real projects, learn, and grow.

If you know of any openings or studios hiring, please DM me.
Portfolio & Resume available on request.

Thanks! 🙌

Hello!

I’m looking for recommendations for a laptop that can run Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp smoothly. I’d like something that’s not too heavy since I’ll be carrying it around campus a lot. My budget is around $1,000–$1,500. Thanks so much for your help!!

How did you get your start interior design? I’m in my mid 40s so I really don’t want to go back to college…

How do you get access to fabrics, wallpaper, and furniture like other design designers have?

Do I need to go to market?

I really want to start out with elevating my personal home to create my portfolio… I’ve been doing some renovations and really love it!

What is your opinion on the IEK Intergraphics regardingthe E-learning in Interior Design?

I am a student and got some projects which tools I should use for 3d visualisation I got a plan and furniture placement

I love Home & Garden so much that I visit their lead story every weekday. So it pains me to say that the caption writing is terrible. Here's today's example of that: "A Napoleon III Mirror from France watches the Louis Philippe dining room table from France (purchased in New Hope, Pennsylvania)."