Now that we are more at home, I bet you have noticed that home can influence mood and affect health. It is not just a matter of aesthetics or something superfluous; we are talking specifically about interior design – which brings solutions for spaces and efficiency for everyday life and facilitates household chores.
Good interior design should offer benefits and improve the experience of those who will use the place to be planned. It also offers the resident a calm, balanced, and comfortable place, an environment where you feel completely at ease, where your needs are met, and conveys personality.
But interior design is always confused with decor. The choice of coverings, colors, and finishes is, in fact, one of the parts of the scopes in the projects. But that is not all. The professional can organize flows, elements to be arranged in the space, and study residents’ behavior – so that everything is optimized, combining design, comfort, and practicality. But how does all this influence health?
A GOOD INTERIOR DESIGN IN YOUR HOME AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS
Interior design brings what the customer needs and expects from each environment. The chosen professional must know how to translate your needs into a beautiful project that works in your routine. The idea is not to get stuck in trends and fashions but to understand the residents’ style and print it to that decoration. Also, with learned techniques, small environments may seem more extensive, the house can be adapted for children, people with disabilities, pets, or the elderly, among other features.
According to Spanish interior designer Ana Utrilla, to have a home that increases our well-being, we depend on some fundamental aspects, such as:
- Maintain order and cleanliness regularly;
- That is functional and practical, essential attributes in accessories and furniture;
- Have ergonomics – according to the measures of the residents, and bring comfort;
- There is an aesthetic of the whole set, within the style of the resident, harmony, and balance in general;
It may seem strange to say that the arrangement of furniture, the lighting of the environment, the decoration, the order, cleanliness, and the number of plants, for example, can directly influence our health. But, analyze to demystify this impression:
1 – KEEP ORDER AND CLEANING REGULARLY
Keeping spaces organized and in order allows us to be even more productive. Easy-to-clean furniture and accessories and environments with the essentials provide more free time for you to enjoy the little joys of everyday life. By also having the right furniture, we could plan the environments to use their spaces better. The result of this is the optimization of areas.
2 – FUNCTIONALITY AND PRACTICALITY
A poorly thought out project will affect the lives of many people and for a long time. Indoors, this is even more amplified, since everyone has spent more time in their homes, which directly impacts well-being and health.
For a home to offer functionality and practicality, furniture, accessories, and materials must be useful and avoid costly design errors. For example, a poorly chosen floor, an unsatisfactory painting, a chandelier that disharmonizes the environment can become a problem. The planning and study of the right professional take this into account. Not everyone thinks so, but it is essential when we put investments at the tip of the pencil.
3 – ERGONOMICS AND COMFORT
Not all people move the same way in one space or have the same body dimensions, and not everyone is comfortable in the same amount of light or warmly resisting the same temperatures.
The ergonomics is one that provides, among other things, comfort to the furniture and accessories that have acquired. It is in charge of studying the appropriate shapes, textures, or measures so that one feels comfortable when using them. Therefore, here, we should not skimp on a right mattress, sofa, chairs, benches, lighting, and cabinets that are easy to access, as we will spend a lot of time using this furniture and, also, they can change our health status (good design avoids unnecessary back pain, good natural lighting can bring more well-being and green to residents, for example).
4 – AESTHETICS OF THE SET, STYLE, AFFECTION, BALANCE AND HARMONY
75% is a vast and essential percentage that needs your attention. How is space visually perceived when you inhabit it? The color, brightness, depth, and height determine whether it is detected as cozy, safe, stimulating, peaceful, flexible, or just the opposite.
Then pay attention to what you want to convey and feel at home. In other words, to avoid frustration, sadness, apathy, and even a bad mood, you should be aware of the tips. Still, you can and should follow your intuition to help transmit your personality to the professional, helping you with your home. Often there is no need for a new property, renovation, or break-breaking. You do not need to renew the environments completely, you can do it little by little, for example:
- Paint the color of the room that most influences you and where you will spend the most time (the wall of the room where it may be the longest, or the office area, living room);
- Do that DIY you like so much and bring a personal touch to your home;
- Use large photos of your family, friends, or your travels and replace with something you chose to put on the wall;
- Put in your view, vintage objects, or old items inherited from the family acquired on trips. This will always remind you of good times or loved ones – and more.
Yes, the idea is not just functionality, minimalism, or being a magazine thing. Here, when we talk about interior design, we can have objects that bring us joy, affection and remind us of the good times we lived – uniting the useful with the pleasant.
Using furniture with closed compartments, for example, we were able to place some decorative elements without getting too polluted. Because they are practical and functional furniture, you will avoid further efforts and save maintenance time.
All of this will help you, in large part, to think about what you don’t like or dislike; in what feels comfortable in your home, which brings you balance. Your home is a significant investment, certainly one of the places where you spend most of your life. Also, it is your space of refuge, comfort, and peace.
OUR HOUSE, OUR TEMPLE
As an excellent text from The School of Life says, “Our houses are also temples – for us. We don’t expect to be worshiped, but we are trying to create a place that, like a temple, properly embodies our values. Creating a home is often a very arduous process because it requires us to find objects that can correctly convey our identities. … “Home” means the place where our soul feels that it has found its proper physical container, where, every day, the objects in which we live silently remind us of our most authentic commitments and loves.”
That is why it is essential to choose a professional who understands what you want, who does not create something standard for all customers, who reads and demystifies the “key” to your home. Is there anything better for health than calm, peace, harmony, and love? Even more indoors?
HOW TO TURN YOUR DESIGN SKILLS INTO A CAREER
Do you have a natural talent for design and want to make a career out of it? Check out this article to learn how to start your design career now.
Becoming a graphic designer takes hard work, dedication, and years of schooling. For many individuals with a natural talent for design, the exact pathway and layout to becoming a graphic designer remain obscure. Graphic design is a broad field that offers a variety of different career paths for a motivated design-minded individual. Yet, getting your foot in the door in these fields can present some challenges.
In this article, we’ll outline how an individual with a design talent can begin to build a career in graphic design. You might think that if you want to begin a career as a graphic designer, you must have professional design experience. However, transitioning to a career in design can be accomplished regardless of if you have professional experience. The first step in beginning a career of design is to learn the design skills and methods you’ll need to succeed in the real world.
The Road to a Design Career
Although there are many paths to becoming a professional designer, one of the most effective ways to do so is to get a higher education degree in a design-related major. A university degree is often the minimum qualification for individuals looking to enter a design field, even for entry-level employment. Many large employers use a degree requirement to limit the field of applicants to positions. This threshold makes it easier for employers to sort through the deluge of applications that come with job openings for a competitive entry-level position.
Pursuing a degree in the graphic design field is a great way to begin learning the art and design skills that you will need to become a professional designer. Simultaneously, a design program will offer you opportunities to build a portfolio of your work if you don’t have one. Keep in mind, though, that some design programs will require you to submit a portfolio of your work as part of the application process. If you have design skills and are contemplating becoming a professional designer, you’ll want to start building a portfolio now if you haven’t done so already.
When developing your education plan and portfolio, always keep in mind what your ideal career path looks like. This includes what types of work in a design you want to be doing and where you see yourself working in the future. The answers to these questions can give you insight into what type of design major to pursue and whether a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree will be required. With this knowledge, you can take steps early to ensure that you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in your future design career.
Navigating the Transition to Higher Education
Whether you are currently working in a different field or you are a high-school student with aspirations to become a professional designer, chances are your path will take you into a higher education institution. Schools that specialize in design can be extremely competitive to get into, so it is especially important to begin researching schools early. You’ll want to find a school that prepares you for working as a professional designer from the outset. At the same time, you’ll also want an educational institution that aligns with your financial situation and has the curriculum and institutional outlook that will promote your growth and ideas as a professional designer.
Searching for the right school for you can be a daunting process, given many schools out there that have design programs. During this process, it is essential to keep in mind that design programs at each school have different advantages and disadvantages. Some design programs may not offer classes in the particular design specialty you are interested in pursuing. Others may not have the resources to support your professional growth. You will also have to weigh the financial impact that your education will have on you. Higher education isn’t cheap, but it can be viewed as an investment in your future provided there are the support systems in place to help make your transition from school to the workforce fluid.
When assessing potential schools, you’ll want to look at the graphic design program or programs they offer. For example, NewSchool of Architecture & Design offers three different majors under the School of Design. Students interested in becoming a Design Researcher, Consumer Product Designer, or Brand Strategist might pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Product Design. Students in this program will learn how to design traditional artifacts and digital products through an interdisciplinary approach centered around human-design and social responsibility.
Aspiring designers that want to work with interior spaces would probably benefit most from a Bachelor of Interior Architecture & Design. A few of the career options associated with this program include working as an Interior Designer, Interior Architect, Design Director, and Exhibit Director. The Interior Architecture & Design program emphasizes the use of technology and sustainability to drive innovation in interior spaces. It is important to note that this program utilizes lecture classes alongside lab and studio classes, allowing students to produce work and create designs that will flesh out their portfolio.
Individuals who have a passion for communicating ideas through text, images, video, and other mediums should consider working towards a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design & Interactive Media degree. This program prepares students to work in various industries in positions such as a Graphic Designer, Creative Director, Web Designer, or Marketing Manager. If working in visual communication and digital media design is your passion, then Graphic Design & Interactive Media program is worth exploring.
The programs mentioned above all give students the ability to tailor their educational path to their specific skills and professional goals. It is essential to find graphic design programs that give you the ability to do this. By choosing a program that provides you with the opportunity to build on your current design skills, you can excel in the design area you are most passionate about. This will not only help you become a better designer but will also allow you to create a portfolio that showcases your strengths to a potential employer.
Before committing to a program, you’ll want to spend some time researching the classes you will be taking. A program that isn’t designed to help you work professionally in your chosen field may not be the best choice for you. The Academic Catalog is a great resource to use to see exactly which courses you will be required to take for a given major. The catalog also provides detailed course descriptions, which can provide you with an outline of the skills and knowledge you will gain from specific courses.
If you have found a program you are interested in, it will probably be beneficial to set up a campus tour or attend an Open House. Scheduling a campus tour or attending an Open House is a great way to understand better the resources that will be available for you, from financial aid to internships and mentorships. These resources are invaluable tools for turning your design skills and artistic ability into a career, so ensuring that you will have the support you need before entering the program is always a good idea. To schedule a campus tour, you will work with an Enrollment Specialist, who can also answer any questions you might have about the application process or degree program.
Submitting an Application
Once you have chosen a program that aligns with your professional goals, the next step is to apply. Applying to college can be a time-consuming process, so preparing beforehand and taking it one step at a time is the best way to ensure that you complete all of the requirements. At NewSchool, applications are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning that you can apply for an upcoming term rather than wait for the beginning of a new academic year. There are application deadlines associated with each term, so you’ll want to become familiar with these and get your application started early.
Portfolio Requirements
You may consider submitting a portfolio along with your application. The three design programs at NewSchool don’t require a portfolio to be submitted for admission consideration. However, students may want to submit a portfolio along with their application for a couple of reasons. Students may consider submitting a portfolio if they have advanced design knowledge or educational background in design. Their portfolio work may allow them to be placed in higher-level studio design courses, allowing them to face new challenges. Other students may want to use a portfolio to supplement their application if they have a GPA below the admission requirements. Portfolio guidelines for the Graphic Design & Interactive Media program can be found here.
After You Submit
You might think you should wait to hear back about whether your application was approved after submitting your application. However, there are several steps you can take during this period that can be helpful for your pursuit of a career in design. The first thing you should do is schedule a campus tour or attend an Open House if you haven’t already done so. You’ll want to become familiar with the campus where you will be spending the next four years pursuing your design career. This will also allow you to meet with the staff and faculty you’ll be working closely with. Getting a sense of space you will be working with is also beneficial to reduce any stress associated with starting classes.
The second thing you should consider doing after submitting your application is submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The cost of attending a four-year university can be daunting. Still, the FAFSA application gives you access to Federal and State grants, loans, and work-study programs that can be used to help reduce your education costs. After you submit your FAFSA, you’ll want to make an appointment to speak with the Office of Financial Aid. Financial aid staff can help connect you with the resources you need to reduce your tuition cost, including helping you find and apply for scholarships provided by your institution and outside organizations. As with your application to your degree program, both the FAFSA and scholarship applications will have application deadlines, so be sure to complete this step early to have the best chances of accessing outside funding sources.
Closing Thoughts
Turning your design skills into a career doesn’t have to remain a dream. There are actionable steps you can take to make the transition into the workforce as a professional designer. Whether you have no experience but a passion for design elements, or have been working as a designer and want to build the skills that allow you to excel, pursuing an education in a related design field is one of the best ways to gain and develop the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed in this competitive field. Through the course of your education, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside design professionals and build the connections that can assist you in entering the field following your graduation. At the same, a design-centered educational path will allow you to populate your portfolio with the type of work that will showcase your unique skills and design-perspective while also propelling you into the career path you’ve been dreaming of.
