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Design is all around us – from styling our homes, to the design of our shoes, to the signboards on the streets. A degree in design can offer endless professional opportunities; you just have to make sure you are willing to work for it. Here I’ve listed popular careers in the field of design.

Interior decorator or interior designer

There is a difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator, and if you’re interested in interiors, it’s important that you know what they are to determine what you actually want to do.

An interior decorator is someone who loves to play with colors, fabrics, finishes, fixtures and furnishings. He or she is capable of reinventing a room to become a space that feels well-arranged, has a ‘wow’ factor and feels inviting. Kitchen, furniture and furnishings brands need qualified interior decorators to work in their stores – from styling the store to helping customers purchase products; you need to be on your toes.

An interior designer has all the skills of an interior decorator, plus a deeper understanding of construction and technical drawings. They can work on a wide array of projects – from small spaces to large rebuilds for residential or commercial development. They deal with larger and more complex-to-manage projects and can work with architects, contractors and even the clients. An interior designer can study a full degree course and pursue masters, too.

Stylist

A stylist is someone who, like an interior decorator, can style an interior space or a product range. A stylist can also work on styling events ranging from weddings and parties to magazine shoots.

To become a stylist, you need to study a specialized course in styling, keep up with trends and have a creative eye. Stylists can also work in the property staging sector, where they style homes to increase the buyer appeal and eventually help them sell faster.

Colour consultant

A colour consultant is someone who knows and understands the science of colour. They are specialists in creating colour palettes for interior or exterior colour schemes and for products. Paint brands, product manufacturers or home furnishing companies usually have a colour expert on their team. You can even choose to become a colour consultant for architects, construction businesses or marketing teams for brands. To be a colour consultant, you can take up a course in colour and design.

Surface designer

A surface designer is someone who illustrates – creates prints and patterns that can be applied to any product. These products could range from homeware to stationery, shoes to swimwear and much more. Training in surface design can lead you to many other career paths, for example, working as a product designer for brands. This is also an additional skill for a graphic designer. You can freelance or launch your own range of products or designs to sell. To go down this career path you can study a specialised diploma in surface design.

Furniture designer

Furniture is one of the most important elements of interior design. A furniture designer has to keep up with fashion and manufacturing trends. This sort of career is suited to those with a creative, mathematical and technical mindset that makes them think about practicality, functionality and design. You can venture into this career through either an interior or industrial design course.

Exhibition designer

An exhibition designer is almost like a cross between an interior designer and a stylist, as you are creating displays in a gallery, museum or other public spaces. You have to have a great eye for design as well as layouts so that the exhibition is practical, pleasing to the eye and inviting to be in. To be qualified in this area you would need to study areas like art culture as well as styling.

Graphic designer or digital designer

A graphic designer is someone who specialises in creating works for pre-print production, with a main focus on things like typography, logo design, brochures, posters and imagery. A digital designer also works on all of the above, using web and app design. You can do a diploma in graphic or digital design, but remember that a strong knowledge of computer software is a must.

The design world is constantly evolving, so designers need to be, too. Study hard and dream big, but, most importantly, choose a college or institute that has the right environment for you.