Difference between an Interior Architecure and Interior Design
10th May 2024 | Written by Neha Bhasin
If you are passionate about designing interior spaces, then you must be exploring the different paths to pursue a career in this industry. Interior Architecture and Interior Design are both encircled around the crafting of interior space but have different approaches to their execution.
“Design is more than just a few tricks to the eye. It’s a few tricks to the brain.” — Neville Brody
Design indeed resonates with the aspects of varied progression. This has led to the formation of many roles and paths for you to pick your mission. Through relevant knowledge and details, it is a cakewalk to understand these different elements to choose from. Let’s get into the know-how of these career options to help you make an informed decision.
What is Interior Architecture?
Interior Architecture encloses the functional designing of an interior space. It addresses the material requirements, functionality and aesthetics of a space. An Interior architect looks into the services aspects of electrical fittings, plumbing, placement of openings, and much more.
Skills Required:
To pursue a career as an Interior architect, you should be well-knowledgeable about the fundamentals of it. Good communication abilities and creative articulation are integral aspects of it.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Designing a safe and functional space
- Preparing the detailed working drawings
- Visiting the sites and supervision of the construction
- Materials procurement as per the design requirements
- Calculating costs incurred and providing relevant estimations and reports
What is Interior Design?
Interior Design is the study of how to infuse art and functionality into spaces. It is a profession that curates aesthetic spaces. An interior designer practices detailed study of material selection, furnishings, upholstery, and finalizing colors and patterns.
Skills Required:
To become a good interior designer, you should be well-knowledgeable about the decorative aspects of the space. A keen insight of historical design periods, color theories and their psychologies over human mind, and various ongoing market trends.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Design functional and aesthetically apealing spaces
- Understand the requirements of the client and design the spaces accordingly
- Identify the furnishings and upholstery to be used in the space
- Providing the required accentuating and decorative elements
- Present mood boards and various required 2D or 3D renders of the space
What is the difference between Interior Architecture and Interior Design?
- Basic Difference: Interior Architecture refers to structural and technical aspects of an interior space while Interior Designing is about curating functional and aesthetics interior spaces.
- The Freedom of Creative Expression: Interior Architecture balances the servicable and technical conceptualization of the spaces. Interior Designing balances the experimentation of various elements and functionality of the spaces.
- Degrees and Licences: To start your career as an Interior Architect, you need to have an architect licence along with a degree of atleast five years. In Interior Designing you just need a degree of three to four years.
- Tools and Methodology: Interior Architecture is more articulated in a way that more design-specific tools and methodologies are used and required as compared to Interior Designing.
- Focal Aspects: Interior Architecture is a study spaces in depth amalgamating both macro and micro levels. Interior Designing covers majorly the elements on a macro level.
Summing up
Both fields, Interior Architecture and Interior Designing have a list of pros and cons to their relevance. The choice of your career path shall be streamlined by the means of your expertise and inclination towards the in-depth understanding of it.
