Kenzie Naber
Ms. Hoffman
R&W4CB
06 March 2018
As high schoolers make the daunting transition from high school to college, they are
advised not to stress over a possible major. In an attempt to avoid the widespread point of view
that many students tend to change their major in college, I am striving to expand my knowledge
on the two possible career options I want to pursue. Architecture and interior design, two fields
that intrigue me, share similar qualities and duties but also have contrasting attributes.
Comparing education, growth, pay and job duties between these careers is key in developing the
necessary knowledge to determine which career is the best fit for me.
carefully designing every aspect of the space. A great amount of effort and determination is
needed in order to achieve the title of an Interior Designer. A bachelor's degree in interior design
is required, followed by two years of work experience, and the mastery of the state exam, The
National Council for Interior Design Qualification (Interior). The process to become an interior
designer typically takes two to four years. A trend from data according to U.S. Superintendent of
Documents and the U.S. Department of Labor, shows that when the self employment rate
dropped from 30% to 12.6%, wages heightened from $46,280 to $49,810 in 2016. This trend
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confirms that when majority of interior designers are working in high-end architectural firms
Architecture is a relatively similar career, but one that includes many different daily
tasks. The objective of an architect is to design a plan for a building and to guarantee that it
meets all the safety requirements needed for the specific type of building. In each state there are
different laws and regulations related to building that are constantly changing, which requires the
architect to open to adaptation when it comes to their job. In order to become an architect, a
bachelor's degree in architecture is required along with 5,600 hours of work experience, and
passing a seven part exam given by the National Architectural Accrediting Board; overall this
process takes five to seven years (Architects). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
top three highest earning industries in order of architecture are government, construction and
architectural, engineering and related services, leaving the median salary in 2016 at $76,930
(Summary 4).
“multidisciplinary environment” while consulting clients, developing detailed plans and 3-D
models, and estimating materials and costs (Designers Statistics 2). Similarly, Bureau of Labor
Statistics states that architects meet with clients, estimate costs and construction time, prepare
scaled drawings, contract documents and structure specifications, and manage construction sites
and contracts (Architects Statistics 2). Both careers work regular office hours, around 40 hours a
week, although working weekends and late nights to meet deadlines or clients schedules is also a
big sacrifice that comes with these professions. Self employment is also always an option for
anyone who seeks more flexible hours in either of these career choices. Granting all of this, self
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employment can bring many disadvantages, some of which may include lower pay and a more
difficult time building a reputation for the business being provided. Cooperation and teamwork
are some characteristics that will come in to play while being either an interior designer or an
architect. Meeting with clients while also bouncing creative ideas off our peers is key when it
I have come to the conclusion that interior design is a better fit job for me personally
because of the growth, education and work experience involved with this career. Although the
starting and median pay is lower than those of an architect, there is much more room for growth.
The interior design industry is expected to grow 4% from 2014-2024 (Designers) while the
architecture industry is expected to grow -3% from 2014-2024 (Occupation). Personally, I would
prefer going to school for two to four years and being able to start my career in interior design at
a young age, rather than being in school for five to seven years before being able to gain
experience if I were to chose architecture. The fact that I can make such great progression during
my career while also drafting and watching the interior of a space be completely transformed is a
Works Cited
Groer, Annie. "So You Want to be an Interior Designer?; it Takes More than a Touch of
Class." The Washington Post, Aug 29, 2002, eLibrary,
https://explore.proquest.com/document/409408828?accountid=54844.