Interior planner

Interior planners help clients in planning their interiors for commercial and private use.

The duties of an interior planner typically include, but are not limited to:

• Visiting job sites to analyze space availability, design needs and the purpose of the space
• Attending client meetings to understand the design needs and client preferences regarding interior styles and colors
• Creating initial design sketches, color themes and ideas based on client requirements and space availability
• Getting approval from the client before creating CAD designs and detailed briefs for workers and supervisors
• Hiring contractors and vendors to implement design ideas, such as Carpenters, Painters, Plumbers, Electricians and Artists
• Overseeing the buying process of all raw materials and items required to complete the project
• Arranging client visits and keeping everyone involved in the project appraised of its progress
• Ensuring project completion within the allocated budget and timeline

The following job titles also refer to interior planner:

spatial planner
interior designer
interior space planner
interior and spatial planner
interior design consultant
interior adviser
commercial space planner
interior architect

Most interior planners work in offices, but technology has changed the way many designers work. For example, interior planners now use software rather than drafting tables to create two- or three-dimensional images.

Interior planners also travel to clients’ design sites.

Interior planners may need to adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, including meeting with clients in the evening and on weekends.

Interior planners entering the occupation typically need a bachelor’s degree in any field, with fine arts subjects being the most common. Studies should include courses in interior design, drawing, and computer-aided design (CAD).

Programs in interior design are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. Applicants to these programs may need to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Interior planner is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to interior planner.

visual merchandiser
kitchen and bathroom shop manager
performance rental technician
furniture shop manager
retail department manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of interior planner. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of interior planner with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

interior architect
leather production planner
packaging production manager
design engineer
regional development policy officer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of interior planner.

• Room aesthetics: Assessment of how different pieces of a visual design can ultimately fit together to create the intended interior and visual environment.
• Materials for interior design: Varieties and functionalities of interior materials and pieces of furniture, equipment and fixtures.

These skills are necessary for the role of interior planner.

• Guarantee customer satisfaction: Handle customer expectations in a professional manner, anticipating and addressing their needs and desires. Provide flexible customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Manage schedule of tasks: Maintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.
• Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
• Meet building regulations: Communicate with construction inspection, e.g. by submitting schemes and plans, to make sure all construction regulations, laws and codes are dealt with correctly.
• Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
• Measure interior space: Calculate measurements of the interior’s size in addition to the materials and objects that will be used.
• Conduct research on trends in design: Conduct research on present and future evolutions and trends in design, and associated target market features.
• Estimate budget for interior design plans: Estimate the budget for interior design plans. Keep track of total costs and material requirements.
• Evaluate spatial information: Manipulate, organise, and interpret spatial information to better determine the layout and placement of objects within the given space.
• Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision-making.
• Develop design plans: Develop design plans by using computer-aided design (CAD); work in accordance with budget estimates; organise and conduct meetings with clients.
• Create new concepts: Come up with new concepts.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of interior planner. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
• Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of interior planner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Supervise work on design planning: Supervise the work in progress at the design stage and on site.
• Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
• Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
• Adapt to changing situations: Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people’s needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.
• Promote sustainable interior design: Develop an environmental friendly interior design and promote the use of cost-effective and renewable materials.
• Apply procurement: Undertake ordering of services, equipment, goods or ingredients, compare costs and check the quality to ensure optimal payoff for the organisation.
• Guide others: Lead, support, train and motivate a group of people, in order to reach a common goal.
• Keep up-to-date to design industry trends: Stay updated with new trends and developments in the design industry.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Advise clients on interior design options: Provide clients with detailed advice on interior design options and possibilities; discuss fittings and furniture, fabrics and colour schemes.

3432 – Interior designers and decorators

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References

1. Interior planner – ESCO
2. Interior Designer : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Interior Designer Job Description | Indeed.com
4. Featured image: Image by chien than from Pixabay