The American Society of Interior Designers, Professional ASID and UCA Student Chapter ASID, endorse the following definition:
"The professional interior designer is a person qualified by education, examination, and experience, who:
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identifies, researches, and creatively solves problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment; |
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performs services ...including programming, design analysis, space planning, and aesthetics, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings; and: |
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prepares drawings and documents relative to the design of interior spaces in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public." |
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Professional interior designer with an interior design firm, an architectural firm, a department of furniture store, a manufacturer, store planner with a large corporate office or a museum. |
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Professional interior designer with personal ownership of a firm. |
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Interior designer specializing in residential and/or commercial interiors, renovation, restoration, history, lighting specialist, hospitality design, set design, or space planning. |
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A freelance interior design consultant. |
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An interior designer plans and supervises the design and arrangement of interior spaces using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building codes, equipment, materials, and furnishings. The interior spaces may include offices, hospitals, libraries, museums restaurants, theaters, and private homes. |
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An interior designer prepares drawings of the design of interior spaces to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. |
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An interior designer order furnishings, contracts for and supervises the work of craft workers, and makes sure the furnishings are installed and arranged according to plan. |
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Students are required to participate in an internship experience. An internship provides opportunity for "hands-on experience" working with professional interior designers while earning senior level course credit. |
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Students also have the opportunity to attend field trips to local design firms as well as to major design centers. |
The objectives of the internship are for the student to demonstrate skill in his or her area of expertise and to engage in effective decision making based upon sound principles in the area of emphasis.
The purposes of the "hands-on" experience internship are:
| To develop techniques for working with clients and consumers, |
| To have contact with practitioners and craftsmen, |
| To increase opportunities to meet the public, |
| To observe business or manufacturing practices, and |
| To understand the chosen profession. |
The Interior design Internship provides a tremendous advantage when looking for a permanent position after graduation.
During the process of the internship, students are required to work 280 hours for 6 hours of college credit. Students meet with employers to obtain the description of responsibilities and objectives. A recording of activities is maintained daily. A project in an area related to the firm's business is to be done after approval from the instructor, and finally, an oral presentation of the experience and project will be presented at the end of the semester. Students will be evaluated by the employer, instructor and department chair in order to receive credit.
Internships are made in various locations other than the Arkansas area. Currently, students go as far South as Dallas and as far East as Delaware. Instructors will help students intern at the location of their choosing; however, the final decision is with the employer. Some students have interned for major corporate offices in Little Rock, Dallas, Atlanta, many design firms in major cities, and historic museums such as Winterthur and Williamsburg. The Internship is an opportunity to enhance the course of study and to further a career.
If more information is needed on the Interior Design Internship, please call the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences at 501-450-5950.
