Difference between Architecture and Interior Design

So two years ago, after finally becoming a licensed architect, I decided to quit my job at the firm I was at, and I took a job at an interior design firm. Now, why would anyone do this? What a waste? You just spent ten years of your life trying to reach this one goal. In this video, I’ll tell you why, and since I’ve been in both worlds, I’ll cover the difference between a career in architecture and interior design.

1:06 Type of Projects
4:19 Design Process
7:33 Education
18:18 Skills + Personality

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I'm Dami, a licensed Architect living in Vancouver, BC. I make videos about architecture, career, and creativity.

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[julianugentarchitect]

The notion that architects focus on function and interior designers focus on mood/aesthetics is a disservice to both professions. They are two different aspects of good design that are critical at all scales - from furniture to urban design. Mood boards are a process/technique used successfully by many different design professions (landscape architects, architects, interior designers, urban designers) as a way to establish aesthetics/mood/design intent early on. They work because clients react very directly to images and it allows them to discuss there aesthetic preferences and goals.

[im_et_]

I'm a professional interior designer by trade, another thing we like to do in addition to "mood" is also creating a story of how the users utilize the space. (mostly for hospitality projects) This helps the client fall in love with the purpose of the project.

[hannahviolet]

Relating to interior design I think you forgot to mention that we DO have to follow codes 100 percent. Learning code and regulations has been one of the most valuable things I've learned in university. Also, in interior design and interior architecture school the first thing we learned in drafting classes is that function is the most important thing to consider in the space. It's not all about moods and color. You can have the most beautiful kitchen but if you cant open the dishwasher without smacking the kitchen island it's bad design.

[morganfaith]

Hi DamiLee, I just wanted to come on here to say that as a 4th year student encroaching on graduation in Interior Design with a minor in Building Science from a CIDA accredited school, the thought of the differences between architects and interior designers being function vs. mood is discouraging to those who are not in the field who don’t know what the jobs entail. In my schooling it has been emphasized repeatedly that functionality of a space is of utmost importance and we are required to take classes that focus on building codes, building services, and systems. There is so much overlap between the two professions and it is extremely important that we start recognizing interior designers for exactly what they do to contribute to not only the aesthetics but the functionality of spaces. There has been many projects where I take on studies of the structure and how it affects the surrounding areas, not just the feelings of the interiors. There is one comment on here that said they like to refer to interior designers as interior architects and I completely agree. I mean there is an entire stigma surrounding the name of interior designer where the average person thinks that all we do is match pillows to curtains, when in reality we do much much more. The strides that we are making in regards to getting bills/legislations passed to where we can officially be registered interior designers and stamp our drawings is leaps and bounds further than where we were just a couple years ago. However we have much further to go, starting with stopping the ability for any layman to go outside and declare themselves an interior designer without any true school or work experience. This negatively impacts the hard work and dedication that has went into the profession and suggests that the job is something that anyone can attain (which you can attain if you put in the work and schooling for). Also I wanted to point out that after I graduate I could go directly into a masters program for architecture because of the schooling that I have earned matches with the schooling of an undergrad architecture program. All in all I do not want to say that you are completely wrong, but I do want to point out that we as interior designers take consideration of the function of the spaces into account far more than you are giving us credit for.

[cliffordphiri]

In my country, interior designers have an undergraduate degree in architecture. Its more of a specialization you pick for yourself once you start practicing.

[Phiapc]

First of all.. You're gonna go far kid! And second of all Haha I've found in my years of experience as an architect, interior designer and lighting designer that the creative process it's pretty much the same but with extra steps here and there. I like to call Interior Design: "interior architecture" because it is very important to focus in more than mood, and in architecture mood is extremely important, I have reached a point where I can't do one without thinking of the other, and none without thinking of lighting.

Architecture envelopes the human body it is about the human body, it's so important to think of feelings and sensations when designing beyond building codes.

[airangel]

Can definitely relate. :) Am an architect in the Philippines, and my second job was at an interior design/interior architecture firm. Learned so much that I otherwise wouldn't have in an architecture firm. Interior details, mood boards, certain materials/finishes, close client relations, etc. And it was so fulfilling to complete projects after just a few months, instead of years.

[DanielTitchener]

Time scales are a huge differentiator. Super interesting to hear your experience in both fields!

[galeeid]

As an architecture student, I do some projects of interiors also-- just like body anatomy, there are inner and outer, it is an internal component that helps the outer stay healthy actually

[mirufiyu]

I'm an architecture graduate and my first work is mostly interior fit-outs and i come to this realization that i liked interiors more than architecture. What i mean is, i find interiors more fun to work with than the structure, thats why if ever i'm going to take a masteral, i'm planning interiors. (Also just found out your channel 😍 new sub)

[rebeccashorin]

I think there is a lot of overlap between interior designers and architects. However, at least on commercial projects, as an Interior Designer in Vancouver BC - I think there are a lot of aspects of interior design that architects do not understand. Interior designers are actually educated to do more than most people think and it causes a lot of frustration. I think architects definitely carry a more rational approach to design to ensure the exterior of the building looks good and the integrity of the building is sound, but I can't tell you how often the shell of the building/towers I receive from architects lack understanding on functional use of space for the end user, accessibility requirements, structural stair details, and basic building code with regard to space planning - all of which we then correct or suggest solutions for them to implement. Interior Designers in BC are also fighting to get recognized as registered professionals (like they are in other provinces already) so that we can stamp their own drawings on tenant improvements. Because more often than not, we do the whole permit package ourselves but we still need to pay the architect to use their magic stamp to be able to submit it without them needing to draw anything. Due to the fact that many Decorators and DIY Designers like to call themselves Interior Designers when they are two completely different professions is probably the biggest annoyance and creates a lot of misinformation about what we actually do in our profession. In Europe, Interior Designers are actually called Interior Architects for a reason and its a title I wish the industry adopted here to eliminate some of that stigma and confusion that interior design gets. Interior projects definitely have a faster turn around for the most part depending on the area of the industry you are in but it can vary. Some projects can take up to 5 years to see to completion some a few months. To be honest I could go on forever about the differences from the Interior Design perspective... Not to mention the things that designers find frustrating when we work with architects.

[emekachiazor]

I really love damilee... She clears my mind from difficult thoughts... She clarify things 👌👌👌

[faidora]

As a student preparing to pass to architecture university I realised that I’m more into interior designing and I was very confused with the both for a while this video is perfect and helped a lot 💫

[teamlazer]

Great video. I'm a registered Australian architect working in Hong Kong, I started an agency where we mostly do interiors.

I've worked on tiny studio apartment interiors, to university buildings, to train stations to developments with 20 towers (both at architectural and interior capacities).
As someone who has worked in different countries, and at a huge range of project scales, I would say that there are a huge range of practice styles in both interior and architecture.

In large scale projects for example, there are project architects and design architects. Design architects are paid less but focus almost entirely on aesthetics, mood and experience and very little on code (particularly if you are designing a project in another country).

There are also interior designers who work on government projects or things like hospitals and schools, where it is less about aesthetics and more about code, and research.

I would highlight that geography and context is extremely important to how architects and interiors practice. Yes, you can stay where you are and try different disciplines, but why not go someplace else in the world to work, and find something that suits you? One of the greatest things about being an architect or interior designer is that you can go and work practically anywhere in the world .

[Kaygee]

Interesting video. I have a degree in Architecture and worked in Interior Design for a number of years. It was a lot about function and not just "mood". The type of interior design I used to do was heavy on restaurant design and the function of the kitchen and the relation to how to serve, the bar and it's function, flow of customers etc. was more heavy in the function design process. You'll also come across Chefs who want their function to be very specific! Also another area within interior design related to restaurant design is kitchen consulting. That is a type of Interior Design that is function heavy. Many times Architects will hire kitchen consultants to design the function of institutional kitchens, say in a Hospital, or maybe a hotel etc. Within each field of profession there is a lot of diversity so you're right when you ask for the experience of others in this video!

[adrianabermudez]

Thank you for creating this video. I'm 38 and recently returned to school and started working towards a degree in Architecture, but I know that interior design is truly where my interest lies. I want my degrees in both to do exactly what you did and be an architect who work for an interior design firm because of the lynchpin philosophy. I would love to hear from people who started their own businesses. I'm really at a crossroads of what I really want to do.

[andyalvarezvillalobos]

Watching this video gave me a lot of joy and pride in my profession. I am an Interior Design student and it is my last semester of the degree.
The reason why clients leave creative meetings so happy is because we as designers work with emotions and understanding others. Combining this profession with certifications such as psychology and marketing are a very good plus in working directly with clients and, as you mentioned, the mood board and storytelling of the spaces are what help us so that the client can better visualize themselves in the space and get excited.

I chose this profession because I always liked the idea of ​​being able to create spaces that interact directly with people's feelings.

Thank you very much for the video, now I am subscribed to your channel.
Greetings from Mexico! 😊

[karlchitecture]

There's this book by Grimly and Love, " the Interior Design Reference + Specs Book ", it helped us a lot to understand more about their language and technical framework side, and where collaboration becomes more effective and sustainable, interior designers become most important to work with architects, especially on areas where both our expertise cross. and become an essential part of the "Spaces within" in our designs. btw another great content again Ar Dami.!:)

[tomhoang]

Would love to hear about branching out and opening your own firm. Considering the business aspect really isn't taught in architecture schools anyway, that would be a very insightful, and hopefully, an inspiring video.

[jedjdwyer]

Hi Dami,

You videos are great and I appreciate the time you put into all your videos.

I’m an architecture student in Australia and I have run a carpentry business for 9 years and now have moved into building design while I am studying. I still have the carpentry business and have taken the building design on as a part of my business with the hope that it becomes full time. I design, get all approvals submitted, deal with engineers and also build most of the designs I get approved.

It’s a 24/7 job along with being a dad of two you children. your videos have helped a lot when I’m pushing the 3am drawings so please keep it up and look forward to the future of your channel and career.