<p>I like both, but I'm not too well informed on how intense each program are and how well the pay is. Could I get some feedback just on each major, like what they do, what colleges are good for each, and how much the average pay for each is? Anything else you think would be helpful would be greatly appreciated too :)</p>
<p>I would think architectural design, you would have to be more familiar with building codes, construction, and cad. I think interior design would focus on the finishing details and be more art than science. I think color coordinating and furniture selection.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m not too sure either but I did take some basic tech drafting at school and saw the high school architecture classes. It seemed to require a lot of knowledge of engineering rules and building codes etc. Like above said, I think interior design is more artsy</p>
<p>Overall interior design has much less rigorous educational requirements and a much easier path to professional registration. The pay is typically lower, and you will spend your career trying to assert your equality with the architects you work with. You will also find that many of the best interior firms prefer to hire architects for their more rigorous training.</p>
<p>The advantages are that the projects tend to be shorter and have a higher design component than architecture projects (where much more time is spent on the technical requirements). It is also a more social profession dominated by women and involving a lot of interaction with furniture and material reps. The higher end residential interior designers can make a very good living, though overall the standard of pay is lower.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>I would generally agree with Rick. In fact, I’m not totally sure what interior designers do. We only hire consultant architects for projects that are gut interior rehabs. We’ve never hired an interior designer for anything. I’m sure there are opportunities out there for interior designers, but it would be much narrower than that of architects.</p>
<p>Interior design can be very different depending on what school one attends. Some schools might be more into the “artsy” or design piece of it as someone mentioned here. But these students are not interior decorators by any means if they are getting a BFA from a reputable school for interior design. Many schools curriculum’s are really more of an interior architecture degree - they are very technical and these kids take several semesters of AutoCAD, 3DSMax, Building Construction - all similar classes to what the architecture kids take. Interior designers are just designing the interior of buildings versus the exterior/structure. Working in residential might involve more of the “artsy” piece that was mentioned - not so much in commercial.</p>