Hi everyone,
I want to go to school for Interior Design/architecture concentrating on sustainable design and I want to start my own business possibly becoming an independent contractor, design homes, and interiors.
The problem is, I am having some bad luck paying for college because I am poor and unable to take out loans because my credit is not old enough (I am 21) and my parents won’t co-sign for me. I no longer live with them and I am completely independent.
The point of this post though is, is it possible to self teach myself Interior Design and CAD/Sketch up, start up my own business without a degree? And if so, how?
At this point, I really don’t see myself going to college because of funds so I need to find an alternative…
I could use all the advice and guidance in the world right now! Thank you for any input!
Have you looked into night courses at Drexel as suggested in your other thread?
Yes, I have. I requested info from them today. But I am still looking at alternatives. Thank you for your suggestion!
Someone else will have to answer your question about interior design and construction. It seems to me (and I am NOT an expert here) that you could conceivably self-teach interior design and conceivably get a broad exposure to construction/contracting through on the job training. The requisite licensing to call yourself an interior designer or a contractor/project manager would be another issue altogether.
But to function as an architect you really need formal architectural training and to sign off on architectural plans you need to be licensed. If you want to design houses, even tiny ones, I’d strongly suggest that you study architecture.
You may not end up getting a professional degree or any degree at all. There are plenty of designers working for architectural and/or construction firms who don’t have BArchs or MArchs and plenty who do but are not licensed. However, if you’re going to be dispensing design advice on architecture within your own firm you’d be better of with both a degree and a license.
@cmyoung @momrath gives the best advice on architecture stuff
i would say you should start off as an architect, and then take it from there because if you go for the construction aspect first you might not be able to get the design views you intended when you start working, but if you start from architecture and worked a bit you would probably be able to slowly catch onto the construction aspects and gain the connections to give you insight on how to run and manage a firm —
dont take my advice too seriously, im 18