Attention to detail: Interior architect shares course insights and career prospects 

DIMAPUR — Coming from a family of four girls, Sungzanaro Walling and her sisters spent countless hours immersed in the world of Barbie and paper dolls, meticulously designing and arranging miniature rooms. This childhood pastime ignited a profound passion for crafting and curating environments, ultimately leading her to a career where she transforms creative visions into tangible designs.

Sungzanaro graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture from LISAA School of Design, Bengaluru in 2020, during the COVID pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown. Despite the challenges, she seized the opportunity to undertake freelancing projects from home, using the adversity to refine her skills and expand her portfolio in a dynamic setting. Now a lecturer in Interior Design at Government Polytechnic Peren, she balances her professional life with her passion for travelling and gaming.

In an interview with Eastern Mirror, the interior architect provides an outline for students interested in pursuing this field.

To help students gain a clearer understanding, what is interior architecture and what are the primary responsibilities of an interior architect? 

Interior architecture is the sub-discipline of both architecture and interior design. The selection, adaptation, and production of such visual and spatial elements help the living spaces become beautiful and functional. In other words, it is more of a profession where one does not beautify the spaces alone but also reforms and optimises them concerning structural and aesthetic changes.

Primary responsibilities of an interior architect include space planning which involves making up plans and working on the ergonomics of the space as well as the layout so that movement is effective to suit the users as best as possible, design development based on concepts, acquiring the right materials, colours, finishes, and furniture in addition to the right light fittings and other aspects of design, structural work such as changing the arrangement of walls, introducing new sections and how things are arranged in connection with how the room functions, Interacting with several people – the architect, the engineering team, the building team, and the clients, and managing the project from the idea inception to effecting it. 

What according to you are the essential skills that an interior architect must possess? 

In my opinion, an interior architect should have a keen eye for attention to detail, material knowledge, design creativity, competence in managing timelines and budgets, and also possess high verbal and written skills for communicating with clients and teams, and have the ability and pretty good knowledge of design software.

How does interior design differ from interior architecture? 

Although interior design and interior architecture complement each other in many ways, they relate differently to aims on the configuration of interiors and spaces. Interior architecture is concerned with structural designs; it tends to deal more with adaptive reuse and remodelling of existing buildings. In contrast, interior design is regarded as the practice of creating interior atmospheres- focusing on finishes, furniture, and colour palettes.

What should prospective students consider before pursuing a degree in interior architecture?

Before entering an interior architecture programme, prospective students should consider key factors such as having a genuine love for design, considering what they hope to achieve with the degree, researching the job market in their area, evaluating the cost of the programme, etc.

When choosing colleges for studying interiors, a few things to consider are college reputation and infrastructure, curriculum, internships and placement opportunities, and tuition fees.

What does the B.Des in Interior Architecture curriculum include, and what should students expect to learn?

Some of the courses include, but not limited to, a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture in India is likely to include: Basics of design and sketching, History of Interior design, Design software, Lighting and Furniture design, Building services, Building construction and materials, Workshops, Costing and estimation, Professional practices.

From the above, students would anticipate skills involving planning and designing spaces functional and aesthetically pleasing, technical skills, knowledge of various materials that come into play, lighting and ergonomics, sustainable design practices, project management, etc.

What career opportunities are available with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture? 

Some of the specific career opportunities awaiting Interior graduates are:

– Interior Architect: Alterations to existing building structures, space planning, and building design.

– Interior Designer: Designs and decorates residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

– Furniture Designer: Custom designs and develops furniture and furnishings.

– Lighting Designer: Designs functional and pleasing lighting plans.

– Project Manager: They look after the execution of design projects. They manage teams and finances for the projects.

– 3D Visualiser: They create realistic digital renders of interior spaces.

These roles can be found in design firms, studios, or working independently.

What types of projects and internships are typically included in the programme? 

A degree in Interior Architecture/Design allows a student to undertake several projects and internships giving one the experience and practical skills. Some common types include residential and commercial projects, sustainable-oriented projects, live case studies, industry visits, internships in design firms, furniture and product companies, etc.

These experiences enable the students to amass a good collection of works and acquire the necessary practical understanding of the interior industry.

Which software programmes are important for interior architects to master?

There are many software available on the market; however, there are particular and fundamental software programs that every Interior architect has to learn how to use such as:

AutoCAD: This is necessary for drawing both in 2D and 3D as well as technical drawings. It is used widely for floor plans, elevations, and design perspectives.

SketchUp: Helpful for sketching 3D shapes quickly and performing design concepts. It offers simplicity in use and the facility to develop and present design concepts almost instantly.

3D Max, V-Ray: Appropriate for making and rendering quality 3D realistic visuals. 

Adobe Photoshop: This is used for modifying and making changes to graphics for presentations.

Mastering the above programmes is essential in rendering, preparing, and communicating design ideas in 3D as well as coordinating and controlling several aspects of the interior projects.

Could you describe the process of creating an effective portfolio?

An excellent portfolio will display your design capability, creativity, and technical skills, thus creating a huge impact among potential employers or academic institutions. So, it is essential to make a proper choice of your best works that depict your creativity and design concepts in detail. Projects should be properly organised into residential and commercial designs, conceptual understandings, and technical prints. Giving a summary of each project indicating the design problems, your design method, and the offered solution is essential along with using high-quality images and renders to present your designs in a visually stunning and impactful way that keeps the viewers engaged. Last but not least, one must keep updating the portfolio with new work and remove less relevant projects.

RAPID INSIGHTS 

In your opinion, which café or restaurant in Nagaland has the best interior architecture?

Whilst opinions on the best interior architecture can be subjective, ‘Heirloom Eatery’ in Nagaland stands out, the space renders an importation of Naga design elements even into the cuisine. Proper interplay between the two – that is the restaurant and Naga culture helps in bettering the setting of the restaurant but more importantly, gives the guests a deeper understanding of the cultural identity of Nagaland.

What design rule do you often break?

A design rule I often break would be “following strict symmetry” to create more visually interesting and functional spaces through asymmetrical design. 

Can you doodle something for us?

Here is a random doodle of my late dog, Leo.