Comparing Two Occupations: Interior Designer and Art Director Aidan Mahony September 23, 2012

Advantages of Choosing Interior Design I will be able to use my creativity to transform people’s homes. I will feel like I am helping people live their lives better. I will feel creatively satisfied. If I major in Interior Design, I will learn about subjects that interest me. The salary can be relatively high.

Suggested High School Courses for Interior Designers Art Drawing and Painting Interior Design Computer-Assisted Design

Cost of Colleges with Interior Design Majors The average cost of colleges that offer Interior Design as a major is $44, 091 including tuition, room and board, books, and supplies.

Schools with Interior Design Majors Parson’s The New School for Design Point Loma Nazarene University Syracuse University The Art Institute of Seattle The Art Institute of San Francisco

Expected Salary The average U.S. salary for interior designers at entry is $35,320. Median: $47,620 Top: $65,960

Length of Time to Obtain Degree/ Training Most interior design majors are obtained within the four years that it takes to earn a BA degree.

Disadvantages of Choosing Interior Design as a Career Tiny errors, such as those in measurements, could cost large sums of money, not to mention the respect of a client and maybe even their business. Math skills are crucial in this field; and, while I’m pretty good at math, I don’t necessarily like doing it.

Advantages of Choosing Art Directing As an art director of a magazine, PR firm, or ad agency, I would be able to use my creativity to solve problems. I would be surrounded by pretty things. I would be able to work independently if I chose to. I would get to try my hand at advertising as well, which I have always found interesting.

Suggested High School Courses for Art Directors Art History Commercial Art Computer Applications Desktop Publishing Drawing and Painting Photography Web Page Design

Cost of College with Majors for Art Directors The average cost of colleges with majors suitable to art directors is $57,175 including tuition, room and board, books, and supplies.

Schools with Majors Suitable to Art Directors Chapman University Colby College Lehigh University Pepperdine University University of California: Los Angeles University of Southern California

Expected Salary The average U.S. salary at entry for art directors is $58,520. Median: $81,260 Top: $117,290

Length of Time to Obtain Degree/Training A high school diploma or GED is required, as well as a bachelor’s degree (at least four years of college) and at least 1-5 years of work experience.

Disadvantages of Choosing Art Directing Because it is not an entry-level job, I would need to work in places related to the art world (like museums, magazines, websites, advertising agencies, PR firms, newspapers, etc.) for around five years before I become an actual art director. Preparing budgets and estimating labor costs would be a standard work activity—something I’m definitely not interested in.

Art Directing is the Right Occupation for Me As fun as interior design sounds, art fascinates me. The thought of going to work every day as an art director is exciting, and I look forward to learning all about the art world. I will gain experience in a multitude of fields, so not only will I be an art director, but a jack-of- all-trades.

Works Cited “CIS for Internet" Art Director. University of Oregon, n.d. Web. 02 Oct "CIS for Internet." Interior Designer. University of Oregon, n.d. Web. 02 Oct