Why Interior Design School is Better than Bravo

Earning a design degree and building a portfolio are the best long-term career strategies for success.

by Joe Cooper
Interior Design School Search Columnist

What “Project Runway” did for fashion and “American Idol” did for music, Bravo’s new “Top Design” is doing for interior design: featuring a famous host and a cast of career hopefuls competing for first place. But interior design school can give you more.

Interior Design in the Spotlight

Reality TV has become the latest medium for trade industries to shine. Jonathan Adler is the interior designer who hosts “Top Design.” He’s an interior design school graduate who has made a name for himself in residential interior design. He has already been impressed by how original the contestants’ designs have been, and praises their authenticity.

The best thing about these reality shows is that it brings wonderful trade careers like design into the spotlight. Fashion design schools have seen increased enrollment due in part to shows like “Project Runway,” and it is reasonable to consider that “Top Design” may do the same for interior design.

What Comes With Interior Design School

Being a contestant on an interior design show is fabulous, but there are many things interior design school can do for young designers that a TV network can’t. Building a network of fellow designers and design faculty is one of them. Building a design portfolio is another. Learning not only about residential interior design, but also commercial, hotel, restaurant, and public facility design is another.

Not to mention the degree. None of the contestants on “Top Design” will receive a degree for their efforts, like students in interior design school do. (Some contestants have gone or attend design school, so they get the best of both worlds).

Mr. Adler and his crew may provide a fun forum for design, but no matter what kind of interior designer you want to become, your best bet is interior design school.

Sources

NY Post

About the Author

Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor’s in American Literature from UCLA.

Posted on May 3, 2007 at 12:28 PM

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