Should I study architecture or Interior Design? This is a question every high school graduate comes across. Moreover, the difference is not as commonly clear as it seems. Students often end up getting wrong advice like ‘they both are very similar’ and ‘you only need to be good at drawing’ etc. Well, that’s not true at all. There is a hell lot of a difference and no one can tell you that is better than an architecture school graduate. Yes, both of them are related to building designs and more or less involve space-making and planning. But the intensity, the in-depth study, and the pressure that an architecture student and an interior design student faces are completely dissimilar. 

What do I need to Study to become an architect or an Interior Designer?

They are two different fields with a lot of overlaps. Both of them involve creating a built environment but the focus varies. First of all, the architectural study will get you a B.arch degree i.e.Bachelor in Architecture, and it’s a 5-year course. Whereas, the study of interior design will fetch you the B.Des in interior design i.e., Bachelor of Interior Design which happens to be a 3-year course. Secondly, architecture is a professional and internationally recognized degree and is more prestigious than the interior design degree. 

What is Architecture and  What is Interior Design?

To put it in the simplest of words, architecture focuses more on the exteriors of the building and interior design focuses on curating and defining the interiors of the building. Both of them are about spaces that appeal to the human senses. 

Architecture

Architecture is all about creating a space as beautiful as to appeal to the senses. The study of architecture involves a study of the spaces, the masses and voids, the influence a building or a space has on the senses, and ultimately creating everything that appeals to the senses in a designated way. Furthermore, it involves an array of structural understandings, and with that comes tonnes of responsibilities. A lot of many lives are in danger if the structure somehow fails. So basically architectural study also involves skills and knowledge about building structures, building materials, joinery details, financial understandings and understanding of anthropometry, human psychology, human senses, and how they work all together. Well, that’s not all. Architecture deals with the connections between human emotions, colors, shapes, and sizes, and weaves all these with their structural and spatial knowledge.

Architecture is truly an in-depth and wide study. It’s endless. One could study residence or corporate design. The study could also be on hospitality structures and medical buildings and their services. Architectural detailed study or master study can also involve a study of city planning or bridges. The study can range from above-the-ground high-rise structures to underwater structures. Furthermore, one could choose to practice vernacular architecture and the systems or go ahead with designing modern skyscrapers and other highly advanced structural systems. It’s a world on its own!

Interior Design

If architecture is all about creating that space as beautiful to appeal to the senses then interior design is something that elaborative takes it further by giving meaning to every nook and corner on its insides.

Well, interior design can be called a subset of architecture. Interior design takes the ideas and designs of the architect further. It more or less involves working within the given space and detailing it out. The interior design’s work is to further modify, redefine and add a functional aspect to the given space. Again, interior design involves a lot of design details, working with materials, colors, and textures. It also has to appeal to the senses and evoke the right and the desired emotion for the human or the user there is. Though interior design doesn’t involve that in-depth study of structures, it requires a thorough understanding of concepts, ideas and putting them on paper, and bringing them to life. Just like architecture it involves knowledge of and being adapted to software and keeping up with world trends. 

The interior designer gets more flexibility of work as a freelancer than an architect. The complexity, the number of agencies, and the design detailing is more in an architectural design.

Agencies that an Architect and Interior Designer need to work with

Not only in terms of designing, an architect and an interior designer also need to have optimal project management skills. This involves constant coordination between agencies and onsite developments. The designer has to check for smooth functioning between the agencies. Mainly, they have to avoid any possible overlaps between the drawings and designs from the agencies. An architect needs to coordinate with the on-site contractor, the structural designer, the electric consultants, the plumbing consultants, the vaastu consultant, and special other consultants as per the need and the complications of the project. 

An interior designer has to ensure perfect coordination among his team, the electric, and plumbing consultants, and the person on site. The material selection takes a considerable amount of time as the material palette and range keep updating faster as per the world trends. Furthermore, regular site visits ensure smooth project management and in the end, a successful design implementation. 

Alternate fields after Studying architecture or Interior Design

One may have studied architecture or interior design but there are high chances that you would want to follow your passion and practice other walks of the profession. Well, that is possible. You are a designer now and that means you can practice in any field that involves those design principles. Various interesting fields like set design (already understands emotions and design), theater, photography (already has an understanding of frames, compositions, and colors), graphic designing (has a good hand on software), product design (is well versed with materials and form), installation design (understands and has an art appreciation), fashion design (understands materials and can work with details), event decor design are some of the few ones could try your hands on. Moreover, the vast media field today offers professions that are highly lively and upfront such as social media content creation and architectural journalism. 

Can an architect practice interior design and vice versa?

An architect can practice interiors as interior design does not involve much of that complicated structural knowledge. The same design principles as in the architectural design can be applied to the interiors as well. An interior designer cannot practice architecture and they are not appropriately trained to take over the complexities and the scale as an architect. 

Conclusion

Architecture is in-depth, huge, permanent, costly, slow, technical, complicated, difficult, and time-consuming. Whereas interior design is lesser in complications, has a lesser impact on the environment, is less expensive, smaller scale, and lasts for a short period of time.

Ultimately, the choice between interior design and architecture will depend on your personal interests and career goals. If you’re more interested in the overall design and planning of buildings, architecture may be a better fit. If you’re more interested in designing and decorating living spaces, interior design may be the better choice. 

Both fields require a strong understanding of design principles and an eye for aesthetics. So, do your research and find out more about both fields and check for your area of interest while considering factors like job opportunities and earning potential in your area before making a final decision. Furthermore, the energy and time cycle that goes into studying and practicing the two fields are different and hence these are one of the most important factors to keep in mind. also you can learn with Cert bolt.