One of the best things you can do to prepare for Interior Design School is to focus on work experience and internships. The professional contacts that you’ll make throughout your educational path are one of the strongest tools to enable you to succeed at your career goals. Research whether there are relevant work opportunities offered through the school. Those positions will be the most coveted and competition will be strong, but they are worth the effort! If school-related opportunities aren’t available, search for design-related businesses in the area.

Even if you only answer phones at a Design Firm, you will gain inside knowledge about clients and business practices, as well as making important professional contacts. Your exposure to the job field will be a tremendous asset in your coursework and is almost guaranteed to help you secure a job once your education is completed. Set yourself up for networking! The more people that know you, your work ethic and your sense of style, the better! Work experience and internships are the primary source, but social networking and peers can lead to opportunities as well.

I strongly recommend that you start collecting a file of design ideas, if you haven’t already! Your coursework will help you learn to meet a client’s needs, but the most successful designers consistently produce work with their own distinctive spirit. Keep a collection of magazine layouts, catalog pages, fabric scraps-whatever inspires you! Having a folder of examples that suit your style will be tremendously valuable as inspiration for your own projects, as well as helping you identify the elements that you will want to use in creating your own style!