The Public Image of Interior Design

With what our media portrays to be interior design in all actuality just seems to be decorating. 

Often when I tell a coworker, relative, or acquaintance about my future profession they immediately ask if I will be painting homes and buying sofas.  I would probably take huge offense to this, had it not been for the media planting these thoughts into their brains.  Anyone, and I when I say “anyone” I mean anyone can paint a room and pick out a sofa.  Why on earth would I spend several thousands of dollars to do something so simple with my life? 

We are surrounded by advertisements, magazines and television shows that show a team of workers who have 24 hours to radically transform a bedroom.  It seems to me that these shows are becoming more and more like game shows than showing the actual process is takes to construct and produce a space.  Perhaps I wouldn’t be so bitter, if the shows would show more of the drawings and cad work behind the actual construction, or if the magazines would show detailed construction documents next to the images.

Taking a step back and really evaluating the television shows and magazines, they do show what we all get excited about: the before and after.  Somehow, they totally miss the in-between process.  It makes me scratch my head and wonder, “well how did we get here?” 

These shows and magazines are not all negative and some of them can be very entertaining to watch and read.  I believe it would be beneficial to many if the makers of these shows would explain a little more in depth of what design actually is and the complexity that goes along with it.  Their portrayal of interior design is a hindrance to anyone watching who is considering going into the field.  These students are certainly in for a rude awakening.