Interview with Interiors Program Director: Michael O’Brien

A quick Q&A with Residential Interiors Program Director: Michael O’Brien

Why Is residential interiors inspiring to you?

Residential Interiors inspires me because the home is one of the most important environments in our society. The changing definition of family in Australia – together with our diverse cultural make-up – means we no longer design ‘typical’ living environments, e.g. the three-bedroom house with a white picket fence. Today there are vast residential environments, which challenge designers to respond in a unique, creative and sustainable way.

What sort of person becomes a residential interior practitioner?

As residential interior designers are passionate about furniture, colour and materials; they enjoy working with clients to help achieve their desired living environment. They design for various home activities, from bathing and entertaining to sleeping and working, and understand the importance of the computer in terms of communicating design ideas and making designs a reality.

What are the misconceptions about Residential Interior Design?

A big misconception is that it’s about the decoration of a living environment. Decoration and aesthetics are important parts of any interior, but a residential interior designer’s role goes way beyond that. Their role explores the complexities associated with designing the living environment – the layout of the home, structural considerations, working with natural and artificial lighting, coordinating climate control systems, audio visual systems and more.

Why should a prospective student study Residential interiors?

It’s the first degree of its kind in Australia to focus specifically on residential living. That means your portfolio will be full of residential-specific environments, from small-scale apartment design through to large-scale housing developments.

What are the career opportunities in Residential Interiors?

There are masses of opportunities for Residential Interior designers. Just think of the companies that specialise in home design and decoration, from interior design firms to architectural practices! This degree gives you an advantage as your portfolio is tailored to residential design only. At Billy Blue you can study additional units to graduate with a second degree such as Commercial Interior Design.

How much can graduates expect to earn in the first year? 10 years’ of experience?

Graduates earn a minimum of $35,000 in the first year – up to $55,000-60,000 in 3-5 years – and in 10 years, anywhere up to $120,000.

Do you need design experience or knowledge of shapes and colors?

For your interview, you’ll need to bring along school results and a portfolio with creative pieces completed in the last 2-3 years. Billy Blue provides the skills to practice Interior Design – all you need to bring is your personal flair and passion for design.

For more information about the courses click here.