What careers can you do with an Interior Design degree?

Your guide to creative and commercial careers in Interior Design.

03 February 2026

Ziye Ma, BA (Hons) Interior Design, UCA Canterbury

An Interior Design degree prepares you to do far more than choose colour schemes and furniture.

It develops your creative vision, technical knowledge, spatial awareness and professional skills that are highly valued across a range of industries.

Common industries that Interior Design graduates find themselves working in include:

  • Architecture
  • Property
  • Retail
  • Hospitality
  • Design

In this guide, we explore common career paths available to Interior Design students and how you can turn your creativity into a successful profession.

Jobs for Interior Design graduates

Interior and spacial design careers

These roles focus on leading the creative direction of interior spaces, from initial concept through to final delivery. Graduates working in core interior design careers are responsible for shaping how homes, workplaces, retail environments and public spaces look, feel and function.

  • Interior Designer: plan and design functional, attractive spaces for residential and commercial clients.
  • Residential Interior Designer: specialise in private homes, apartments and luxury properties. You'll work closely with homeowners and property developers to create personalised interiors that reflect the client's lifestyle and budget.
  • Commercial Interior Designer: focus on public buildings such as offices, shops, hotels and restaurants. These roles often involve strict regulations, accessibility requirements and branding considerations.
  • Hospitality and Retail Designer: create immersive environments that influences customer experience and and promotes brand identity.
  • Exhibition Designer: work on exhibition spaces (temporary and permanent) for museums, galleries and events. This role is all about combining storytelling with spatial planning.
Eisha Khurram, MA Interior Design, UCA Farnham

Creative & applied interior design careers

These job roles allow graduates to become specialists in specific aspects of styling and visual communication. They often focus on enhancing interiors through visual detail and presentation.

  • Interior Stylist: procure and arrange furniture and accessories for photoshoots, show homes, magazines, and marketing campaigns.
  • Visual Merchandiser: design retail displays and in-store layouts to attract customers and increase sales. This role blends interior design skills with knowledge of marketing and psychology.
  • Furniture and Lighting Designer: specialise in designing bespoke furniture or lighting for residential and commercial spaces. These roles combine interior design expertise with product design skills.
  • Kitchen and Bathroom Designer: design highly functional spaces, balancing technical requirements with aesthetics. These designers often work within showrooms or specialist design studios.
  • Colour and Materials Consultant: these specialists advise on palettes, textures and finishes, ensuring spaces are visually cohesive and suitable for their intended use.
  • 3D Visualiser and Interior Renderer: visualisers produce photorealistic images and walkthroughs of proposed interiors using digital software. These visuals help clients understand designs before construction begins.

Property and design management careers

Not all Interior Design graduates work directly as creatives. Many build successful careers in business-focused roles that support the delivery of interior spaces.

  • Design Project Manager: oversee interior design projects from planning to completion, ensuring deadlines are met, budgets are balanced and quality meets the required standard.
  • Design Consultant: advise clients on layouts, specifications and regulations. These consultants often work independently or for large firms.
  • Fit-Out Manager: oversee the installation of interiors in commercial spaces such as offices, shops and hotels. They manage suppliers, tradespeople and site logistics.
  • Studio Manager: handle the day-to-day operations of design projects, including staffing, finances, and client administration.
  • Design Sales Consultant: work in showrooms and studios, combining design knowledge with customer service and sales expertise.
  • Procurement Officer: manage purchasing, material sourcing and supplier relationships for interior design projects.
Helen Chinwe Anire Chukwueke, MA Interior Design, UCA Farnham

More advice for Interior Design applicants 

Related courses

Undergraduate

Postgraduate