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Yep. So true, what you say about the gap between skills required to work in interior design, and what is offered in an online course.

To add to this thread since I see it was resurrected by another comment.

EVEN college degrees will NOT get you 'ready' for jumping into a design job! Only working in the actual field in an office with good designers and successful businesses with connections to a good client base will give you EXPERIENCE in how they work. Not every design firm does things the same way.

Actual experience is what is necessary. I am reading a book about Sister Parish right now, and Bunny Williams (look up both designer's names on Google, choose images to see their designs). Bunny Williams was a secretary for that firm for 3 years before starting her designer career. It was called 'paying your dues'.

No doctor goes out in the waiting room of a hospital to instruct someone who wants to be a doctor! No photographer stops taking shots to teach those observing how he does it. There is NOT enough time in the world to hold the hand of everyone interested in something.

Reading, and instruction on paper or in a book is at one level, having a teacher, elevates your education because that teacher can draw out of you what you already know and what your talents are. BUT a group of peers is what someone who is learning needs. IF you narrow down what you want to learn, that is ALL you will learn, you close the door. If you are with a group of peers also trying to learn, their questions alone can show many ways of learning and how things can be done. Some students and I used to meet in the library of the school and have discussions beyond the classroom. At the end of the day, we still wanted to talk up what we experienced, and visiting museums or Open houses gave us lots of subject matter to discuss. Don't block yourself from this type of learning experience, it stays with you and reinforces what you 'book' learn. Go to lectures if you can find some in your community.

I started my ID classes (in college) with a packed room... by the 3rd week, there were like 12 students left, by the end only about 7. Those who really and truly WANT something make the commitment and stick with it long past those who were merely 'interested' are gone. That is why instruction and education are so hard and expensive to come by. Only those committed are the ones left standing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

I agree with everything you just said, Mary Ruth.