Wanted: professional interior designer

Of all the potential problems a company could face, being too busy to accept new commissions one would assume is an enviable one. However, it is a common gripe among design firms in the UAE that the dearth of talented young designers in the region is reaching a critical situation.

The exciting projects are out there; the design business is booming, but the lack of sheer man-power means many companies are not only not competing for projects, but when specifically approached by a returning client have to turn down the work. I continually receive calls from top design firms asking if I know of any good senior designers on the market, or junior visualisers etc so much so, I admit a fleeting temptation to career-hop over to the dark side of design myself.

In my interview with Ken Laidler this month he lamented the lack of good design graduates - not purely in the region, but worldwide. He suggested that the blame should lie with the current industry trend for specialisation within design. He cites this as the core reason why recent graduates are relatively untrained in detailed structural and architectural design, and tend to focus instead on the big aesthetic picture rather than the micro-details that make a grandiose design successful.

The UAE is starting to show signs of a growing commitment to its future generation of designers with more degree courses aimed at budding Emirati interior designers, rather than depend on international graduates flocking to our Gulf shores. This month ALHOSN University in Abu Dhabi announced its new Bachelor of Interior Design degree programme. It is hoped that courses like ALHOSN's will contribute to distinguishing the role of professional interior designers from mere interior decorators.

This is also an aim of APID, another subject very dear to Laidler's heart. Defining the expectations, levels of professionalism, documentation and deliverables means that with continued industry support, the days of Clients not knowing the true worth of a professional interior designer may be well and truly behind us.

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READERS' COMMENTS

a matter of perspective
Posted by Hussain Motabagani, Khobar, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at 10:00 UAE time

As noted by Aggie Kav."The fact of the matter is that the pay is just not good enough." That is one factor playing a part. there are other factors for instance age and experience, young architects / engineers in Gulf States are constantly ridiculed and looked down upon for either not having enough experience and the poor image of reliability and workmanship left by the last generation of gulf residents. LETS FACE IT, many firms don't want to develop local youths to be professionals, 1. it costs money 2. it threatens the position of the expat/local professional already in office. It's common to find young graduates leaving the gulf to continue their higher studies abroad, especially females. It's common place here in Saudi Arabia that female interior designers end up as school art teachers or worse. So they just pack up and leave and start a life in Dubai after achieving a masters abroad. I gradated as a Building Engineer, and believe you me, I'm having a hard time cooping with the situation. The ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU People to discuss is "WHY ISNT THE YOUNGER GENERATION TRAINED ENOUGH?" Thanks for a lovely article.

Interior Design Shortage
Posted by Aggie Kav, Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at 02:00 UAE time

I know of two brilliant Interior Designers who are willing to leave everything in Australia, to work in the U.A.E. The fact of the matter is that the pay is just not good enough. They are both senior in their positions an exceptional in skill and commitment. It just seems that the U.A.E. is not offering the right deals....

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