Defining Interior Design

Trying to define interior design/architecture is a complicated task. This is because the interior design profession is multi-faceted, intricate, and ever evolving. It is the unique marriage of architecture, engineering, social sciences, humanities, business, and art. Interior design is often defined along with architecture as protecting the life, health, safety, and well-being of the public. However, design goes beyond that to address the human aspects. Design is a tool for complex creative problem solving that involves an extensive amount of research to understand human behaviour patterns and the many theories of social interactions, such as Maslow&s;s hierarchy of needs, proximity, territoriality, place attachment, etc. we have with each other within built environments. Designers must also balance artistic and culturally sensitive aesthetics while still being concerned with profitability. Design is more than about the physical environments that are created; designers seek to provide individuals with an immersive experience. Good design engages all the senses and is responsive to the psychological understanding of wants and needs to balance both novelty and security while embracing and enhancing the human need for shared interactions. All this takes place within the extensive design process, where all these parameters are thoroughly researched and explored. Designers must examine evidence-based design, case studies, code and standard searches, and historic precedents along with forward-thinking to develop plausible ideas. This complexity will only continue as design transcends physical spaces and moves into virtual and augmented realities holds. For these reasons it becomes imperative that our profession know and articulate its value and worth, not simply with regard to built environments, but also to the experiences within those spaces that have potential to leave lasting memories on those who occupy or visit them.