Architect to interior architect
An architect already meets 53% of what the interior architect role asks for. The move turns on 14 required skills not yet in the profile.
55.2/ 100
1 How much of what an interior architect is expected to do is already part of an architect’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the interior architect role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An interior architect role treats 15 of its required skills as things an architect already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- architectural design
- architectural theory
- architecture regulations
- design building retrofitting solutions
- develop architectural plans
- draw blueprints
What stands in the way is 14 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 26 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An interior architect role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an architect background worth leading with.
- already held sustainable building design engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held satisfy aesthetic requirements communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held design microclimates in buildings communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held architectural theory engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held evaluate integrated design of buildings information skills
- already held architectural design engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 26 carried skills, including the 15 the interior architect role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 21 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn advise clients on interior design options required
- still to learn prepare detailed working drawings for interior design required
- still to learn build business relationships required
- still to learn communicate with customers required
- still to learn promote sustainable interior design required
- still to learn write work-related reports required
- optional, not held advise on architectural matters optional
- optional, not held design space for religious needs optional
- still to learn materials for interior design required
- still to learn aesthetics required
- still to learn design principles required
- still to learn estimate budget for interior design plans required
- still to learn measure interior space required
- still to learn monitor trends in interior design required
- still to learn technical drawings required
- optional, not held green space strategies optional
- still to learn assist in interior plant projects required
- optional, not held CAD software optional
- optional, not held CADD software optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an interior architect role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 advise clients on interior design options practise this
- 02 assist in interior plant projects practise this
- 03 estimate budget for interior design plans practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 26 skills that carry over
- already held architectural design knowledge
- already held architectural theory knowledge
- already held architecture regulations knowledge
- already held design building retrofitting solutions skill
- already held develop architectural plans skill
- already held draw blueprints skill
- already held ensure infrastructure accessibility skill
- already held furniture trends knowledge
- already held furniture wood types knowledge
- already held identify customer's needs skill
- already held integrate measures in architectural designs skill
- already held integrated design knowledge
- already held meet building regulations skill
- already held project management knowledge
- already held satisfy aesthetic requirements skill
- already held building codes knowledge
- already held create architectural sketches skill
- already held design microclimates in buildings skill
- already held energy performance of buildings knowledge
- already held engineering principles knowledge
- already held evaluate integrated design of buildings skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held physics knowledge
- already held sustainable building design knowledge
- already held urban planning knowledge
- already held zoning codes knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held ecology optional
- optional, not held use technical drawing software optional
7 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on architectural matters optional
- optional, not held CAD software optional
- optional, not held CADD software optional
- optional, not held design space for religious needs optional
- optional, not held ecology optional
- optional, not held green space strategies optional
- optional, not held use technical drawing software optional
69 held skills the interior architect role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt existing designs to changed circumstances skill
- not needed by the target role advise customers on building materials skill
- not needed by the target role advise legislators skill
- not needed by the target role advise on building matters skill
- not needed by the target role airtight construction knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply systemic design thinking skill
- not needed by the target role architectural conservation knowledge
- not needed by the target role assess environmental impact skill
- not needed by the target role assess heating and cooling systems skill
- not needed by the target role building information modelling knowledge
- not needed by the target role building materials industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role carry out tendering skill
- not needed by the target role cartography knowledge
- not needed by the target role communicate with construction crews skill
- not needed by the target role communicate with local residents skill
- not needed by the target role conduct field work skill
- not needed by the target role consider building constraints in architectural designs skill
- not needed by the target role construction legal systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role create solutions to problems skill
- not needed by the target role design an artificial lighting system skill
- not needed by the target role design building air tightness skill
- not needed by the target role design building envelope systems skill
- not needed by the target role design buildings skill
- not needed by the target role design harmonious architecture skill
- not needed by the target role design open spaces skill
- not needed by the target role design passive energy measures skill
- not needed by the target role design spatial layout of outdoor areas skill
- not needed by the target role design window and glazing systems skill
- not needed by the target role develop a specific interior design skill
- not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
- not needed by the target role energy efficiency knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure compliance with construction project deadline skill
- not needed by the target role envelope systems for buildings knowledge
- not needed by the target role environmental design knowledge
- not needed by the target role environmental indoor quality knowledge
- not needed by the target role execute feasibility study skill
- not needed by the target role fine arts knowledge
- not needed by the target role finish project within budget skill
- not needed by the target role follow work schedule skill
- not needed by the target role green building practices knowledge
29 further entries not listed here
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn materials for interior design required
- still to learn aesthetics required
- still to learn design principles required
- still to learn technical drawings required
- optional, not held CAD software optional
- optional, not held CADD software optional
- optional, not held ecology optional
- optional, not held green space strategies optional
Other moves recorded from architect
- construction engineer 72% covered · moderate
- landscape architect 45% covered · substantial
- architectural drafter 44% covered · substantial
- building inspector 35% covered · substantial
- construction manager 29% covered · career change
- land planner 29% covered · substantial
- civil drafter 28% covered · substantial
- construction general contractor 24% covered · substantial
Common questions about this move
Can an architect become an interior architect?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An architect already covers 53% of what an interior architect is expected to do: 26 skills carry over, 15 of which the interior architect role treats as required.
What skills does an architect need to become an interior architect?
14 required skills are missing, plus 7 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is advise clients on interior design options.
How hard is the move from architect to interior architect?
Its learning distance is 55.2 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.