52121 Interior designers and interior decorators

What this occupation covers

Interior designers and interior decorators conceptualize and produce aesthetic, functional and safe designs for interior spaces in residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial buildings. They are employed by architectural and interior design firms, retail establishments, construction companies, hospitals, airlines, hotel and restaurant chains, and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 8 main duties for this code.

• Consult with clients to determine needs, preferences, safety requirements and purpose of space
• Develop detailed plans and 3-D models showing arrangement of walls, dividers, displays, lighting and other fixtures using computer-assisted design (CAD) software and graphics software
• Develop plans, elevations, cross sections and detailed drawings, and advise on selection of colours, finishes and materials, floor and wall coverings, window treatments, interior and exterior lighting, furniture and other items, taking into account ergonomic and occupational health standards
• Estimate costs and materials required and may advise on leasing, real estate and marketing
• Prepare plans and specifications for the final interior designs in accordance with current practices and codes
• Work in a multidisciplinary environment
• May direct site work crews and subcontractors.
• Interior designers are experts in the area of interior architecture, construction materials and building codes. They may specialize in designing interiors for residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and industrial buildings and for aircraft, ships or trains, trade shows and exhibitions. Interior decorators may specialize in decorating residential or commercial interior spaces, home staging, colour consulting and home organizing.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 8 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
• 22211 Industrial designers
• 73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• 53123 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers

Excluded from this code

• Graphic designers and illustrators (See 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators)
• Industrial designers (See 22211 Industrial designers)
• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (See 73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators))
• Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers (See 53123 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

aircraft interior designer · building space planner · business aircraft interior designer · certified interior designer · colour consultant - home decorating · decorating consultant · designer - interior design · green design consultant - interior design · home decorating consultant · home decorator · home organizer · home stager · home staging consultant · interior decorating consultant · interior decorator · interior design consultant · interior design project manager · interior design technician · interior designer · interior designer assistant · interior space designer · kitchen designer · licensed interior designer · office space planner

Employment requirements

• Interior designers
• A university degree or college diploma in interior design is usually required.
• The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be required after six years of combined study and experience.
• Certification by a provincial institute or association is required to use protected titles related to interior designers in all provinces except Prince Edward Island.
• Interior decorators
• A college certificate or diploma in interior decoration is usually required.
• Membership in the Canadian Decorators' Association is available to qualified decorators.