Which is right for you? Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Interior Design

Embarking on a career in interior design is exciting, and understanding the right path to take is essential for success. Whether you're aiming to design residential spaces, create commercial environments, or launch your own decoration and styling business, choosing the right course will lay the foundation for your career.

At Billy Blue College of Design, we offer a range of Interior Design courses to suit different levels of expertise and career goals. Whether you’re starting with the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, advancing your skills with the Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration or even continuing through to a bachelors degree, each course is crafted to give you the tools you need to make your mark in the industry.

So why is it important to pick the right Interior Design course?

Recently the Design Institute of Australia provided a comprehensive overview of why defining the occupation profiles for interior designer and interior decorator is important. In short, it’s about having the right level of knowledge to undertake the various tasks asked of each role. The goal is minimising harm on residential and commercial projects, and providing a quality and compliant service to customers.

If you're considering beginning or advancing your interior design or decoration career, you're in the right place. In this article, you’ll explore the key differences between the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, helping you understand which qualification aligns best with your career goals. You’ll also gain insight into what each course entails, the potential career opportunities that each offers, and helpful tips for selecting the course that’s the perfect fit for you.

What is the difference between the two courses?

Both courses are excellent choices for anyone new to the field of interior design and decoration. They begin with the same foundational skills, covering areas such as drawing, drafting, product knowledge and joinery details. Both even offer the opportunity to work on a real client project with a live brief.

In addition, these courses are developed with industry advice through Course Advisory Committees and industry panels, in collaboration with our interior design ambassador, Sibella Court, ensuring you receive industry insights and real-world expertise in areas such as heritage renovations.

Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration

The Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration provides the foundational skills needed to begin a career in interior design and decoration, covering both the theory and practical aspects of the field. Over the course of 12 months, you'll learn to visualise and execute design concepts, balancing creativity with functional design. This course is ideal for those looking to quickly build their skills and prepare for real-world projects.

Diploma students also use industry-standard digital drawing and 3D rendering software, though at a level tailored for residential interior decoration.

Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration

The Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration provides you with a more comprehensive understanding of interior design, as well as the building compliance and regulatory bounds. You’ll also gain advanced skills in materiality, construction practice and digital drawing and 3D rendering software used in the industry.

In this course, you will also expand your focus beyond residential design to explore commercial interior design, including projects such as hotels, restaurants and retail spaces.

Employment opportunities for Advanced Diploma of Interior Design

Upon completing the Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, you will be prepared to pursue a range of exciting career opportunities in the interior design and decoration industry. Some employment opportunities for interior designers with this degree are:

• Interior designer: often self-employed or employed in design and decoration consultancy, architectural practice, lighting, furniture, furnishings and fabric suppliers, or for furnishing departments of retail stores
• Interior decorator: often self-employed or for design and decoration consultancies, lighting, furniture, furnishings and fabric suppliers, or for furnishing departments of retail stores
• Architectural sales representative: selling products used in interior design and architecture, such as furniture, fabrics and building materials
• Interior stylist: experts in creating stylish, cohesive interior looks. You’ll work on styling residential, commercial or retail spaces, often for photoshoots, events or display purposes
• Soft furnishings consultant: advising clients on choosing fabrics and textiles like curtains, cushions and upholstery
• Events and installation designer: creating temporary installations for events, exhibitions and retail displays
• Real estate home stager: helping sellers present their properties in the best possible light to attract buyers

David Bugg of ArchiPro provides a fantastic overview of the considerations recommended for those looking to hire interior designers or decorators for their projects, including the skills each has, in his article, The interior designer or decorator dilemma: How to make the right choice for your project.

Which Interior Design course should I choose?

When deciding between a Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Interior Design, it's important to consider what role you envision yourself in. Both qualifications address skills needed in industry, it just depends on which part of the industry you want to work in.

As a general rule, your course choice should align with the type of job you’re interested in.

“It's always best to approach studying any course with at least a bit of an idea of what kind of job you want out of it,” says Mel O’Brien, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration Coordinator.

If your goal is to work in styling, decoration, or creating aesthetically focused interiors, the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration is a great choice. It prepares you for roles that involve colour schemes, furniture arrangement and creating visually appealing spaces.

For those looking to dive into more technical aspects of design, such as managing design and construction projects, the Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration is the right fit. This qualification will give you the skills to handle more complex tasks.

Mel explains, “If you're looking to work on design and construction projects, selecting finishes like tiles, marble, flooring and special wall finishes to be installed, drawing technical details of how your project will be built, deciding on lighting schemes, and choosing bathroom and kitchen fittings and appliances, then the Advanced Diploma is the course for you.”

You’ll need to consider the level of technical detail you want to master. The Advanced Diploma provides more in-depth training in technical areas such as construction drawings, design detailing and materials knowledge, whereas the Diploma focuses more on the creative and aesthetic side of design.