For interior design students, having the right tools can make a big difference in your project work and when starting to network within the industry. Whether you’re developing design concepts, creating presentations, or preparing for professional practice, using reliable resources can help elevate your work.
This article highlights useful tools for student and graduate Interior Designers. These platforms can support your creativity, improve your workflow, and help you stay connected with the industry as you start your interior design career.
Design reference/inspiration
Books are great for project inspiration and as reliable references for your projects. Two books that we’ve found invaluable during both university and working at Architectus are the Metric Handbook: Planning and Design Data, and the Interior Design Reference and Specification Book. For current insights into the industry, magazines like Indesign and Artichoke highlight outstanding Australian interior projects and discuss key industry topics.
Tip: access these magazines for free via the Libby app using your local library card.
For ongoing design inspiration, design blogs such as Yellowtrace and The Design Files offer curated content straight to your inbox, whilst Instagram accounts such as @thedigitalinteriors (who posts regular interior details), and @_studiogemma_ (whose account features tips, tricks and inspiration regarding joinery) offer useful insights into some of the more detailed aspects of interior design.
Online learning
If you’re looking to polish your Revit skills or learn how to render to make your presentations stand out, one of the best sites to use is LinkedIn Learning. It has hundreds of online tutorials on various computer programs.
Tip: Whilst you usually need a paid account to access the tutorials, if you sign up to become a member of the State Library of Queensland, you can create a LinkedIn Learning account for free!
Textures and people cut-outs For visualisations and rendering
Looking for high-quality material textures and people cutouts to enhance your renders? Check our resources like Architextures, CC0 Textures, Mr Cutout and Skalgubbar. Architextures and CC0 Textures offer a wide range of high-resolution materials ideal for architectural rendering. Meanwhile, Mr Cutout and Skalgubbar provide detailed cutouts of people, helping to bring realism and a sense of scale to your renders.
Tools for networking
Looking for your first job in the industry can be daunting! But there are many effective tools that can help you showcase your work and build connections. Use LinkedIn to begin networking and establishing connections within the design industry. Behance is ideal for presenting your portfolio, and university projects, in a professional format. On sites such as Instagram and Pinterest, you can curate your feed to reflect your personal design aesthetic, engage with the design community and attract the attention of potential employers.
