In connection with the Internship & Placement Week 2008 being conducted for students of Interior Design from the 12th-15th of May, Mr. Kenneth Laidler, President of APID, visited Manipal University, Dubai Campus, to interview some of the students and view a demonstration of their work. In this interview with the ambitious designer, Mr. Kenneth discloses how he sees the world of interior design today.
“Dedication is obviously very important although it is very hard to come across today,” he states, simply. He wasn't mincing words when he spoke of placements. “No educational programme can ever teach what the industry requires of you. Although it is true these students are very new to the field, in the end, it is a business.” In other words, Mr. Laidler made it quite clear: no business was likely to spare chances or resources, if they were to stay abreast of the competition. “The prospective designer needs to possess an extensive knowledge of everything – from products to design styles to materials! The solution? Experience. “Nothing can teach you like experience will.”
Another observation Mr. Kenneth laid special emphasis on was that students unfortunately, are not fully aware of what they really want. "There is no post like that of ‘Interior Designer’ today. This field has so many specializations within in it that a student should know exactly what he/she is looking for. The process of design is more of teamwork now than it ever was. Therefore, what I'm seeking to do here is figure out exactly which of these specialities these students will fit into." With 35 years of experience himself, Mr. Kenneth admits he probably "expects too much" of the students. Yet, with every student who entered the cabin, Mr. Kenneth’s approach was the same: honest and frank but encouraging.
In a word of advice to upcoming interior designers, he suggests, “Start working yourself and don’t expect your university to teach you everything. Interior design education continues throughout one’s life and does not end once you finish your degree.”
One such mode of gaining experience is through travel. “Travel is one of the greatest assets you can have. The more you travel, the more you see and understand of different cultures, societies, building styles etc. And this knowledge is crucial to any designer. “You need the experience…and you need the time.”
APID is an organization formed to represent professional interior designers in the Gulf region. For more information, click here.
“Dedication is obviously very important although it is very hard to come across today,” he states, simply. He wasn't mincing words when he spoke of placements. “No educational programme can ever teach what the industry requires of you. Although it is true these students are very new to the field, in the end, it is a business.” In other words, Mr. Laidler made it quite clear: no business was likely to spare chances or resources, if they were to stay abreast of the competition. “The prospective designer needs to possess an extensive knowledge of everything – from products to design styles to materials! The solution? Experience. “Nothing can teach you like experience will.”
Another observation Mr. Kenneth laid special emphasis on was that students unfortunately, are not fully aware of what they really want. "There is no post like that of ‘Interior Designer’ today. This field has so many specializations within in it that a student should know exactly what he/she is looking for. The process of design is more of teamwork now than it ever was. Therefore, what I'm seeking to do here is figure out exactly which of these specialities these students will fit into." With 35 years of experience himself, Mr. Kenneth admits he probably "expects too much" of the students. Yet, with every student who entered the cabin, Mr. Kenneth’s approach was the same: honest and frank but encouraging.
In a word of advice to upcoming interior designers, he suggests, “Start working yourself and don’t expect your university to teach you everything. Interior design education continues throughout one’s life and does not end once you finish your degree.”
One such mode of gaining experience is through travel. “Travel is one of the greatest assets you can have. The more you travel, the more you see and understand of different cultures, societies, building styles etc. And this knowledge is crucial to any designer. “You need the experience…and you need the time.”
APID is an organization formed to represent professional interior designers in the Gulf region. For more information, click here.
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