Fireplace design is an exciting career for the creative mind. If you like home renovation and are thinking of seeking a design degree, then this could be your dream job!
The role of fireplace designer is an interesting niche within the world of furniture design. If you have a keen eye for design aesthetics and good construction skills then this career choice could set you on the path to success.
Interior design is a special aspect of homeownership, which allows renters and mortgage holders alike the ability to create their own space, their own way. Here at Superior Fireplaces, we know exactly what type of skill and ingenuity it takes to become an expert fireplace designer in the contemporary design field.
What does a Fireplace Designer do?
A fireplace designer is the person behind the fireplaces that grace houses around the world. The fireplace is a multi-faceted feature of interior design because it takes multiple different strands of skill and weaves them together into one.
You will use a computer to design and develop ideas related to creating fireplaces. You will work on your own or with a team, consulting frequently with different departments to ensure the correct safety standards are met.
Skills You May Need
As a fireplace designer there are certain skills which will help you. In general, being friendly, detail oriented, and observant towards health and safety features are good starting points.
Asides from a friendly outlook and a willingness to learn, these skills may help you pursue a career in fireplace design:
- Detail Focused for reading briefs
- Team-friendly, since you may be part of a fireplace design team
- A past design career in any other décor helps but is not necessary
- Impressive creative skills
- Creative critical thinking skills
- Great communication for client consultations
- Math skills
- Constructions skills
- A keen interest in technology and emerging technologies
- Computing skills will help you use a CAD/CAM system
How to Become Fireplace Designer?
When you study to become a fireplace designer in the UK, you take the same courses as an interior designer might take. However, you must also learn about the safety features and the technology used as well as the design aesthetics.
There are three paths you can take if you want to learn how to become fireplace designer. The first is to take an apprenticeship and go down the trade route, working on the job until you learn the skills you need for professional development.
Apprenticeship
You can take an apprenticeship as an interior designer to begin your fireplace design career. You can also take an apprenticeship as a fireplace installer. The best option is to take a Furniture design technician advanced apprenticeship or an apprenticeship in architectural design.
On-the-job training may be the best way to obtain this design career, since it is a specific niche of interior design. You can approach businesses which manufacture different fireplace styles and ask them to take you on as a trainee. This is the most direct way of ensuring you learn the architectural design skills you need to become a fireplace designer.
College
You can take a Level 3 NVQ in Interior Design or Art to begin your journey into designing furniture. Studying furniture design as well as fire safety, technology, and electronics will all help. Begin your career by seeking design qualifications and learning to operate CAD software – that’s the Computer Aided Design software – which will help you develop your ideas.
Any studying you do in College, including getting GSCEs which you failed in High School, will help towards your design degree.
University
Fireplace design training at university includes interior design classes, modules in fireplace engineering, in electronics, technology, and fire safety standards.
Start with a basic design degree and specialise from there. You will learn how to use the CAD software during your design course. This will help hone your construction skills. You can learn about heat efficiency and material selection by doing a design degree. Learning building regulations will be part of your job, and design aesthetics are great – but those safety standards must be first and foremost for a designer.
Create a Design Portfolio
Fireplace design, like any other good interior design role, comes with a need to demonstrate your skills in order to woo new clients. Your design portfolio, which you should begin gathering material for at the start of your career, is the ideal way to do this. Add your best work to it and make it digital for easy access. Architectural Digest have tips on how to make a portfolio when you are just starting out.
Opportunities for Professional Development
As you gain design qualifications and master your career, you may start your own business in fireplace design. More likely, you will work as part of a team for a large corporation, helping to design and develop the latest in fireplace styles and technology.