In a recent Financial Times Article, ‘How to choose a good interior designer’, the author, Sarah Fokschaner, addresses the concern of an unregulated interior design industry consisting of tens of thousands of designers and the problem of how to find talented and professional interior designers.
The article mentions the growing membership of the British Institute of Interior Design over the last decade, reflecting the increased prominence of interior design as a profession. As the UK’s only professional Institute for Interior Designers, the BIID is committed to advancing professionalism, integrity and excellence and in doing so, rigorously vets its members through a meticulous application process. Indeed, many of KLC’s teaching faculty and alumni are members of the BIID and KLC’s Founder, Jenny Gibbs OBE, is a past president of the BIID and was instrumental in driving forward a more formalised Professional Pathway to ensure high standards of practice to enhance the reputation of the profession further.
Fokschaner further advises individuals to ensure they select a reputably qualified design expert:
“A diploma from a reputable institution — Central Saint Martins or KLC School of Design in the UK, for example, and Savannah College of Art and Design or New York School of Interior Design in the US — is a good sign. An apprenticeship with an established firm is equally important.”
KLC is delighted to be recognised as a leading interior design education provider within the UK and internationally. It is a remarkable reflection of the phenomenal work of KLC over the past 40 years; by its founder Jenny Gibbs OBE, staff, tutors, students and alumni.
KLC stands out as a unique education provider in the design sector through its focus on industry-relevant training and ensures that the spirit of innovation is thoroughly instilled throughout the courses offered. A close working relationship with the design industry and access to practising professionals is a unique feature of KLC courses and something all KLC students benefit from throughout their studies.
KLC academic staff are professional designers who also have training in teaching and learning methods or have gained a postgraduate certificate in higher education. The team is supported by contributions from visiting industry experts and guest lecturers. This relevant, practical involvement with industry informs, underpins and invigorates the curriculum.
Image: Diploma HE Student Group, Studio Panacea, designed a staff lounge space for Imperial Health Trust that was implemented into Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital in 2022.
KLC promotes collaboration, experimentation, and fearless exploration to the point that graduates become sought-after employees and professional designers who continue to push the industry forward in an ever-changing professional landscape.
