What's going on with design?

In just two years, the pandemic has left a completely different landscape to how we knew the world in 2019. Not only has it disrupted the digital and nightlife sectors, but it has also made us all aware of how we now understand the value of wellbeing and comfort in rooms that were previously "unnoticed".

This is what has happened with interior decoration. What was once reserved for a "privileged few" has taken a 180º turn and has put the focus and importance on the design of the environments in which we spend the most hours a day, such as our homes. From the kitchen and the living room to the bedroom.

New concerns and training offer

The labour "standstill" of these two years, closely linked to the awareness of the shortcomings of homes and the boom in express refurbishment programs, have led to an interest in training in the field of design.

Whether as a hobby or to broaden professional opportunities, more and more people are graduating. It is estimated that the higher degree in interior design, which is taught in 40 schools throughout Spain, trains around 600-700 students a year.

Growth in the sector

The vice-director of the Escuela Superior de Diseño de Madrid, José Miguel Celestino, believes that the increase in interest and growth of the sector is also related to the growing social changes and awareness of environmental issues. This is intimately linked to design in the rehabilitation of spaces to make them sustainable. The European 20/30 agenda is therefore expected to see a steady growth in interest in interior design.

Moreover, the interest is not only from students and professionals, but there is also a growing demand from restaurants and entertainment venues, who want to have a design that gives them that "extra value" that makes them stand out from the rest.

But what happens when there is excess demand?

There is a lot of work and it is a good opportunity to generate business. But the speed of growth of this demand does not coincide with the speed of training. In other words, there are regulated and chartered qualifications, and one course does not replace the training and responsibility that goes with it.

This gives rise to "intrusiveness" and unfair competition.