Learn the skills and concepts you will need to become a Kitchen and Bath Designer. The page below lists schools and colleges that offer excellent programs and degrees in Kitchen and Bath Design. Study basic design, drawing, plumbing and lighting designs that will train you to be a success in the Kitchen and Bath Design Industry.

In addition to "comfortable," "functional," and "beautiful," consumers and interior designers have added "in harmony with the environment" to their list of design requirements.

What is Green Design?
"Green design is design that goes beyond being just efficient, attractive, on time and on budget. It is a design that cares about how such goals are achieved, about its effect on people and on the environment," according to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Some general principles of green design include: minimizing the use of non-renewable energy (fossil fuels, for example), using environmentally preferable products, protecting and conserving water, and enhancing indoor environmental quality. For example, an interior designer can choose "green" paints, ecologically sound and renewable woods, and energy efficient appliances when working on a design project.

Many interior design schools offer courses, certificates, workshops, or symposiums on green design. Some of the course topics include site design; interiors and materials selection; whole building design; and the study of various sustainable housing, energy, and technology topics.

LEED Guidance
In their quest to design for sustainability, designers can look to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for guidance. "Leed is a voluntary, consensus-based collection of national standards for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings and interiors. It has become increasingly recognized by professional designers as a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals," according to ASID.

Sustainable design is an exciting and challenging aspect of interior design. According to ASID, it is the fastest growing segment of the design industry. As was noted on their Web site, "Today's designers find themselves with a significant professional opportunity: to specify and build healthy buildings and interiors using environmentally friendly products and materials that have a healthy impact on clients and the planet."

Sources

• http://www.asid.org


• http://www.gsa.gov

About the Author
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.

Posted on March 21, 2005 at 11:40 AM