Priority Competencies for Entry-level Interior Designers in the Saudi Labour Market

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the priority competencies that entry-level interior designers had developed to practise the profession and the differences in the priority of these competencies between different graduation years. A questionnaire comprising four axes was distributed to 53 students who had graduated from interior design programmes between 2015 and 2019 and were practising the profession.

The results indicated that the competencies on all axes were considered by entry-level interior designers to be priorities for development, while those that obtained the highest scores were related to materials and lighting, client relationships and management, tasks related to project planning, resource and cost management, contract management, project supervision, and English language proficiency. In general, the highest priority competencies were those related to project management; however, the results showed that there were no differences between the priority of these competencies in different graduation years.

The findings may help interior design programme management by highlighting the competencies needed in the labour market. In addition, it may raise academic advisers’ awareness to assist students to choose the appropriate optional courses and activities that contribute to the achievement of programme learning outcomes and labour market requirements, which, in turn, may reduce the time required for training and the speed of entering the profession.

Keywords: interior designer competencies; labour market; interior design; entry-level interior designers; interior design practice

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/82-06

Publication date:June 30^th 2020