Herzing Blog

Updated December 2024

Interested in architecture, building design, and the construction process? Like the idea of being part of a design team and watching your concepts come to life as real buildings?

You've got a few different options in terms of design training and careers. You can go to university and complete a bachelor's or master's degree in architecture. Or you can focus on the inside of buildings and homes and become an interior designer.

If you're looking for a shorter training option, becoming a building designer makes more sense than becoming a licensed architect. 

Let's take a closer look at what it takes to start a career in this field.

What's the difference between modern and contemporary interior design? How does industrial differ from Scandinavian—and where does "transitional" fit in?

If you're thinking about a career in interior design, you're probably already familiar with some of these styles, even if you don't know their official names or defining characteristics.

But if you're serious about studying design, you'll want to get a handle on these terms before you walk into your first day of class. Yes, you'll be covering these concepts at school—but knowing the basic differences between today's most popular styles will give you a stronger start.

Updated October 2022

Sustainable architecture is all about finding better ways to construct buildings so their environmental impact is as small as possible. It's about innovation, creativity, technology, and a total commitment to sustainability.

But there are other good reasons to go green. Buildings that happily co-exist with nature are often cheaper to run—a major bonus for clients who want to save costs over the long term, while staying true to their eco values.

Glaser, Kidd, Scher, Bass, Bierut...chances are, you've heard of at least one of these graphic design giants. And even if you don't know their names, you'd recognize their legendary work in a heartbeat.

Everyone knows the iconic "I heart NY" sign. Or the universally familiar Jurassic Park t-rex image and logo. Those designs are by globally-renowned graphic designers Milton Glaser and Chip Kidd.

Full disclosure: We don't have a crystal ball or time machine, so we can't be completely certain which career you are destined to choose.

However, we do know students pretty well. We've spent decades helping people choose the right diploma programs. So we know a thing or two about career guidance and selecting the program that best matches your natural skills and professional goals.

Want to know if an interior design career is in your future?

What are some of the challenges you'll face as a new building designer? What steps will you go through when creating new building concepts from scratch?

Key questions for anyone considering a career in building design.

On the surface, building design might seem like a purely technical occupation. You work with computer-aided design software all day, do a lot of calculations, and produce highly detailed drawings and blueprints.

But the truth is, building design is about much, much more than plugging measurements into a computer program. It's truly an art and a science.

Updated June 2025

Every career has its ups and downs. No matter which profession you choose, there'll be parts of the job you won't exactly love.

It's all about finding that perfect balance—a career you feel passionate about, and are good at, with only a few challenging aspects you don't mind dealing with.

Actually, to be honest, that's a pretty tall order for most people! Especially when you don't know much about the actual day-to-day realities of the occupation you're interested in. Most students go through this issue, including people considering becoming an architectural drafter or building design technician.

What does it really mean to work in this field? What's the training process like? What should you know before you start school?

Here are a few pros and cons every student should consider. Is building design your ideal career? Let's find out if you should take the plunge.

Updated December 2023

When most people think about graphic design jobs, they envision working in marketing or advertising, doing websites and logos and creating promotional materials for print or digital.

Effective interior design is all about creating attractive, human-friendly spaces that also serve functional needs. Successful designers blend creativity with technical precision and balance their own ideas with the specific goals and needs of clients.

Updated December 2024

Architectural technicians provide an essential service to architects, civil engineers, and construction companies. They combine expert drafting skills with thorough knowledge of building codes, best design practices, and creative insight.

If you're passionate about architecture and enjoy the meticulous, detailed process of creating blueprints and technical drawings, training to become an architectural technician could be your ideal career path.