As a struggling student, you flipped through the pages of the most renowned interior-design publications while dreaming of the day your work would be featured on those same glossy pages. Fast-forward several frustrating years later, and a pile of stock rejection letters has left you feeling broken and sure that this dream will never be realized. The right connections combined with a lot of hard work and inspiration is the best way to get your work published, which, in turn, will provide you the exposure necessary to land higher-profile clients and expand your design firm.
Be Honest With Yourself
You might already be your own worst critic, but when it comes to preparing for a publication, you must look at your past designs through the eyes of a magazine editor. Did you consistently play it too safe, or were your last few designs too trendy? Did you let your personal aesthetic get in the way of creating a room that was designed for publication? Not every room will translate well into print, so before designing your next space, take an honest look at what you’ve created. If you saw a photograph of the space in a publication would it wow you, or would you quickly turn the page?
Subscribe to Every Publication Possible
Quickly run down to your nearest bookstore and snatch up every interior-design magazine you can get your hands on. Sit down with a cup of coffee and prepare to look through every page and scrutinize every layout. What are these designers doing differently? How can you create an eye-catching layout that will make you stand out? When it comes to getting your work published in a major magazine, it’s all about keeping an eye out for what’s popular and working tirelessly to guarantee you don’t offer a variation on the same old theme.
Keep Abreast of the Latest Trends … and Ignore Them
Trends are fun, which is probably why the majority of interior-design magazines are filled with pages showcasing the latest fads in flooring, paint color, appliances and drapes. Upon seeing so many trendy layouts, your first instinct is to create a design that also showcases many of the same colors or elements. Unfortunately, you’ve just doomed yourself, because every other interior designer just came up with the same brilliant idea. If you really want to stand out from the crowd and have your design noticed, buck the latest trends and find a new way to interpret a classic. Nothing grabs an editor’s attention faster than seeing a reinvented classic, so instead of following the latest trends, create one.
Tell a Story With Your Design
Aside from being beautiful, a great design also tells the reader a story. For instance, does the individual who occupies the space have a deep love of the environment? If so, incorporate green products and technologies into the layout. If a design is intended for buyers with a smaller budget, make it clear by using goods, furniture and accessories that anyone could afford. Make it clear to the editor that you’re designing the room around a specific theme, and you will instantly make the photograph seem more relatable.
Hire an Amazing Photographer
In the past, many design publications insisted on hiring their own photographers to shoot a layout. Widespread budget-slashing has made this difficult for many magazines, which is why so many insist designers hire their own photographer. Use this to your advantage by hiring a photographer whom you’re comfortable with or have worked alongside in the past. Work together to create the best image, and you’ll quickly discover that this creative collaboration will spawn something an editor can’t help but notice.
You’re ready to have your designs featured in a magazine, but there is one critical step that must be taken before realizing this goal. Learn the skills necessary to make your work stand out from the crowd by enrolling in one of the country’s reputable interior design schools. There are many options to consider, including earning your degree through an online university.
About the Author: Claire Iverson is an interior-design student and guest blogger. She’s currently completing her second year of an online interior-design program and will soon begin an internship at a local consulting firm.
