Today’s designers need organizational tools (like Programa) as well as foundational technical software skills. If you’ve been putting off learning the technical software, you’re certainly not alone, as it can be intimidating and frustrating for a lot of designers. That said, remember to start with just one tool and start with just the basics. Each of these programs have some tools or settings that a designer might never even touch. So don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to know everything.
These skills can have long-term impacts on your options as a designer, both professionally and creatively. Don’t avoid technical skills. The designers who pair software skills with strong workflow tools are the ones who thrive.
Audrey Noakes is a designer and educator with experience in both the US and UK. She specialises in helping interior designers build confident, practical technical software skills without overwhelm.
Interior designers in today’s industry have a wide range of digital tools available to help them with their workflows. Project management platforms, including industry-specific tools like Programa have become essential in implementing projects and running the business side.
That said in addition to tools that help with the management of a project, there are still core technical skills that designers need to fully communicate their designs. There are so many options available though, you might not be sure where to start.
In the age of AI, it can feel like a lot of the more technical design software isn’t necessary anymore. A good prompt can create a compelling image of the design you’re proposing right? Well, yes, there’s some beautiful imagery that’s possible in this iteration of AI tools, but there are a lot of caveats in using those images in a professional context.
AI being used for concepts and initial ideas can be effective and efficient when it comes to a designer’s workflow. However, taking those ideas into a developed design that can be implemented and constructed within real-word project sites is another challenge and task all together.
AI imagery can also risk misleading clients with visuals that are inaccurate or in some cases impossible. Just as some of the hyper-stylised visuals of a few years ago resulted in certain legal issues, AI poses the same risks and challenges. No matter the tool, professional due diligence in terms of communications, clarity, and precision are still important to maintain your own integrity and reputation as a designer.
Technical design software allows designers to create the communications with the required level of detail and accuracy. Not only does this mean better, more accurate communications with clients, but it also means effective communications with contractors, consultants, fabricators, etc. Keep in mind that accuracy is paramount when it comes to managing your own liability within a given project.
So if technical design software is still essential in the digital skills toolbox of a working designer, which software is actually required? Well, I personally researched over 1,600 interior design job listings for just that reason. What are the most in-demand software programs in today’s industry? The results:
This data was taken LinkedIn Job listings from across the US, Europe, Australia, and some other key locales. Obviously, there was quite a variety, but these three were the standout programs required for professional designers in the current industry.
You probably have heard of these three programs. Maybe you’re highly experienced in some or all, or maybe you’ve been actively avoiding them this whole time. If you are wanting to learn them, you might not be sure which one to prioritize or which one to start. The good news is that you don’t have to learn them all. Which one you choose will really depend on your goals and type of work you do within the industry.
AutoCAD has been around for decades at this point, and for good reason. It’s the gold standard when it comes to 2D documentation, that is plan drawings, section and elevation drawings, and details. While some designers can find AutoCAD intimidating, with right training of core skills and adaptable workflows, it can quickly become an intuitive and efficient software program.
While AutoCAD has developed 3D capabilities, I know I personally don’t find it a good fit for interior designers or architects. (I think engineers might find it much more useful.) Other programs are better suited for 3D representation in spatial design.
The second most requested software was Revit, which makes sense as it dominates interiors, particularly within the commercial sector. As a BIM-software program, Revit not only gives capabilities for 2D documentations and 3D visualizations, it also has the opportunity for loads of embedded data to help keep track of more complex projects.
I always credit challenging myself to learning Revit is what directly led to my being given certain projects to lead. Not my creativity or design skills, but my willingness to embrace and learn a software that would eventually lead to more efficient studio practices.
The third most requested software was Sketchup. Sketchup remains one of the most user-friendly software of these three, and it’s incredibly popular within the world of residential design while still playing a big part of commercial design too. It can be used for quick, more conceptual ideas as well as highly detailed and accurate 3D models of designs. SketchUp in recent years is producing more effective visuals straight from the software, but it also works very well with rendering extensions for the more realistic visualizations that are highly effective for client communications.
Some designers find success in using SketchUp’s sister program of LayOut to produce 2D documentation. This can certainly be effective for some projects, but often collaboration and detailed precision mean working with Sketchup alongside AutoCAD is the best solution.
Every year there seems to be some new design tools that come onto the scene that promise ease and automation for these essential design tasks and documentations. Unfortunately, they don’t often live up to the hype.
To give a designer full capabilities, a design software needs to allow designers customizability alongside professional communication standards. Too many of these newer programs require designers to work from an existing set of graphics, materials, and pre-set up drawings that limit the designers from communicating designs that are unique and specific.
Whether you decide to learn AutoCAD, Revit, or Sketchup, there two key things to consider making the process easier.
First, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with navigating the drawing or modelling area. Importantly, I’d highly recommend using a basic scroll-wheel mouse. A touch pad will quickly get annoying and tiring. A scroll-wheel mouse instead gives you easier access to various buttons and shortcuts that will make moving around a drawing or model much easier.
Secondly, I recommend learning keyboard shortcuts (Revit and Sketchup) or typed commands (AutoCAD) from the beginning. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that those are for more advanced users. Instead, using your keyboard helps you develop a muscle memory for activating key tools and settings. This muscle memory can become so automatic with practice that you can stay in the headspace where you’re thinking through design decisions instead of battling the software.
To get started with learning shortcuts, there are a number of cheat sheets you can find online to help you get to grips with these quickly. I know I like to give my students and readers a cheat sheet that can be printed, cut down the middle, and taped to either side of a computer screen. It can seem silly at first, but it can make such a difference in learning these key shortcuts quickly.
Today’s designers need organizational tools (like Programa) as well as foundational technical software skills. If you’ve been putting off learning the technical software, you’re certainly not alone, as it can be intimidating and frustrating for a lot of designers. That said, remember to start with just one tool and start with just the basics. Each of these programs have some tools or settings that a designer might never even touch. So don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to know everything.
These skills can have long-term impacts on your options as a designer, both professionally and creatively. Don’t avoid technical skills. The designers who pair software skills with strong workflow tools are the ones who thrive.