The Power Within | An Interior Design’s Guide to Helping Society by Natavia

The Power Within | An Interior Design’s Guide to Helping Society by Natavia - December 2023 Scholarship Essay

Every person in the world has a part in their lives which contributes to making the world go round. Firefighters help prevent the destruction of our lands from burning fires, doctors help keep people alive and healthy, sanitation workers help keep our streets clean, and educators help our future generations prepare for the life ahead. There are so many careers, jobs, and prospects that not only contribute to society, but work simultaneously with one another to benefit everyone.

I for one am a part of that system as I am majoring in the art of interior design. Some may think that decorating the interior of a building for others doesn’t contribute much to society but on the contrary. Interior design is much more than putting color on a wall or deciding what furniture looks best in a room. Interior design is by definition the art and science of enhancing an interior for both an aesthetically pleasing and functional environment for those occupying a space.

It takes substantial research, planning, documenting, and knowledge to create a space that functions, and looks great, but that is also safe for those occupying the space. We are at the utmost front of any project dealing with numerous types of buildings from the place you work, to the building you eat at, and even the ones where you are at your most comfortable, your very own home. Without interior designers to plan exactly the right amount of space needed to move comfortably within a space, to make sure buildings are up to codes and regulations, or to make sure the environment is emotionally precise, we would not function as a whole.

Imagine waking up and getting ready for work in such a poorly designed home where the bathroom is too tiny to function, and the furniture is too big for the size of the living area. Now imagine going to work emotionally drained because of the way your home was designed, but entering into an office with only one small desk that over a hundred people have to share. How about trying to get lunch at a local spot next door but the ceiling tiles are on the edge of collapsing and the counter to pay for your food is so low that you can’t rest your hands on it or put your laptop down for a second to grab your wallet.

Interior designers prevent these things from happening and you may not notice just how important they really are. How they keep buildings up to code, assure that everyone within a space is comfortable and can move efficiently, and even ensure people with disabilities can function independently within a building as well. Interior designers bring both function and stability within a building and ensure that sustainable products are being used with every single design, helping not only people but the planet as well.

Interior design is something that I am majoring in because I want to help people in ways that others may not even think about. I could be a lawyer and help people obtain justice or be a veterinarian and save the animals we love, but the space we reside in is just as important as the people who help people and those who help keep our environment safe. I want to change the way people look at buildings both exterior and interior and bring awareness to just how important spaces can be. They contribute to the safety, health, and well-being of our society, and without interior designers to help make the world go round we would not function as a society. It starts within, especially the four walls we call home.