How Much Does a Cruise Ship Interior Designer Get Paid?
Interior designers design for all built environments, including cruise ships and other custom ships and boats. Interior designers must work collaboratively with engineers, executives and members of the ship building team to approve and execute designs. Like working with architects on the interior of buildings, interior ship designers specify and design any part of the ship that is not structural. This includes the design of ship furniture, cabinets, lighting and non load-bearing walls.
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Interior Design Pay
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Median annual income was $44,950 for interior designers in 2008, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that salaries vary widely depending upon the firm, type of work and the designer's experience and reputation. Interior designers working for cruise ship design firms may earn more than the median if they have additional skills that tie directly to the shipbuilding industry.
Designing the onboard experience
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Cruise ships are like ocean-born cities with all the amenities of a resort destination built in. Designers work on restaurants, theaters for cinema and stage, fitness centers, game rooms, nightclubs and even rock-climbing walls. Interior designers can shape the look and feel of the ship and must respond to the key brand messages of their client when making design decisions.
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Aging and Accessibility
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The population of those at retirement age grew almost four times the rate of the total United States population during the past century. Designers of cruise ships must respond to this, especially as many retirees have the time and money to vacation. The ability to design accessible bathrooms and hallways that accommodate wheelchairs and other amenities to help aging vacationers is an asset for potential cruise ship interior designers.
Professional organizations
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Interior designers can become involved in the American Society of Interior Designers and the International Interior Design Association (resource 2). Designers can also join shipbuilding organizations such as the Shipbuilders Council of America to promote the design and construction of ships within the United States. To broaden skills from architectural interior design to ship interior design requires relationship building across industries.
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References
Resources
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