DESIGNCRAFT ACADEMYINTERIOR DESIGN

Become an interior designer in the U.S. from scratch

In just 2 monthsStarts December 7A real project in your portfolio

Online · No degree or experience needed

Student project: kitchen with a marble islandStudent project: living room with marble panelsStudent project: living room with wood paneling

Projects our students designed during the course

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

This course is for you if…

01

You’re tired of the 9-to-5

You want work that actually feels like you — creative, flexible, on your own schedule.

02

Friends always ask your advice on decor

You’ve redecorated your home more than once and people love your taste.

03

You think it’s too late to start something new

But the idea of interior design just won’t let go. It’s not too late — our students start at every age.

04

You work in a related field

Real estate, staging, construction or furniture sales — and you want to offer your clients more.

05

You want to work from home

A career you can run around your family and your life, not the other way around.

06

You moved to the U.S. and have always loved interiors

Turn that love into a profession that works here — with American clients, stores and standards.

NO LICENSE, NO DEGREE

Why you don’t need a license or a degree to start in the U.S.

Interior design is learned through practice, not years of university theory.

~80%

of U.S. interior design is residential — homes and apartments. In most states it needs no license and no degree. Licenses only apply to protected titles and stamped permit drawings — a different job.

WHAT YOU DO AS A DESIGNER

  • Create the design concept
  • Work directly with the client
  • Use design software
  • Select furniture, materials, fabrics and finishes
  • Oversee the design during construction

WHAT ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS DO

  • Engineering systems
  • Electrical and technical planning
  • Stamped permit drawings

You focus on the design. Rules differ a little by state — in the course we show you exactly where the line is where you live.

STUDENT RESULTS

Real students. Real U.S. clients.

No degree, no experience — for some, not even English as a first language. These are real messages from our student chats.

Samal’s project: attic bedroom in Hudson CityHer project · Hudson City
Samal
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Samal

From biologist to a designer about to be published in a magazine

Samal came to design with zero background. Today she runs her own practice in Cleveland, and her latest interior was professionally photographed for a magazine feature.

$2,000+
per room
$10,000+
per project
$3,000+
trade commissions per project
NEW YORK · 5-BEDROOM HOME

Alessa: a $3,000 project — and nervous at first

A client asked her to design a 5-bedroom apartment and wanted to move in fast. Alessa asked Assel how to run the consultation, took the project and charged $3,000.

Alessa’s message about a 5-bedroom apartment inquiryAlessa got the decorating project and asks for consultation tipsAlessa replies that she charged $3,000
$3,000 for one project
OCTOBER 2026 COHORT

Karina: first client on day 2

On the second day of the course Karina got her first project — a small bathroom remodel. Contracts and client paperwork are part of the program.

Karina’s message: first project, a bathroom remodel
First client on day 2
Karla Tomasetti
ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Karla: the course paid for itself

Originally from Venezuela, English isn’t her first language and she has no U.S. degree. She took her first real project in 5 weeks — $2,000, enough to cover the whole course. The next one paid $3,150.

Karla’s message: the client will pay $2,000, enough to pay for the whole course
$2,000 → $3,150 per project
FROM OUR STUDENT CHAT

First house exterior — a $2,000 contract

She had never designed an exterior before. With the process from the course, she said yes and signed a $2,000 contract.

Student message: first house exterior project, $2,000 contract
$2,000 contract
“1,000 times better.”
Jess Bacelar quit another course after one module — it was all text, no videos. Here she found clear video lessons and real answers.
“I created my first 3D room in week 3.”
Julia, Vernon Hills, Illinois. The step-by-step approach made everything clear.

Their projects during the course

Swipe to see more →
Student project: Kitchen and dining room with a marble island
Student project: Living room with marble panels and a mustard armchair
Student project: Living room with a curved cream sofa and wood paneling
Student project: Bedroom with a wood slat wall and glass partition
Student project: Dental clinic reception
Student project: Clinic lounge with green and cream sofas
Student project: Living room with a rust armchair and travertine table

Published in international magazines

Student project published in Salon magazine
Salon
Student project published in Elle Decoration Spain
Elle Decoration Spain
Your first client could come while you’re still studying.I want results like these
GIFT
BONUS LESSON · AI FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Bring your interiors to life

Turn a still design into a living, moving interior — like this one. Clients love it, and it makes your portfolio stand out.

Yours as a gift with a $100 deposit or full payment.

Get the gift
FROM BEGINNER TO PRO

26 modules in 6 stages. Open a stage to see every module and lesson.

Each module is a real stage of how a professional designer works with a client — and every homework assignment builds your own portfolio project. Complete all modules to earn your certificate.

STAGE 1The ProfessionModules 1–3
Module 1. Welcome and course overview
  • Meet your instructor
  • From zero to designer: what the next 2 months look like
  • What’s inside the course and how to get the most from it
Module 2. Inside the world of interior design
  • The basics of the interior design profession
  • The stages of an interior design project
  • What is not part of a designer’s job (engineering, electrical planning)
  • How to build a portfolio: formats and tools
  • All the ways an interior designer makes money
  • Homework
Module 3. Canva basics for interior designers
  • Getting started in Canva
  • Your first mood boards: interiors you love and don’t
  • Reading an interior: from one photo to a complete mood board
  • “Inspiring, but not my style”: training your eye
  • Homework
STAGE 2Design FoundationsModules 4–7
Module 4. Interior design styles
  • How to choose a style without making a mistake
  • Historical styles
  • 47 modern styles you need to know
  • Ethnic styles: design rooted in culture
  • Timeless interiors that never get old
  • Homework with two worked examples · Interior Design Styles Guide
Module 5. Color in interior design
  • Light or dark interior: starting from layout and daylight
  • How color works in different styles
  • How color changes the perception of space, size and mood
  • The psychology of color
  • The best color combinations, and methods for choosing them
  • Ceilings and walls: making rooms feel bigger or cozier
  • How lighting and materials change color
  • Common color mistakes, timeless trends and color hacks
  • A step-by-step method for working with color
  • Homework with worked examples · 6 color checklists and guides
Module 6. Materials
  • Design starts with materials: choosing, combining, creating atmosphere
  • Wood, stone, glass and fabric
  • Materials by zone: what works in kitchens, baths and living areas
  • Impressive material combinations
  • Costly mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Where you can save and where you can’t
  • Homework with a worked example
Module 7. The 5 golden rules of interior design
  • Balance, proportion and the rules that make an interior look expensive
STAGE 3The ClientModules 8–10
Module 8. Working with clients
  • First contact: building trust from the first call
  • Second meeting: defining the brief, budget and direction
  • Client questionnaire template
Module 9. The psychology of an interior designer
  • 7 principles that make clients follow your lead
  • 15 beliefs that changed Assel’s career as a designer
Module 10. Measuring a space
  • How to measure a room without missing a thing
  • Measurement checklist
  • Homework
STAGE 4Planning and SelectionsModules 11–14
Module 11. Floor plans in Rayon
  • From a drawing to a beautiful presentation
  • Setting up your account and the interface
  • Drawing your first floor plan
  • Wall thickness reference guide · Homework with an example
Module 12. Space planning and layout design
  • What space planning is and why it matters
  • Earning your first money on layouts
  • A 10-step professional workflow: listing every need, checking code compliance, defining zones
  • Building the layout through furniture (6-part walkthrough)
  • How to think like a designer: 3 practice sessions
  • Apartment plan, room and zone checklist, Neufert standards, client questionnaire
  • Homework with a worked example
Module 13. Smart furniture and fixture selections
  • Interior design trends for 2027
  • Choosing furniture and fixtures with confidence
  • Sourcing through stores: how designers earn more
  • Furniture first: the secret to perfect selections
  • Fast collages, even on your phone
  • Budgeting and materials in international practice
  • Working with a resale certificate
Module 14. Professional mood boards in Canva
  • Step-by-step professional mood boards (7 lessons)
  • Collage image library
  • Homework
STAGE 53D Visualization and FinishingModules 15–18
Module 15. Homestyler fundamentals: 3D step by step
  • Account setup and the interface
  • Importing your floor plan and building walls
  • Your first room: windows, doors, moldings, wall colors, furniture
  • Your first kitchen
  • Kitchen dimensions and cabinet specs checklist · Homework
Module 16. Homestyler advanced: a full apartment
  • Partitions, floors and decorative moldings
  • Bedroom: accent wall, wall panels, TV panel, built-in wardrobe
  • Bathroom, step by step
  • Kitchen and wall unit, step by step
  • Living room furniture layout and renders
  • Powder room, entry closet, hallway wardrobe, laundry room
  • Interactive 360° virtual tour · custom textures
  • Homework
Module 17. Lighting
  • The role of lighting in an interior
  • Lighting room by room: kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway
  • Types of lighting
  • Choosing fixtures to match the style
  • Lighting purchase guide · Homework
Module 18. Decor, curtains and accessories
  • Living room decor that looks like a million — without a million
  • Bedroom accessories that complete the space
  • Choosing curtains: designer tips and types
  • Choosing greenery
  • Shopping guides for decor, curtains and plants
STAGE 6Your Project and Your BusinessModules 19–26
Module 19. A real design project, start to finish
  • Custom modeling and real procurement
  • Living room and bedroom collages in Canva
  • Final furniture selection and full budget
  • Kitchen and wall unit in Homestyler
  • AI furniture modeling and final renders
  • Furnishing checklist template · render examples · Homework
Module 20. Presenting your project to the client
  • How to present an interior design project, step by step (6 lessons)
  • Project plans checklist · a full presentation example
Module 21. Working drawings
  • Project cover and first pages of the drawing set
  • Existing plan, demolition plan and partition plan
  • Furniture plan and flooring plan
  • Lighting plan and switch layout
  • Outlet plan and reflected ceiling plan
  • Plumbing and wet-area layout
  • Assembling the full drawing set · a complete example
Module 22. Interior elevations
  • Elevations of the entry and living room, wall by wall (12 lessons)
  • Detailing a TV unit and built-ins
Module 23. Proposals and contracts
  • The design proposal: your most important sales tool
  • Building a proposal in Canva
  • Sample proposal · interior design agreement template
Module 24. Site supervision and contractors
  • Design supervision: structure and responsibilities
  • How designers work with contractors in the U.S.
  • Change orders: managing changes mid-project
Module 25. Marketing and finding clients
  • Positioning and building a personal brand
  • Why some designers get clients and others don’t
  • Where interior designers find clients in 2026
  • The 5 most powerful platforms for designers
  • Free and paid promotion
  • Pricing your services
  • Complete module guide
Module 26. The world’s best design fairs
  • The exhibitions every interior designer should attend
Plus: a library of checklists and templates — client questionnaire, rooms and functional zones, what is and isn’t included in design services.
Every module comes with homework and personal feedback.Start learning now
SOFTWARE

The tools U.S. designers actually use

AutoCAD LT or RayonFloor plans and drawings
CanvaMood boards and proposals
Homestyler3D visualization
AI toolsFast concepts and furniture
All you need to start: internet and a regular computer (Intel Core i5 or better; Windows preferred, a Mac works too). We help you install everything: AutoCAD LT is free for students, Canva and Homestyler have free plans.
HOW DESIGNERS GET PAID IN THE U.S.

Two ways to get paid on every project

$2,000–5,000
design fee per room
One-room projects are common in the U.S. — a great way to start.
+
10–30%
trade & referral commissions
From everything your client buys — furniture, lighting, decor and more.
=
Your income
grows with every project
The fee is just the start. Commissions are what most beginners don’t know about.
Assel Baimakhan, founder of DesignCraft Academy
MEET THE FOUNDER OF THE ACADEMY

Assel Baimakhan

A practicing designer with 20 years of experience in commercial and residential projects, based in Miami, and founder of the DesignCraft interior design studio. She teaches the exact system she uses with her own clients.

1,340+
completed projects
3,500+
students trained
2Ă—
World Design Awards
IIDA
member

Projects published in Forbes, L’Officiel, Mi Casa, El Decor, Dom & Interior, Salon, Vintage and Inside Interior.

Studio website ↗Instagram ↗Forbes feature ↗

ENROLLMENT IS OPEN · STARTS DECEMBER 7

Join Interior Design from Scratch

DESIGNERfull program

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • 2-month program — every module and lesson
  • Homework reviewed by professional architects and interior designers
  • Live webinar reviews of your work
  • Module “How to build a line of clients”
  • Private chat for students
  • Checklists
  • Templates of technical assignments and contracts
  • Certificate
$3,800SAVE $1,650
$2,150
Enroll now
Prefer to pay in parts?
Klarnaafterpay
90% of students join with installments.Pay in installments

Pay in full: bonus course on materials + 12 months of access instead of 6.

NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME?

Reserve your spot for just $100

Want to get to know the course before you decide? Make a $100 deposit — your price and spot are locked for 3 days, so you can make your final decision with no rush.

Reserve for $100
GIFT
8 lessons
on color theory from the course open right away
+ GIFTAI lesson: bring your interiors to life
FAQ

Questions

Do I need a license or a degree?

In most U.S. states you can design residential interiors without a degree or license. Licensing applies to some commercial work and to permit drawings that need a licensed professional’s seal. We explain exactly where the line is.

I have no experience and can’t draw. Is this for me?

Yes. The program starts from zero, and all drawings and visuals are made in software we teach step by step.

How much time does it take each week?

About 6–7 hours a week. Lessons are recorded and released 2–3 times a week, so you study whenever it suits you.

How do installments work?

Choose Klarna or Afterpay at checkout. If you’re approved for only part of the amount, our team will arrange convenient payments for the rest with you directly.

What does the $100 deposit give me?

Access to 8 color theory lessons from the course, plus your price and spot locked for 3 days while you decide.

When can I start finding clients?

Many students take their first paid project during the course — one got hers on day 2. Marketing, pricing and contracts are part of the program.

Still have questions?

Message us on WhatsApp — we’ll answer personally and help you decide.

Ask us on WhatsApp
DESIGNCRAFT ACADEMYTurn your passion for beautiful spaces into an interior design career.