There was a time I had only one male student in a class of 30. Today, the ratio between male and female interior design students is almost equal.
I have been teaching interior design at the Philippine School of Interior Design for 30 years now. Since I first stood in front of a class, I’ve noticed a gradual shift in the composition of students.
There was a time I only had one male student in a class of 30, and as the years progressed, more and more guys began enrolling. There was even a batch where the male and female student ratio was almost equal. So, what gives? Are gender roles being reversed, do they not exist anymore?
Interior design was supposedly a career choice for women while architecture was for men. But is it really accurate to say that there are professions designed based on gender? More and more men are taking up interior design and there are even some male architects who are shifting and enrolling in interior design courses. Times have indeed changed.
Personally, I do not believe that there are professions more suited to a guy or to a girl. There are increasingly more men in my classroom that graduate, pass the board, and establish very lucrative careers.
Some people assume that interior design is a glamorous job, hence it should be a woman at the helm. On the contrary, it is not—interior design is a discipline that is challenging and tiresome. It’s never a ‘girl thing’ nor is it ‘emasculating.’
A colleague who is also a professor has this to say, “I believe that in this day and age, design and creativity knows no gender. Anyone can pursue interior design as a career as long as they have a passion for it. The profession is a highly rewarding career not only because you can earn so much but there is a sense of satisfaction and pride when you see your efforts come to fruition after a project is completed. You feel great when you turn over a project, you feel good because you solved a design and space puzzle with a purpose.
“So, can a man thrive in a profession that is considered women-dominated? Absolutely. Every profession should be gender-neutral. Some people assume that interior design is a glamorous job, hence it should be a woman at the helm. On the contrary, it is not—interior design is a discipline that is challenging and tiresome. It’s never a ‘girl thing’ nor is it ‘emasculating.’ Every aspect of interior design is going to stretch your reasoning and the artistic side of your brain, regardless of whether you are a guy or a girl. Diversity in any profession brings in fresh perspectives and ideas, making the design industry richer.”
It’s about passion
Why are men considering a career in interior design today? I ask a freshman student at PSID and he says, “In this modern age we live in, gender is not an issue in any profession, especially for people who work very hard and give their best. I believe that anyone can pursue any career based on their interests, knowledge and skills. Practicing interior design doesn’t affect who I am as a man—as long as it is what I want to do, what I love and want to succeed in it.”
It’s about defining what you want to be recognized for. It’s about embracing your passions, and I find it admirable that students at such a young age already have a clear sense of their aspirations and how to pursue them. Nowadays, regardless of their careers, people are pursuing their dreams, passions, and projects driven by their inner motivations. They are less concerned about others’ opinions.
A senior student says, “Being a guy taking up interior design is uncommon, but I chose this course because it is my passion. I love to design things, whether it is a space, an object, or even clothing but it is in interior design that I find fulfillment at seeing the things I design come to life. I could have gone and studied architecture instead but interior design drew me in. Maybe it’s the details, the colors, the aesthetics of it all, experimenting with materials, textures, and finishes and even just the prospect of making my room beautiful. I don’t think those precepts make me less of a man.”
In ID practice, there are still more women
Last year, 202 out of 443 passed the Licensure Examination for Interior Designers for 2023. The Professional Regulation Commission does not reveal how many men or women took the exam.
In reality though, we see in our practice that there are still more female interior designers, though numbers don’t necessarily equate to either gender being more qualified to handle projects and clients. One interior designer says that while there is a competition between male and female designers in getting projects, it boils down to “the body of work, experience, rapport, results, and relationships we build with our clients.”
He continues, “While the profession is still female-dominated, the guys certainly can compete. We have the same skill set, the same design savvy, the same drive and professionalism.” He adds with a laugh, “If the need arises, we can also charm the pants or skirts off our clients. The ladies do not have the monopoly in that.”
The more inclusive interior design becomes, the better it is for the profession. In the end, it doesn’t matter what gender the designer is because clients seek them for their design skills, their ability to manage projects—not to mention their wit and charm. I’ve been an interior designer for three decades and no one seems to mind.
