I was ready for a new career path that was fulfilling, exciting, and would let me be my own boss. Interior design has been one of my long-time interests, and studying with The Academy let me work at my own pace toward my goals.
But I didn't know how to establish myself as an interior designer without spending exorbitant amounts of money and time going back to school. Traditional programs were just too big of a commitment at my current stage of life.
The Academy gave me an opportunity to follow my long-term career goals. It was a no-brainer for me.
The Zoom Q&As and coaching calls are such an invaluable part of the Academy. It's not every day you get direct access to successful interior designers to help guide you. They also help build lasting connections and create a real sense of community.
Now I have more confidence and a good knowledge base to draw from. I feel sure of myself when making design decisions because I can back them up with clear reasons.
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Their experience in their own words…
My favorite part of The Academy was the coaching calls because I could get specific feedback on my designs and ask personal questions after learning and working through the modules. I grew so much from these and felt more confident after them!
If someone is looking to take the plunge into the design world, this course will give you everything you need from an education standpoint but also the support system that helps build your confidence.
Being part of The Academy was like putting gasoline on my staging and design career. It gave me the skills and confidence I needed to succeed not just as a home stager, but as an interior designer. I would be really sad if I had never given it a shot!
Are you ready to invest in your interior design dreams?
“I am an Army Veteran and worked 20 years in the federal government. I was successful… but it didn’t feed my soul. I know the importance of having a space that brings you joy, comfort, and solitude because as a child I didn’t have that. I love beauty in all things and I believe that your space should be a reflection of you so interior design was a path that intrigued me but I needed the understanding and tools to make it a career.
My favorite part about The Academy is the intimate community. Betsy’s openness is truly assuring when finding your footing in this industry, and I’m able to reach out for advice and guidance when necessary but don’t feel lost among thousands of other students. The Academy is invested as much as I am in my success, and sometimes maybe more. It clears the fog so you can really see the possibility of success!
The Academy gives you the necessities of interior design so that you are encouraged to value your skills AND make money.
I am proud and truly amazed to say that I have opened my own business, which incorporates my love of creating reimagined, preloved furniture design and creating a unique space for my clients utilizing a mix of old and new. It also saves money, resources and the environment! My store based in Maryland had only been open for a month and I was being contacted across the country for my interior design consults as well as my pieces! I have found my niche in the industry and am truly excited to see the fruits of my labor knowing that The Academy is behind me!”
“I’m a licensed massage therapist and have been doing that for about 12 years. I got to a point where I said to myself, “I can’t really do this forever. My body is not going to last. I need to find another career that I really like while I’m still relatively young.”
I have always loved interior design but I wasn’t interested in going back to school, so I looked up online programs where I could learn and get the basics. I signed up for New York Institute of Art and Design and I also joined The Academy.
If I could go back, I’d do them both again in a heartbeat.
But I personally got the sense that the NYIAD was a curriculum that was written in the 80s or early 90s… kind of an older base. Betsy’s program is more applicable to today’s design world.
Betsy’s program is the meat, cheese, and bread of a really good hamburger. It’s all of the stuff you’d absolutely need to be a really good interior designer. The other program I took was the mayo, ketchup, and lettuce. Extra stuff that’s good to have. If I only had one option, I’d choose The Academy. Betsy’s program has information I was surprised that was not in the NYIAD program.”
Glowing Reviews from Happy Students
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“I’m probably a little bit older than most of the people who have gone through or are considering The Academy. It’s never too late!
I wasn’t confident. I don’t know a lot about technology. When I was in high school, computers were the size of a closet! I didn’t grow up having those devices or having social media, so for me, it’s been a big learning curve.
The Academy helped me gain the confidence in using technology and then gain the confidence to say “I do have a talent [in interior design] and I’m ready to show it.”
“If you had asked me five years ago, “What is one thing you’d never do?” I would have said, “Starting my own business.” But as my third child became more independent, I had some more time and I was open to having something on the side.
I’ve been creative my whole life. Since we’re a military family that moves so much, it’s such a challenge to make a space feel like home everywhere that you move with a lower budget.
I love how Betsy taught us to really get to know a client, dig out what their needs are, and go from there to design the space. You don’t just come up with a design out of thin air. There is a process. That makes me feel so much more confident in what I’m doing!”