Social Media as a Means of Increasing Non-Designers’ Insight into Interior Design

Abstract

Although social media has become an important aspect of business strategies, there remains a gap in research on the impact of online content on visual professions such as interior design. Considering this gap, this qualitative descriptive study intended to investigate the impact of social media in exposing the non-designer audience to value interior design. To establish the study, a sample group of 100 non-designers was interviewed to find out whether social media played any role in increasing their engagement with and interest in interior design. Results reveal that social media increases respondents’ interest in interior design for two main reasons: the availability of a broad variety of visuals and accessing more content by exploring social media streams - both made possible by the internet. Results also confirm the role of social media in recognition of the professional potential of interior design by a non-designer audience. Findings also suggest that interior design itself is considered as a marketing strategy in social media to attract new visitors.

Keywords:

• social media
• interior design
• visual content
• online interaction
• non-designer audience

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shirin Izadpanah

Shirin Izadpana is Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture at Antalya Bilim University (ABU) in Antalya. She also serves as Chair of the Department of Interior architecture and Environmental Design. She holds bachelor's Degree in Interior Architecture and master's and PhD degrees in Architecture from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU). Her research interests include early childhood educational spaces and developments in interior architecture profession and education.

Kagan Gunce

Kagan Gunce is Professor of Interior Architecture at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in N. Cyprus. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research at EMU. He holds bachelor's degree, master's and PhD degrees in Architecture from EMU. His research interests include architectural & interior architectural spaces issues, environmental psychology, architectural theory, conservation of industrial heritage and traditional housing.