hi James
in my practise in London we employed many designers with many different training backgrounds. most were however BA Interiors or Architecturally trained. We have had in twenty five years two people with the qualification you mention -both were 'ladies with taste' who were used as 'ragpickers'. A one year training of this kind will rarely enable you to compete with a professional who has done four years.
To see what is required go to
www.hoteldesigns.net and look at the hotel interiors there. In the articles on the 4 Seasons in Prague and the Celtic Manor in Wales you will find drawings showing the space management of the professional designers as well as the many photographs in the hotel Reviews that show again the multitudinous problems a professional designer has solved in creating an interior. The articles will also give you an idea of the nature of the problems to be tackled. If you are serious about commercial design, read this stuff and think 'how can I do this'. The answer is usually you can - if you get the right training. There ain't no shortcuts.
