Skillful design plays a huge role in the success or failure of a restaurant. Will the dining room and the menu give diners the same message? Will there be too many seats for the kitchen to feed, or not enough for the operation to be profitable? Will there be enough room between the tables? Will it be bright and airy, or darker and more intimate? Professional designers answer questions like these every day for savvy entrepreneurs.
Successful restaurant design requires a high degree of training, knowledge and experience. It is not generally taught as a stand-alone specialty, so aspiring designers will need to choose their own path. While some successful designers learn on the job as contractors or restaurateurs, most graduate from a school of architecture or interior design. In any case, some familiarity with the daily restaurant routine is a valuable asset.
Interior design programs are offered at a large number of schools nationwide. Industry publication "DesignIntelligence" publishes an annual ranking of schools in the field, which can be purchased online or viewed at many libraries. Once you've narrowed down your choices, write to the schools. Some programs or individual faculty members may have specific expertise in restaurant design. If none of the schools on your list are especially strong in that area, you might apply for a part-time job with a restaurant supply company. They sometimes provide design services to their clients, and may be open to employing a design student.
Architecture is a significantly more demanding discipline, requiring eight to nine years of education and internship. Architects are often involved at all stages of a building's construction, from design and engineering to supervising the laborers on site. This combination of technical skills and people skills doesn't come naturally to most people, so you'll have to work at it. The good news is that in general, architects command higher fees than designers. As with interior design, the annual rankings from "DesignIntelligence" can help you choose a suitable school.