PLEASE HELP! INFO NEEDED: ARCHITECT VS INTERIOR ARCHITECT??

[ArtisticAthlete32]

Hello all,

I'm a career changer who's about to embark upon a totally different field so I'm hoping someone can help me. It's time for me to leave the healthcare field; I want to do something along the lines of art, design and creativity.

I just have 2 questions I need help with:

1) What's the difference between an architect and an interior architect? Doesn't a regular arch design the exterior and interior? If so, what will an IA do?

2) What's the difference between an IA and an Interior Designer?

Thanks a bunch!

[solidred]

I'll leave the distinctions between 'interior architect' and 'interior designer' to others, because in the UK - where I'm based - there is no such distinction although I could, of course, hazard a guess at what it may amount to.
As for leaving healthcare for a more 'creative' job, bear in mind that much of architecture (all branches) has as much routine procedure, red tape and contextual limitations as healthcare. The thing with the 'dream of creativity' is that it's unusual in any field and available to all fields of endeavour. It's a qualitative not a quantitative practice and so bears no straightforward relationship to a regular income stream. Of course, it depends upon your relationship to what creativity means. An architectural education generally makes something rather ambitious of it and much of the architectural press celebrates triumphs of personal self-expression as being creative with circumstances, budgets and understanding of others involved in the processes of building and occupation thereof don't tend to photograph well ;-p
To more specifically answer your question, interior design to interior architecture to architecture describes a power hierarchy. Architects have more sway in more stuff. This is not necessarily more rewarding nor will it necessarily lead to higher earnings. But it may lead to a slight chip-on-the-shoulder if your version of interior design doesn't end up like Phillipe Starck's...
I could say more but a meeting beckons... to discuss the strengthening of floor joists somewhere or other
P.S. My true creative side takes place in the unfettered environment of the home music recording studio. Earning potential: zero, in all reasonable likelihood. Reward potential: vast.