BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Program Overview

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Students explore the metaverse and XR, gain real-world experience, and develop proficiency in materials, surface design, and detailing. Graduates are eligible for professional membership and pursue careers in interior design, visual merchandising, and other creative industries.

Program Outline

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Focus:

Design for Happiness, creating spaces that enhance people's lives and promote well-being

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Emphasis:

Understanding and use of materials, surface design, and detailing

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Curriculum:

Exploration of interior architectural design in XR and the metaverse, gain real-world experience on live industry projects, and learn from a diverse range of industry professionals

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Objectives:

• Develop your knowledge, skills, and techniques of Interior Architecture and Design
• Broaden and deepen your understanding of and competency in Interior Architecture and Design
• Become more self-directed in your design processes and produce coherent and more complex design resolutions
• Explore Interior Architecture as the engagement with and adaptation and transformation of the existing built fabric across both inside and outside spaces, generating ideas from a critical engagement with occupation, material form, site context, and culture
• Develop proficiency in a wide range of communication and technical skills

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Program:

• Focuses on working with existing buildings and spaces and exploring different possibilities for habitation
• Graduates are eligible for associate membership to professional institutions such as: The British Interior Design Association, The Society of British Interior Design and The Chartered Society of Designer

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Outline:

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Level 4:

• Design Skills 1: Introduction to manual drafting, model making, surveying, CAD skills, and other medias for design communication and presentation
• Contextualising Practice 1: Introduction to the general critical, cultural, and technological aspects of interior architecture, focusing on key and defining periods
• Technology 1: Introduction to building technology, specifically in relation to structure, construction, material selection; fabrication; interior environment; occupant comfort; and sustainability
• Design Studio 1: Analysis of the inter-relationships between context and design through studies and activities, both real and imagined; introduction to the basics of design as a dynamic process of investigation and analysis

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Level 5:

• Contextualising Practice 2: Advanced exploration of the critical and cultural aspects of interior architecture, integrating the module within their education and reflecting upon aspects of design studio
• Technology 2: Advanced exploration of building technology, specifically in relation to structure, construction, material selection; fabrication; interior environment; occupant comfort; and sustainability; introduction to key legislative, regulatory, organizational, and cost factors relevant to interior architecture and design
• Design Skills 2: Advanced exploration of design tools, including the metaverse and other digital environments; introduction to professional practice, including industry research, CV writing, portfolio compilation, and digital identity building
• Design Studio 2: Exploration of the societal aspects of interior architecture; consideration of the relationship between people and buildings and how users perceive, understand, and experience the built environment, with focus on the interior space; projects generally set within an existing public building and focus on the design of a public space, drawing out conceptual ideas from a study of specific historical, social, and physical aspects of the given building

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Level 6:

• Year Abroad: Optional opportunity to expand, develop, and apply knowledge and skills in a different organizational and cultural environment in a partner academic institution
• Study Abroad: Optional opportunity to enhance study and CV with a sandwich year abroad; opportunity to study in countries including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, and Europe; no tuition fee to the partner university or the University of Hertfordshire; decision to study abroad made in the second year
• Work Placement: Optional opportunity to enhance study and CV with a work placement sandwich year; chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts, and gain sought-after professional skills; no tuition fee for this year; decision to participate in a work placement made in the second year

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Assessment:

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Assessment methods:

• Written assignments
• Design projects
• Presentations
• Portfolios
• Group work
• Individual work
• Examinations

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Assessment criteria:

• Originality
• Creativity
• Technical proficiency
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Research skills
• Professionalism

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Teaching:

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Teaching methods:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Field trips
• Group and individual tutorials
• Critiques
• Live pitches with clients/industry panels

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Faculty:

• Experienced and qualified professionals in the field of interior architecture and design
• Industry connections and experience
• Active researchers and scholars

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Unique approaches:

• Focus on Design for Happiness
• Exploration of the metaverse and XR
• Emphasis on real-world experience and industry projects
• Critical and cultural studies modules
• Year abroad and sandwich year opportunities

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Careers:

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Career paths:

• Interior Designer
• Visual Merchandise and Commercial Display Designer
• Museum & Exhibition Designer
• Model Maker
• Renderer
• Theatre Designer
• Project Coordinators
• Design business start-up
• Design Journalist
• Design Teacher

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Opportunities:

• Work on new construction projects or within existing buildings
• Work as an individual practitioner or entrepreneur, within an architectural or interior design company, or as part of a multi-disciplinary design consultancy
• Work in areas such as retail design and display, production design for stage, film or television, exhibition design, event design, styling of photo shoots, or virtual environments, interactive design and game design
• Work on small-scale domestic schemes for individual clients or be involved in large corporate identity and branding projects

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Outcomes:

• Graduates are well-equipped for a job in the creative industries
• Graduates have the opportunity to specialize in interior architecture and design or move into a more multidisciplinary role
• Graduates are eligible for membership of several professional institutions
• Graduates have the opportunity to attend career and employment events that happen twice a year, where UK design companies provide internship opportunities, part-time positions, portfolio review, and interview experiences
• Graduates are prepared to enter and deal with changes in the design industry with confidence
• Graduates learn portfolio preparation, interview technique, professional etiquettes, freelancing, contracts, project costing, business budgeting, studio management, and how to promote their business on different platforms and social media

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Other:

• The program is ranked 10th in the country in the design and crafts section of the Guardian's 2017 University League Tables
• The program is a member of the Interior Educators Group
• The program encourages students to engage with some key contemporary issues and learn to develop their design exploration and experimentation
• The program is closely linked to the Design Studio 1 module and supports students to develop and analyse aspects of their Design Studio projects in relation to building technology
• The program brings together aspects from previous studies and requires students to integrate the knowledge and skills they have already learnt into a consistent design proposal
• The program is designed to help students create spaces that enhance people's lives and promote well-being
• The program equips students with the knowledge and experience to begin their career in industry
• The program is designed to help students create spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional, efficient, and joyful

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UK Students Full time £9250 for the 2024/2025 academic year Part time £1155 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year EU Students Full time £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year Part time £1940 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year International Students Full time £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year Part time £1940 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year