Interior & Spatial Design BDes (Hons)

Program Overview

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This four-year BDes (Hons) degree in Interior and Spatial Design from Edinburgh Napier University equips students with a comprehensive understanding of design principles, materials, and real-world applications. Through a studio culture that fosters collaboration and live projects, graduates develop skills in design ideation, problem-solving, and communication, preparing them for careers in interior design, exhibition design, and various other creative disciplines. International study and work placement opportunities enhance the program's global perspective.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This program, BDes (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design, is a full-time, four-year undergraduate degree offered by Edinburgh Napier University. It is designed to equip students with a deep understanding of real-world design projects, clients, and materials. The program emphasizes a studio culture that fosters collaboration and peer learning, providing students with opportunities to engage in live projects with clients like the National Museum of Scotland, participate in work placements with internationally recognized design practices, and embark on international exchange programs with partner institutions in countries such as Australia, Canada, and China. The program also includes study trips to leading design centers like Berlin, Copenhagen, and Lisbon. The program's objectives are to:

• Develop a sophisticated design language and understanding of the relationship between space, form, structure, and materials within the context of building purpose, the end-user, and the wider environment.
• Equip students with the skills to develop unique design ideas, establish rigorous design processes, deal with complex design issues, make informed judgments, and communicate conclusions clearly to a professional audience.
• Foster a strong studio culture supported by a multidisciplinary staff team of academics and industry-based practitioners.
• Provide students with the increasingly trans-disciplinary skills of the design profession and a thorough understanding of contemporary creative practice.
• Develop transferable skills in problem-solving, planning, leadership, teamwork, communication, and time management.

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Outline:

The program is structured over four years, with a carefully choreographed series of projects designed to explore various aspects of interior and spatial design, including:

• Year 1:
• Foundation Digital Media 1
• Foundation Interior & Spatial Design 1
• Visual Research Methods
• Foundation Digital Media 2
• Foundation Interior & Spatial Design
• Debating Design 1
• Year 2:
• CAD (Construction & Detailing)
• Designing for Living Spaces
• Debating Design 2
• CAD (Digital Visualisation)
• Designing for Commercial Spaces
• Design & Business
• Year 3:
• Design for Exhibition and Display
• Light and Colour in the Built Environment
• Design Research Methods
• Option modules:
• Prototyping Interactive Experiences
• Design for Public Spaces
• Design and Urbanism
• Design and Media Work Based Learning (Minor, Major or Extended)
• International Design Studies
• Year 4:
• Minor Project
• Design Professional Practice
• Major Project
• Design Research Portfolio

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Assessment:

Students are assessed through a combination of:

• Portfolio reviews
• Essays
• Group work

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Teaching:

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Studio projects
• Independent study
The program is taught by a multidisciplinary staff team of academics and industry-based practitioners.

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Careers:

Graduates of this program are equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in a variety of design and creative disciplines, including:

• Interior design
• Exhibition and museum design
• Lighting design
• Property development
• Retail design
• Urban design
• Sustainable design
• Design for interactive spaces
Graduates can also pursue postgraduate study on one of the university's MA/MDes Design programs.

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Other:

• The program offers opportunities for international study, exchange, and work-based learning.
• Students have the opportunity to study with one of the university's overseas partners in Europe, China, or North America, or undertake a work placement in Year 3.
• The program has a strong track record of success, with students winning awards such as Best Presentation at the Interior Educators National Student Design Awards, the StarPack Student Design Awards, and Gold in the Creative Conscience Awards.
• The program emphasizes the importance of research and experimentation in design development.
• Students learn to use specific design software, such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max, to articulate design ideas and design processes and to investigate the associated technical issues of design proposals.

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Tuition Fees:

• Scotland

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2024/25

• £1,820,

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland

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2024/25

• £9,250,

• Overseas and EU

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2024/25

• £19,340,

• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.
• EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate.

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Additional costs:

• Annual printing and model-making material costs, approx.
£150 per year
• Year 2&3: Field trip in January, approx.
£350
• Year 4: Trip to London.