Focus:

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

Emphasis:

Understanding and use of materials, surface design, and detailing

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

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

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

Outline:

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

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

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

Assessment:

Assessment methods:

Written assignments
Design projects
Presentations
Portfolios
Group work
Individual work
Examinations

Assessment criteria:

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

Teaching:

Teaching methods:

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

Faculty:

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

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

Careers:

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

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

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

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

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

BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

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