Interior Decoration and Visual Display

Program Overview

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Interior Decoration and Visual Display

Overview

The Interior Decoration and Visual Display program is designed to equip students with the practical skills to bring their vision to life. The program focuses on teaching students how to decorate residential and commercial spaces and create stunning displays. Students will gain skills in space planning, lighting, and color theory, and graduate in only 18 months, including a 6-week internship.

What Do People in Interior Decoration and Visual Presentation Do?

• Interior decorators create a stylish and cohesive look for a space. While an interior designer crafts the bones of a room, an interior decorator brings in the furniture and décor to finish the look.
• Visual merchandisers focus on presenting products for sale. In retail stores, they apply and adapt marketing service concepts, perform tasks related to dressing mannequins and busts, prepare window displays, and handle promotional displays.

Herzing College Interior Decoration and Visual Display Program

The program helps students master the practical skills to bring their vision to life. Students will get hands-on practice with layouts, sketches, and project proposals, and graduate ready to be an asset to a design team.

• 18-month program
• 6-week internship
• Multiple start dates; enroll at any time
• Financial assistance may be available for students who qualify
• Get help with your job search after graduation

What Skills Will You Learn in the Interior Decoration and Visual Display Program?

• Create and propose projects in residential interior decoration, professional office layout, and small boutique design
• Undertake interior display projects, window displays, visual presentations for media, and exhibition booth projects
• Arrange colors and decorative elements such as furniture and accessories, as well as door and window dressing
• Read plans and technical drawings, create graphic representations of a project, and perform basic lettering and graphic reproduction tasks
• Select lighting, use manual and electric tools, employ painting techniques, and create decorative elements
• Utilize sales techniques, information research, and file management

Career Outlook

Successful graduates can find work with:

• Furniture stores
• Interior decoration centers
• Décor stores
• Interior design offices
• Department stores
• Visual merchandising agencies
• Museums
• Art galleries
• Film, theatre, or television studios

Graduates can pursue positions like:

• Technical interior design assistant
• Interior decoration advisor
• Interior decoration product salesperson
• Decorator
• Visual merchandiser

Study Topics

Our Interior Decoration and Visual Display program covers topics such as color theory, sketches and drawings, element arrangement, space layout, and project proposals.

Course Descriptions

Occupation and Training

In this course, students will learn to understand the reality of the occupation; understand the effects of evolving trends on the practice of the occupation; comprehend the training project; and confirm their professional orientation.

Colour Exploitation

In this course, students learn about the potential uses of color. They will compose color harmonies; balance volumes, masses, and surfaces of a space through color; develop a color scheme; and choose colors for a specific space and lighting.

Use of Professional Information Sources

Students learn to use sources of work-related information. They will gather information from plans; perform technical research in sheets and catalogues; research themes, styles, and trends; use information from a merchandising company manual; use the internet; and create directories of professional references.

Material Proposal for Project Realization

This course teaches students how to propose materials for a project. They will gather the necessary information for determining materials for a given project; calculate material requirements; and prepare a proposal for desirable materials for project execution.

Production of Sketches, Drawings, and Perspectives

In this course, students learn to produce rough sketches, freehand drawings, and perspective drawings. They will process information regarding sketch creation; draw sketches; outline the sketch of an object, space, or constituent element of a space; create sketches illustrating space arrangements; produce perspectives; and finalize sketches and perspectives.

Production of Technical Plans

Students learn to define the parameters of the drawings to be made; draw the plan of a space to be arranged; reproduce elevation views of the space to be arranged; represent an object through conventional views, cross-sections, and isometrics; and include dimension notations in the drawings.

Furniture and Decorative Element Arrangement

This course teaches students how to propose combinations of furniture and décor or display elements. They will gather the necessary information to determine needs; determine interior decoration or visual presentation elements that can fulfill the needs; define the style of furniture and decorative elements; and prepare a proposal for arranging furniture and decorative elements.

Window Dressing and Light Upholstery Proposal

This course covers window and bed treatments and light upholstering. Students will gather the necessary information for determining dressings and upholstery; determine materials or products for dressings; define the sewing style; determine fabric quantities and product dimensions for dressings and upholstery; prepare sewing specifications; determine necessary hardware; and prepare a dressing proposal for a space to be decorated.

Space Lighting

Students learn how to gather the necessary information for lighting project development; determine lighting solutions; propose a lighting project; install lighting elements; and adjust lighting.

Interpersonal Relations at Work

In this course, students will understand communication principles, experience communication situations specific to the fields of interior decoration and visual presentation; establish collaborative relationships within a work team; and become aware of their strengths and limitations regarding communication capacity.

Product and Service Sales

This course is designed to teach students how to sell. They will learn to identify customer needs and expectations; offer services or products; present a project; and close a sale.

Related Administrative Tasks

In this course, students learn how to draft administrative documents; process payments; receive merchandise; and provide after-sales service.

Residential Decoration Project Proposal

Students will gather the necessary information for residential project development; conduct general preliminary research; perform a preliminary study for space layout; arrange selected decorative elements and their complements; compile a presentation file for the project; present the project; and follow up on the project.

Decoration Project Proposal Using Integrated Modular Elements

This course focuses on proposing an interior decorating project based on modular, built-in elements. Students will gather the necessary information for project development; conduct general preliminary research; perform a preliminary study for space layout; arrange modular elements with their complements; and compile the project file.

Public Space Decoration Project Proposal

Students will gather the necessary information for a public space project; conduct general preliminary research; perform a preliminary study for space layout; arrange selected decorative elements and their complements; compile a presentation file for the project; present the project; and follow up on the project.

Manufacture of Decorative Elements

This course covers the building of décor elements. Students will plan workshop work; prepare and shape materials; assemble materials and components; recycle decorative elements; finish decorative elements; and maintain the workstation.

Promotional Space Layout

In this course, students learn to layout a space for promotional purposes. They will gather the appropriate information; plan the work; display mannequins; exhibit merchandise; and complete the promotional space layout.

Window Display

This course focuses on designing window displays. Students will gather the necessary information for the layout; conduct general preliminary research; perform a preliminary study for space layout; present a layout file; perform preliminary operations for window display assembly; realize the visual presentation of the window display; finish the window display; and disassemble the window display.

Event Space Layout

In this course, students learn how to design a space for a special event. They will gather the necessary information for the layout; conduct general preliminary research; perform a preliminary study for space layout; arrange selected decorative elements and their complements; compile a file for the layout project; present the project; manufacture decorative elements; assemble the décor on the event premises; and disassemble the décor.

Workplace Integration

Students will become familiar with the reality of the occupation; observe and participate in workplace activities; consolidate the knowledge acquired during training; and become aware of workplace challenges.

Admission Requirements

• A high school diploma or recognized equivalent
• Be at least 16 years old by September 30th of the school year in which you begin training and have obtained the 4th-grade secondary units in the language of instruction, second language, and mathematics in programs established by the Minister or equivalent recognized learning
• Be at least 18 years old at the time of entry into training and possess the functional prerequisites, including passing the general development test and the following specific prerequisites or the equivalent recognized course code:
  • FRA 2102-2 (Adult Sector Code) OR French 308 (Youth Sector Code) AND MAT 3016-2 (Adult Sector Code) OR Math 306 (Youth Sector Code)

Program Details

• Industry: Design
• Program Length: 18 months, includes 6-week internship
• Learning Format: Online and On Campus at Herzing Montreal
• Language: English and French

Why Choose This Program?

• Complete your training in just 18 months
• Learn from industry insiders with years of interior decorating experience
• Gain real work experience through a 6-week internship
• The Herzing Open Education Program (HOEP) lets qualified grads take additional design courses tuition-free
• Our career development team can help you create your resume, apply for interior decorating jobs, and prepare for interviews

Related Design Programs

• 3D Animation
• 3D Printing
• Building Design Technician
• Computer Graphic Design
• Computer-Aided Design and Drafting
• Industrial Drafting
• Sustainable Architecture