Course OUTLINE

Module 1

Interior Design in Context

What precisely is Interior Design and what will your role be as a professional interior designer? Research has shown that human beings spend almost 90% of their lives indoors. Efficient and aesthetically pleasing interior environments are therefore vital to enhance our lifestyles and our well-being. Successful interiors not only look good, they feel good and function well. Creating such environments, in the home, the workplace, educational institutions, holiday resorts, bars, restaurants and more is the work of the interior designer.

As an interior designer, you will have the opportunity to enhance people's lives in so many ways, you will embark on a constant and exciting learning curve as you keep up with new materials, products, styles, and trends, and you will have all the skills you need to start your own business. If you have a spark of creativity, good communications skills and are organized and able to plan logically you too can become an interior designer, as all you need is a willingness to learn the processes involved.

This unit deals with a holistic overview of Interior Design, investigating its core importance and ways in which it can improve people's lives, not just on an aesthetic level but a practical one as well. The unit also outlines the need to study Interior Design using a structured approach and the many advantages and opportunities to be gained by choosing Interior Design as a profession.

There are many areas of Interior Design you may eventually choose to specialize in, however, all fields of Design involve a process of systematic decision-making that evolves from an initial idea to a fully developed concept. Learning this essential process of Interior Design takes us from being creative and imaginative individuals to competent professionals able to meld creativity with functionality to fit the need of the end users of any interior project.

Your journey through this course also starts in the first unit with a look at what lies ahead in Interior Design, from the increasing importance of social impact and environmental responsibility to the impact of technology on both Interior Design projects and how you will work as an interior designer using online tools to present your concepts to your clients.

Finally, this first unit covers the professional organizations around the globe available to interior designers. At the conclusion of this course, joining one of these organizations will give you the credentials you'll need to liaise with trade-only suppliers and launch your own interior design business. They'll also offer you ongoing professional support and the ability to meet and network with other interior designers.

View Outline

Module 2

History of Interior Design

History shapes how we live today so an understanding of the fascinating history of architecture and Interior Design is essential for the professional interior designer. You will also find this rich history a constant source of inspiration and ideas that will inform your work as an interior designer.

Entering the world of history provides us with the ability to view Interior Design with a more informed and appreciative eye. Along with appreciating the splendor and magnificence of man's past achievements, there is a deeper gratification in seeing how different building types have been shaped and developed through vast layers of culture and civilization.

Due to the close relationship between the built environment and human existence, a study of history allows us to develop a deeper understanding of how humanity influences the design and style of buildings as well as how construction techniques have developed and changed through the ages. It's also valuable to comprehend how buildings affect man's well-being and lifestyle and how technology has been used to progress our lives into the modern world.

From cave dwellings and the first simple manmade structures to today's high tech architecture, this module takes you on an exciting journey through early civilizations to the splendours of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the magnificence of Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance palaces and Islamic mosques to the decorative delights of Art Nouveau and Art Deco and finally to the emergence of Modernism and the concept of the building as “a machine for living”. Throughout this journey you will gain a greater appreciation of man's constant striving to create beauty and function through Interior Design and the layers of the past that remain influential today.

Due to the large volume of historical material, we focus largely on the Western tradition in this module, though several non-Western styles are also presented in order to provide a broader understanding of the holistic contribution of all cultures to the overall development of Interior Design.

Through your study of this module, and your own further research into the history of Interior Design, you will develop a discerning eye for detail and an enhanced understanding of how the past influences modern design trends.

View Outline

Module 3

The Fundamentals of Interior Design

What makes a good Interior Design?

Is it just a collection of snapshots for our scrapbooks? Is it the harmonious relationships between colors and textures? How do we lay out a set of pillars to make it pleasing to the eye?

A good Interior Designer is not just a person who comes up with a dazzling scheme of creative thoughts. Meriam Webster defines design as to “create, fashion, execute or construct according to plan”. But what makes a design aesthetically pleasing? What influences the human mind to regard something as beautiful?

This unit covers fundamental design principles and guidelines that largely influence the human perception of a high-quality Interior Design.

Furthermore, this module introduces us to the main elements used as the base components to create and formulate a well-planned design scheme. These elements are used and manipulated by an imaginative mind to create and distinguish highly aesthetic environments. These elements, formed by the principles discussed in the same module, along with a surge of creativity and imagination and the imposition of the desired function, are the key components to what makes a good Interior Design.

View Outline

Module 4

Color in Interior Design

Color is the paint that we apply to an empty canvas of space in the scope of Interior Design.

Interior Design is primarily composed of lines, colors and texture. As color has a large influence on the human psyche, the subject covers a broad scope in the design and decoration of interiors. Color affects, influences, governs and, at times, even defines Interior Design.

This unit offers a full discussion of color and its effect on human psychology. It takes us on a journey from in-depth knowledge of color definition and formation to the harmonious composition of color schemes and through the branch of color psychology, a knowledge of which we utilize to make our designs coherent for their intended function and purpose.

View Outline

Module 5

Space Planning

Space planning is another essential Interior Design skill which contributes to the design of good, functional and practical Interior Design. This module offers thorough knowledge of the concepts behind space planning and using these concepts along with modern strategies to create a high-quality Interior Design.

An idea remains an idea until written down.

A good Interior Designer knows how to translate ideas into sketches, drawings and a collection of mood pictures and material selections to express design intent. A lot of creative thinkers fail to pass this point as the design process is very much structured. One needs rigorous training to understand color specifications as well as the technical application of creative ideas.

This module introduces students to the translation of their design ideas to an actual tangible plan which expresses their design intent. Every designer understands the language of technical drawings and a qualified Interior Designer would need proper training on this part to be able to communicate with other professionals as well as their clients. Knowledge of technical drawing also allows them to record and further develop their schemes.

View Outline

Module 6

Furniture, Fixture and Equipment

F. F. and E., which stands for Furniture, Fixture and Equipment, is what differentiates an Interior Designer from an architect. A huge percentage of Interior Designers are hired mainly for developing F. F. and E. schemes as this is the heart and core of decorating.

It is solely an Interior Designer’s responsibility to propose the types and styles of interior elements for a project. This is primarily because F. F. and E. is exclusively under an Interior Designer’s scope of works. Therefore, clients rely on an Interior Designer’s taste and artistic understanding of what type of interior elements to use in a given space.

This module covers the subject of F. F, and E. and the methods of selection. Although F. F. and E. usually presents itself as tasteful shopping for furniture, an Interior Designer’s experience and know-how on the subject matter also includes careful specification of material finishes, upholstery, and furniture profile in relation to human anthropometrics.

View Outline

Module 7

Materials and Finishes

50% of an Interior Designer’s job is to develop spatial planning, while 100% of their job is to develop the interior environment’s material and color scheme.

The look and aesthetics of an interior space are influenced by the selection of materials applied to the entire organization of the design. Colors and the psychology of the same manifest through the careful selection of materials and textures specified for a particular project. The material selection process can make or break an Interior Design scheme.

Having this idea established, on the other hand, the construction aspect of material selection must be carefully considered when developing a design proposal. Each type of material has an intended purpose and an Interior Designer must have a firm knowledge of what can or cannot work for a particular application. In addition, the installation and construction process varies from one material to another. Each material is unique in its own specifications and properties. An established Interior Designer should be able to understand the importance of this study.

Suffice it to say, an Interior Designer not only has to be artistic but also must have the right technical knowledge to be able to execute a design properly. This module covers both aspects with an in-depth discussion on the aesthetic as well as the construction purposes of materials and finishes.

View Outline

Module 8

Interior Lighting

While colors and materials dress up an interior space, lighting enhances these elements and is regarded as the cherry on top of an Interior Design cake.

It is the effect of lighting in our vision that influences the human perception of beauty. Careful placement of lighting can highlight the best sections of an Interior Design environment. Lighting guides one’s vision and gives an Interior Designer more control on the end user’s perception of the space.

In addition, lighting also enhances the functionality of an interior space due to its ability to aid in certain tasks and, furthermore, to affect moods.

While providing a useful support on the aesthetics and functions of the space, the understanding of lighting is also technical as many aspects in a lighting scheme involve scientific information and meticulously specified in a design scheme.

This module provides in-depth knowledge of lighting and how it can be defined, controlled and specified for an Interior Design scheme.

This module also studies natural lighting and artificial electrical lighting in different segments as each type is treated differently.

View Outline

Module 9

Textiles and Soft Furnishing

From linen-wrapped mummies in ancient Egypt to Silk Road trading, intricate Renaissance laces and the high tech fibre of NASA space suits, fabrics are woven throughout history, allowing humans to achieve extraordinary things and survive in the most unlikely and harsh of environments.

The earliest known remnants of cloth date back to the Palaeolithic era, some 32,000 years ago. These linen fibres were discovered by accident in a cave in Georgia in 2009, by a scientist searching for evidence of ancient plant life. Fast forward to today and we have hi-tech fabrics that can generate electricity and charge a mobile phone and NASA is developing next-generation suits that will enable deep space exploration.

From delicate silks to robust woollen weaves, textiles play a significant role in the Interior Design process – from upholstery to soft furnishings such as curtains, bed linen and cushions. They provide comfort, colour, texture and pattern and range from plain and practical weaves to super luxurious silks and linens costing many hundreds of dollars per metre.

A textile is basically anything that is woven, with glass and metals included in this definition. The only common exception is felt, where the fibres are pressed and rolled together. Textiles are universal and have been carbon dated to the 9th millennia BCE (before current era).

Throughout this vast length of time they have provided mankind with warmth, protection from draughts, decoration and cultural transmission (think of the Bayeux tapestry or nomadic weavings that tell a story).

With a vast array of textiles to choose from – from simple calico and cotton duck to rich velvets and elaborate, delicately coloured document prints, from filmy sheers to textured woollen weaves – there's a fabric for every budget, every desired effect and every interior application, even for use outdoors as well. Fabrics lend essential colour, richness, texture and comfort to an interior.

In this module, you'll learn how to use textiles as a decorative element and the arts of colour matching and pattern matching plus the use of textiles by function, whether for upholstery, window treatments, bed covers or cushions. The weight, or density, of a textile is a literal measurement and is of vital importance when considering its practical applications such as its insulating quality and draping quality. The denser the fabric, the better its folding, creasing and hanging qualities will be.

Fabrics should be selected with utmost care for their suitability to the intended application, so this module also covers issues such as natural versus synthetic fibres, abrasion resistance, fading resistance, crocking resistance and shrinkage as well as specialty fibres for certain applications and flammability ratings for textiles used in commercial settings, such as hotels and offices.

It additionally investigates the utilization of delicate decorations in furniture design to help students understand their effect in Interior Design schemes.

View Outline

Module 10

Visual Communication Methods and Techniques

Visual communication methods and techniques, such as floor plans and mood boards, are essential skills for the interior designer, not only to communicate design concepts to clients but also as the essential building blocks of design development.

Design development is a meticulous and highly enjoyable process. While it is always fun to start with design concepts, these initial concepts must be feasible. Sketches, floor plans and sample boards are the tools the interior designer uses to work from initial ideas to a completed design concept.

This module begins with technical drafting. In the field of Interior Design, accuracy is mandatory. An idea will remain simply an idea until it is accurately marked on plan and elevation drawings to determine its accuracy in relation to the dimensions of the actual site. Technical drafting is a two-dimensional representation of the site showing the placement of furniture and fixtures to scale.

In this first section, you will learn about scale and annotation of plans and drawing symbols and how to create floor plans, elevations and sections using graph paper and a scale ruler. These skills will allow you to work out the optimum furniture arrangement for a space. Your final technical drafting is presented to the client to aid in their understanding of your overall concept and will also aid builders, cabinetmakers and other trades in accurately making your design concept a reality.

Next, this module covers presentation techniques used to artistically present your design ideas and final concept to the client. These include freehand sketching, three-dimensional representation drawing using perspective, color rendering techniques and scale model making.

The third section of this module teaches how to develop mood boards and sample boards to work up your design concept and present to your client. These are beautifully put together boards showing all the colours and materials to be used in your scheme, scaled in size according to their prominence in the scheme. So, for example, a large sample of the overall wall colour will be placed on the board with a smaller sample of the trim colour so the entire presentation gives an accurate depiction of how the colours and materials will work together to create an overall cohesive and pleasing effect.

Today's 3D computer rendering techniques offer the opportunity to present to your clients photorealistic images of a design concept or several alternative concepts for them to choose from using an alternative wall colour, for example. There are many 3D rendering companies to whom you can outsource this task but you will need to send them floor plans, samples and photographs of furnishings and finishes.

A design proposal must always be aesthetically pleasing in the client's eye and expressed in such a way that is readily comprehensible and meets with their approval. Learning all of the essential visual communication methods and techniques of the interior designer may seem daunting at first but you will be guided every step of the way and, as you improve in these techniques, you will find them exciting tools for developing a cohesive design concept.

View Outline

Module 11

The Role of an Interior Designer

An Interior Designer is the creative eye in the design development process. It is an Interior Designer’s role to give their artistic input in a design scheme given their background and training in the architectural world of design.

But the role of an Interior Designer does not end with the artistic aspect. An Interior Designer must be able to transform these innovative ideas into practical and livable actuality.

In addition, an Interior Designer is a client’s representative in the design program. He represents the client’s requirements and looks after their best interests.

This unit will empower learners to understand the role and capacity of an Interior Designer. They will explore potential wellsprings of information for outlining creative thoughts and pick up an understanding of transforming these underlying ideas into a tangible reality.

View Outline

Module 12

The Business and Profession of Interior Design

This course does not end with the teaching of the Interior Design and construction process. An Interior Design profession is one that gives profit.

This course takes the students from gaining the fundamental skills of Interior Design to taking these skills and using them in the corporate world of professional designers.

This module covers the full spectrum of the professional Interior Design business from setting up a portfolio, understanding the profession of Interior Design and the rules to consider in practicing, marketing skills and up to the point of setting up an Interior Design business firm.

Our Institute prides itself on involving professionals in the business formation field and honored to take each trainee through every step of their journey in starting up their own business

View Outline