Professional Diploma in Interior Design course The Interior Design School

“The Interior Design School is a real professional and creative treat.

The tutors' unique approach and their strong dedication are in perfect harmony with the student's desire to learn efficiently whilst keeping an individual style.

The school gave me the skills and knowledge that I needed to happily step into the design industry with confidence."

Elodie Noel - Professional Diploma graduate

PART ONE / Residential and Commercial Design

Skills and Vocabulary

The term begins with observation drawing, colour exercises and visits to exhibitions to learn how to use exploratory methods to find inspiration and think creatively. Through a series of projects, you are introduced to the design process from the client brief through to the implementation of the finished installation. The language and design vocabulary of Interiors is delivered in lectures as well as within the studio-based projects and covers all the various subjects required of a professional interior designer from contemporary and historic interiors to colour, light, form, texture, materials, furniture and interior and architectural elements. You will learn freehand and technical drawing skills and learn to develop ideas through an individual workbook. Throughout the course, the emphasis is given to industry regulations on sustainability and wellbeing.

The Design Process

The first project is to design a one-room garden project for an individual client and each brief is developed to understand the exact requirements of the client and to produce a visual interpretation of the brief into an abstract image board that will then be used to extract a colour and materials palette. Basic planning and ergonomics principles are covered and two-dimensional drawings are developed into a scaled plan and elevations. The completed project is presented to include selected furniture, lighting and sourced materials.

The second project is to convert the studio space at Lonsdale Road into a loft conversion for an individually selected couple. The same design process is followed with additional skills learnt on identifying the requirements and function of the space, creating zoning and bubble diagrams and using the workbook to investigate various design options. A greater understanding of the ergonomics of the living, sleeping, kitchen and bathroom spaces are developed into finished plans and elevations. Three-dimensional perspective drawing is taught along with thorough sourcing of materials, furniture and lighting. The skills learnt throughout this project are demonstrated in a completed presentation presented to a representative from the industry.

Detail Design

The next part of the course concentrates on presentation techniques, survey, construction and detail. Taking a specific area of the residential project i.e. the bathroom, you will explore and learn construction methods and appropriate use of materials and how to detail joints and junctions. Further technical drawing skills, computer-aided design drawings and rendering techniques are explored. The studio project work is supported by a series of lectures on materials with visits to showrooms and suppliers to develop your awareness of current ranges, materials and furniture and finishes specifications. An introduction to the computer as a design tool using Vectorworks and Sketch Up Pro gains an understanding of the tools palette and how to use them to produce 2-dimensional drawings and 3-dimensional drawings.

Commercial Design

Working on two principal design projects, you will develop the skills and knowledge introduced in the previous projects, whilst being introduced to more advanced skills and design issues relevant to the commercial sector. Through independent research, you are expected to continuously develop personal knowledge and understanding of design trends in colour, materials, furniture and finishes, and construction methods. The continuing programme of lectures and visits will support this research and will expand on subjects raised in Part One in more detail. Emphasis will be given to lighting design, the detailed construction of furniture, professional practice and how to manage a design project.

Creative Concept

The Design Process is demonstrated through a concept project that is chosen on an annual basis. This year students are asked to choose an element of PLAY and design a three-dimensional free-standing structure that demonstrates The Art of Play. This can be for multi-generational use or for a particular age group. Consideration should be given to how people will interact with the structure, taking into consideration the function and the senses. Through this project, you will learn how to produce preliminary concept design proposals using lively and dynamic drawing skills that are suited to the fast-paced commercial sector.

Reception Project

You are given a Company Brand to research and analyse. This project examines space and form within a corporate office environment and how to interpret an existing company identity into a relevant interior. Focusing on the public areas you will explore architectural design issues and the necessity of being able to understand and design details, junctions and joints. By introducing further drawing and presentation methods, this project consolidates the skills you will need to be able to communicate ideas to clients and contractors. It also includes regulations, specifying sustainable materials, detailed staircase design and a lighting scheme.

PART TWO / Professional Practice and Career Preparation

Professional Practice

Of major importance in the Interior Design process is the organisation of the building project. Lectures are delivered throughout the course that helps to give an understanding of writing the brief, fee proposals, the preliminary design and detail drawing programme, running the job, contract procedures, specification, budget costing, programming and implementing the project.

Final Project

This is a culmination of all that you have learnt on the course and will set the flavour of your individual portfolios. You will select a subject that is appropriate to the area you wish to specialise in. This project will demonstrate a full understanding of all the components of the design process with workbooks illustrating the exploratory design drawings, presentation drawings, construction drawings, lighting plan, specifications, material boards and written design statement. Advice and support will be given on choosing an appropriate subject so that your portfolio demonstrates an understanding of the design issues that you are interested in. This project will be delivered within the outline of the project administration to prove the competency of you as a professional interior designer.

Portfolio Preparation

Time is given to allow you to work on the completed projects to produce a professional portfolio suited to job interviews. The final project encourages you to specialise in the chosen area of interior design you wish to pursue as a career and to coordinate the design skills that have been developed throughout the Diploma course in producing a comprehensive interior design project. Upon completion of this project, your work from the whole year is assessed by the tutors and an external assessor and is expected to show evidence of a thorough understanding of the design process, skills and product knowledge required to practice as a professional interior designer.

Final Assessment

Feedback on your progress is given throughout the year at the end of each project. The final assessment for the Diploma award will be conducted internally by the main tutors and is moderated by a key member of the profession. An experienced interior design professional will conduct the assessment as a job interview where you will present your work and have an opportunity to discuss your career plans.

Work Experience and Career Development

A series of individual discussions help you to analyse and explore how to use past experience and transferable skills along with your new found design skills and to develop your awareness of how and where to place yourself within the industry. Guidance is given to find appropriate interior design practices to approach for work experience.