Interior Design BA(Hons)

In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the principles of interior design and examine the psychology of creating interior atmospheres. You’ll learn how to use spatial concepts to analyse how design decisions shape the experience of a place, and to make recommendations based on client and user need. This will allow you to evaluate, research, draw and model a space to propose an innovative design based on an experiential-focused brief. 

Modules

Spatial Awareness

In this module, you’ll explore the relationship between body, movement, space and form. Working with lecturers from the Academy of Music & Theatre Arts, you’ll tap into the world of choreography and dance to help develop your understanding of the experience of space. 

Design Principles

In this module, you’ll explore the principles of interior decoration, commercial interiors/branded spaces and interior architecture, as well as developing your understanding of interior space from a user, client, brand and site perspective. 

Taste

In Taste, you’ll gain an understanding of the theories surrounding the visual aesthetics of the interior. You’ll also develop the technical skills you'll need to communicate your ideas in a professional interior design context. 

You, Me, Us

In this module, you'll investigate collective identities, practices and values. Examining human behaviour, you'll gain an understanding of the social, psychological and cultural factors that shape the interior condition. 

In the second year, you’ll explore innovative design concepts for the future through live briefs and collaborations with industry partners. Throughout this project work, you’ll continue to enhance your understanding of colour, light, texture, materiality and acoustics, as well as building your understanding of technical detailing and presenting to industry standards. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to compete for a variety of industry internships and undertake study trips.  

Modules

Trend forecasting

In the Trend Forecasting module, you’ll learn to explore, identify and predict consumers’ attitudes, needs, wants, spending patterns and lifestyles, and discover how all this informs interior design via global trends. 

Future Living

What is the future of interior design? Here, you’ll explore the evolution of the interior from concept through to technical resolution, while actively questioning future living environments and their environmental impact. 

Collaboration

Working as part of a team, you'll work on 'Challenge Briefs' that reflect the sort of assignments you could expect to be working on in industry. Developing your 'soft skills', like communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership, you'll sharpen your ability to work well as part of a group to produce outstanding work. 

Fictional Interiors 

You'll explore the possibilities and constraints of representation by considering narrative and storytelling as integral to 'imagined' interior spaces. You'll learn to articulate the differences between virtual and real interior places by experiencing AR and VR technologies.  

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your placement year 

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

The final year of the course is focused on preparing you for life as a professional interior designer. Through masterclasses in lighting, sustainable materials, detailing and Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E), you’ll further solidify your technical design skills – giving you the knowledge to complete a project from concept through to resolution. You’ll also hone your project and design planning skills and techniques through a dedicated Design Ambitions module.   

You’ll consolidate everything you’ve learned through personally negotiated projects and the completion of an industry-ready graduate portfolio, which will be your calling card as you step into the world of work. 

Modules

Design Insight

Through a critical report, you’ll explore a personal philosophy as a designer and develop an entrepreneurial mindset by identifying a niche in the market.  

Innovation

You’ll develop a personal design pathway that embraces originality, creativity and innovation and actively questions the future of interior design. 

Design Ambition 

In this module, you’ll reflect on your skills and ambitions helping you to define a career pathway post-university. 

Showcase

In your final module, you’ll prepare for industry or further study by creating a ‘showcase’ for your skills and design ability.