This is a continuously changing field that requires constant research to keep pace with the artistic developments, new technologies and innovative fashions within the sector.

Programmes tend to cover both domestic and commercial interior design, with all course content directly relevant to industry requirements. It is intended to develop professionalism within graduates and to thereby maximise their employment opportunities.

On a course you will be give the opportunity to work on a range of interesting projects and to partner with students from other disciplines, which is invaluable experience. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the wider context of the subject by examining inspirational examples of best practice from established designers. They will learn how to support their work with the use of sound, digital materials, lighting and walkthrough animations.

Interior Design degree course overview

Courses tend to embrace a distinctive approach through studio-based design studies of interior space and volume planning. Students will study contemporary interior design through the influences of Elizabethan, Italian Renaissance, Baroque and many other historical movements and other influences which continue to shape the industry to this day.

Students will be given the opportunity to undertake specialist study and to investigate and develop the relationships between fields such as spatial manipulation, furniture, lighting, colour, texture, surfaces, technical and construction methods.

Other points to note about this degree is that project work is supported by lectures, demonstrations, field trips, professional experience and focus groups, seminars and tutorials. Some universities have a network of employers with whom it is possible to undertake an industrial placement. On many programmes students may also be involved in submitting projects for national and international design competitions.

Course assignments are mainly practical and will also involve essay or thesis writing. Tutors will assess your assignments as you submit them throughout the course and they will also moderate your portfolio.

Typical course modules and areas of study on a Interior Design Degree

Space Planning
Creative Lighting & Technology
Furniture & Furnishings
Interior Design Professional Practice
Basic construction principles
Environmental Expression
CAD Modelling
Design Studies
Interior Design Principles
History of Interior Design
Building Technology
Architectural Detailing and Specification
Sustainability and Innovation
Conservation and Listed Buildings
Design Integration
Exhibition Design
Research & Visualisation

Students will learn about

The use of space.
Design communication.
Management and drawing techniques.
The extensive range of lighting products available.
The differing, sometimes contradictory, approaches to ethical and ecological design.
The requirements for planning consent.
Show home design.
Accurately costing and selecting building and kitchen products.
Tendering for jobs.
Producing business plans and financial forecasts.
Developing drawing.
Making models.
The functionality of objects.
Critical thinking.
Drawing sketches.
Select fittings
Calculate costs
User needs
Spatial perception

Students will learn how to

Research and reference information.
Remove walls, enlarge windows and doors or raise/lower ceilings.
Present interior design concepts.
Liaise with clients and suppliers.

Interior Design personal statement

Below is a Interior Design personal statement written by one of our writers. You can use this example to gain an idea of how to structure and put together your own one. You are strongly advised not to copy or plagiarise it, instead use it as a resource to inspire your own creative writing.

Interior Design personal statement example 1

‘Studying interior design seems like the right choice for me as I have always had a fascination for space, colour and design, and also because it will allow me to be creative every single day. To me every aspect of this subject is exciting, especially as I possess a strong desire to make beautiful environments for people to live and work in. I am also attracted to it because it embraces individuality, and allows students breathing space to develop their own style and presentation techniques. It is a challenging and versatile field that teaches students how to broaden their design thinking over a vast spectrum of subjects. It covers a wide range of contexts from interiors, architecture, exhibitions, installation, furniture and digital realms. On the employment field being an interior designer will not only give me many flexible career options like being self employed, but also allow me to work if foreign countries.

I believe I am naturally suited for a career in this field as I have a sound business head on creative shoulders. I also posses superb peer and self-evaluation skills, which are very useful in critical, conceptual, productive and professional capacities. My experiences to date have made me capable of translating ideas on to paper through drawings and specifications, and of expressing my thoughts and ideas from different angles. I possess an eye for design, including colour, and good 3D awareness, and am confident in the use of colour, light, texture, and space with sensitivity.

At college I really enjoyed the Art classes as they not only improved my drawing ability but also my personal confidence. I was constantly challenged to assert my creativity in different artistic forms, and it was this that really sparked my interest in interior design. I gained an in-depth insight into the intellectual exploration of people’s use and experience of interiors in the contexts of society as a whole. The experience has also taught me how to participate in both group and independent study.

To gain more relevant experience I was employed for a while as a office assistant with a firm of Interior Designers. This was the hardest I’ve ever worked, despite this I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The learning curve was very steep, but I was comfortable with it as I firstly like challenging myself, and secondly I was working in a field that I am naturally interested in and am very passionate about.

Whilst working there I accompanied senior staff on visits to premises where we inspected premises, surveyed buildings and drew up rough drawings. I was also involved with a team that drew up detailed designs and chose the materials to be used in a projects construction. I was also tasked with carrying out research into making sure that plans were technically feasible.

I walked away from this job with experience of developing designs that not only met a client’s briefs, but also stayed within their budget. I learnt the importance of maximising potential by transforming space into something valuable, practical and real. I also came away from this experience feeling confident proposing designs and concepts to people who were senior to me in every professional way.

Before deciding to apply to your university I did a lot of research on the internet and spoke to people who had taken this course at your university. M y conclusion was that yours is a practical and flexible based interior design course that will help me to achieve the skills I require to become a professional interior designer. On a visit to your campus I found the atmosphere to be very welcoming for new students and discovered that the studio area was great with everyone coming together to share and embrace new ideas. Your institution is at the cutting edge of business and research activity, and the course content looked really detailed, professional and above all exciting.’

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