Interior Design with Professional Placement

Create impactful interiors considering design theory, psychology and sustainability.

Create impactful interiors for commercial, residential and experiential spaces on a course that equips you with the skills you need to create a dynamic career. You’ll explore areas such as design theory, psychology and sustainability as you learn how to make memorable atmospheres using colour, pattern and material.

Working in our dedicated studios and workshops, with access to cutting-edge equipment including virtual reality (VR), you’ll gain technical knowledge through hands-on collaborative projects – ready to graduate as an innovative and industry-connected designer of the future.

You will:
Work with a variety of exciting industry partners such as Gensler, DSK, MIX Magazine and Sanders Studios
Pitch ideas to compete for a coveted industry placement or micro-internship
Negotiate your own interior design projects and develop an individual design philosophy to achieve your dream job in industry
Engage with the collaborative work ethic of the future through interdisciplinary projects that look to innovative solutions
Harness your creative identity through our studio culture, IT suites and workshops
Draw inspiration from our extensive materials library
Have the opportunity to go on study trips such as Milan Furniture Fair (Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano) and Dutch Design Week (DDW), the biggest design event in Northern Europe

Through this interior design degree, you'll develop the practical skills and theoretical understanding to become a confident, well informed and industry-connected designer of the future.

Through hands-on projects spanning residential, commercial and branded spaces, you’ll explore the fundamentals of interior design and Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E); examine space in relation to communities, human behaviour, design theories and brand awareness; and consider the environmental impact of built environments. You’ll also learn vital project and design management skills, including how to pitch, model, draw, simulate, test and communicate design proposals.

Year one
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
Design Principles
Taste
You, Me, Us

Year two
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
Future Living
Collaboration
Fictional Interiors

Year three
You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.

How you’ll study during your professional placement
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.

Year four
The final year 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
Innovation
Design Ambition
Showcase

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

You'll be assessed through practical submissions and coursework.

Assessments can take many forms, including:
Design process – sketchbooks
Research
Presentations
Project-based portfolios
Essays or reports