This module provides a foundation of interior design skills and knowledge. The question ‘what is interior design’ leads to a series of discursive introductory exercises that focus on process over output. The Learning reflects the main activities and development stages of practice – from appraising situations, establishing briefs through personas, precedents and research, exploring concepts and speculation, to finally presenting a position.

This module introduces the breadth of interior design as a contemporary subject and professional practice. But more, it serves to build confidence in the learner in their ability to relate and debate the subject.

This module is about the foundational elements and principles of constructed space, brought to focus around a small-scale interior – The Room. Emphasis is on the inhabitation of space, bringing together considerations of function and experience, and how these aspects are all
directed through a language of interior design – the constructed form of typical room elements, alongside light introductions to working with design data, building standards and good practice.

Projects will focus on user scenarios and critical touchpoints to conceptualise and describe the designed experience of a space that is fully graspable at 1:1.

This capstone module applies the learning on interior design elements, principles and processes from 1A and 1B. Emphasis is on practising the role of an interior designer – developing an overall design intent that addresses a complexity of aspirations and requirements.

Projects will build out from ‘The Room’ and focus on schematic designs within medium-scale interiors that set up a range of parallel functions and moods. Group working enables movement between detail and overview and to test and refine a design language. 1B and 1C combine as a substantial portfolio project.

This module focuses on the development of skills relating to the observation, exploration and description of interior space through drawing. Emphasis is on building skills across a range of tools and techniques, with primers on the integration of digital and analogue processes and media.

Understanding of the different formats and functions of drawn information will be developed through individual and group exercises that build from sketching and surveying, principles of orthographic projection and 2-D representational standards, to more exploratory and interpretative methods. It establishes a foundation of core
technical, communication and professional skills.

This module focuses on the development of skills relating to communication of design projects. Emphasis is on building skills across a range of tools and techniques, and the integration of processes and media within presentations for interior design.

Understanding of the different formats and functions of a presentation will be developed through building exercises that addresses visual, verbal and written skills, alongside primers in the software and graphic design
principles.

This module introduces CAD as a process to create digital design information and technical documentation for interior design and spatial projects.

Demonstrations and structured exercises lead: understanding of CAD software and the digital working environment; drawing and editing
geometry; drawing organisation and working efficiently; production of drawings and documents. The learning builds on hand technical drawing skills established in 1A, and the use of vector and image-based software across 1A and 1B.

This module provides learners with a grounding in the history and principles of design in its broadest terms. Designed to run cross-departmental, the module content addresses design in general terms and the emergence, often out of highly interdisciplinary and contested
movements, of the specialities we recognise in contemporary design practice today.

Interior design as a primary example. Projects draw out identified themes from the lecture series and will range from essays that introduce techniques of formal academic writing, to more exploratory
works produced as a group.

This module advances themes of 1A with an increasing focus on interior design. Rather than taking a purely chronological approach, it explores the development of interior design around key themes such as materials and
sustainability, sociology and inclusive design narratives.

The thematic focus allows students to deeply explore individual aspects of interior design, while gaining an insight into the various social, economic, and technological forces that result in the evolution of styles and practices over time. Studies support research activity in Design Studio, with multi-media based projects supporting application of Design Fundamentals skills.

StudioLAB runs in an intensive mode and is framed around industry practices such as collaboration and co-creation, workshops, deep-dives and ideation sprints. It fosters an approach to problem identification and solving, to inform development of the individual design process. Projects
draw out themes and issues relevant to the Design Studio & Research year. ‘Accommodation’ provides an entry to consideration of inclusive and universal design approaches in our everyday communities and environments. A focus on ‘sense of place’ introduces sensitivities and specialist knowledge that can be further developed in Design Studio
& Research 1B.