Our Interior Design modules are designed holistically to help you to become a confident, creative, independent, socially and ecologically minded Designer, equipped with the practical and intellectual skills needed to flourish in industry. 

Throughout the course, you will take part in live projects and industry-guided briefs, giving you the practical experience of working with and presenting to a client.  Live briefs typically involve understanding and re-designing existing buildings following a set of specific criteria – much like you will do as an Interior Designer. 

Interior Design involves a combination of creativity and pragmatism.  You will learn to analyse the social, historical and environmental context of an existing building and respond to the specifics of the design brief, structure, location and user group logically, sensitively and creatively.

Our modules help you to develop your communication skills, so that you can express your ideas effectively in a variety of formats.  You will learn the core skills of 2D and 3D visual communication, including orthographic drawing, model making, and using computer programmes such as AutoCAD, 3DSmax, Revit, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Sketch Up. 

You will learn how to produce work aligned with industry standards but will also be encouraged to approach design projects in a spirit of experimentation to develop your own identity as a designer. 

Ultimately, our modules equip you with the skills needed to be an Interior Designer and to approach design projects with confidence, creativity and professionalism.

Year One

Year One lays the groundwork for the degree, providing you with the core drawing, design, building analysis and research skills – all essential skills for an Interior Designer.  

• Interior Design Projects 1 (20 credits)
  This module introduces students to the key concepts and approaches underpinning Interior Design practice, enabling students to produce their own creative work with a defined rationale. On this module, students ‘learn by doing’ while fulfilling Interior Design project briefs that develop understanding of 3D geometry and spatial configuration.
• Interior Architectural Communication 1 (20 credits)
  This module runs in tandem with the Interior Design Projects 1 module and allows students to explore how they visually communicate their ideas at various points in the design process, as well as equipping them with the analogue and digital modelling and visualization skills to do so.
• Building Analysis (20 credits)
  This module will address ways in which interior environments can impact upon users. It will cover issues such as: space and structure; functions and principles of building interiors; organisation and hierarchy; materials used in interior spaces; adaptive re-use of buildings; building in relation to an environmental setting; accessibility; ergonomic and anthropometric data.
• Interior Design Core Skills (20 credits)
  The module begins with an introduction to basic drawing conventions, awareness of scale, representing a 3D space as a 2D drawing, understanding how to cut plans and sections and represent elevations, as well as 3D projections and perspective views. These processes are initially taught hand drawn before introducing basic CAD software to digitize these drawings.
• Interior Design in Context 1 (20 credits)
  This module lays the foundation for understanding how to analyse, research and discuss designed objects and ideas surrounding their design, production or consumption. Through the study of precedent projects, students begin to understand how design is influenced by the context(s) of a specific time and place, as well as to appreciate that their own design work relates to the context(s) in which they operate.
• Ethical and Sustainable Design (20 credits)
  Students will explore ways in which designers respond to environmental, social and ethical issues in society through creative practice. This will enable students to reflect upon their own practice and to consider the practical effects and symbolic implications of their design work.

Year Two

Year Two extends the practical and intellectual skills that you developed in the first year and pushes you toward greater independence in your work.  Year Two becomes more industry-focused, giving you greater insight into professional standards and industry expectations.  If you choose to do the one-year sandwich placement or go on a short-term work experience or summer placement, you will be supported to develop a portfolio and CV.

• Interior Design Projects 2 (40 credits)
  This module emphasizes creative and strategic thinking in response to a brief and the increasingly independent exploration of design concepts and visual presentation methods. Students are introduced to a range of specialist areas within Interior Design (such exhibition, retail, hospitality, commercial, heritage or cultural projects) to recognize how to approach different types of projects, as well as to increase awareness of the field and career possibilities.
• Interior Architectural Communication 2 (20 credits)
  On this module, students will learn about analogue and digital presentation techniques and will develop skills to present information in 2D and 3D physical and digital formats. Students will explore visual branding strategies and will learn to create visuals that capture the essence of a project’s visual identity. Students will also learn to do a feasibility study, which will prepare them for self-choice projects in final year.
• Interior Design Professional Skills (20 credits)
  This module addresses two areas of professionalism relative to Interior Design: firstly, industry standard production drawing and specification; secondly, recognition of one’s current skill level in relation to desired career goals.
• Interior Design in Context 2 (20 credits)
  This module builds on students’ research, analysis and communication skills, enabling students to understand and explain in greater depth the contexts and concepts relating to Interior Design. Students will work independently and collaboratively to develop communication and project management skills.
• Conservation Principles and Sustainability (20 credits)
  This module addresses the key conservation principles that designers should adhere to when dealing with buildings of historical or social significance, especially listed and protected buildings. This module also addresses sustainability in relation to the conservation of the existing built environment, as well as regarding sustainable technologies in material specification.

Optional Sandwich Year Placement

• Employment Experience Diploma (Interior Design) (120 credits)
  On this module, students will undertake a period of supervised work experience, in order to gain industry experience and to develop professionalism. In doing so, students will learn to work with the wider design team, other industry professionals and/or clients.

Year Three

Year Three enables you to become an autonomous Designer, aware of your own goals, as well as the impact that you can have as a Designer. Importantly, Year Three prepares you for industry. Through our extensive alumni network and industry contacts, we focus on the transition from university to the workplace. Your Final Major Project is your opportunity to work on a project focused on your interests as a Designer, supported by USW Interior Design academics and industry mentors. For these reasons, many students secure employment in the industry soon after graduation. 

• Interior Design Major Project (40 credits)
  This module may be seen as the ‘capstone’ of the degree, where students draw on the skills that they have developed throughout the course to produce a self-selected major project.
• Production Information (20 credits)
  On this module, which runs in tandem with Interior Design Major Project, students will learn to produce the necessary technical drawings following industry standards to explain and quantify the proposed Interior Design scheme and main internal elements for their self-selected major project (e.g. technical detailing, finishes layouts and reflected soffit plans integrating lighting schematics).
• Competition and Exhibition (20 credits)
  This module will encourage students to focus on design work that is more outward facing, including entering design competition briefs and planning the end of year Degree Show, in order to build up their professional profiles and portfolios.
• Critical Research in Interior Design (20 credits)
  This module gives students the opportunity to explore an area of personal interest and/or in relation to their career goals. Students will research a topic of their choice and develop a reasoned argument, culminating in a final written outcome of approximately 5,000 words, which may include elements of originality.
• Professional Practice (20 credits)
  On this module, students will engage with wider issues relating to the Interior Design industry, including professional requirements and ethical standards. This serves to develop ethical professionalism, as well as time and project management skills.

Subject to revalidation
This course is subject to revalidation, this means it is under review as part of the University’s standard quality assurance and enhancement processes. Course and module content is indicative and may change through the revalidation process. As soon as the course is revalidated, the details will be confirmed and published on the University website.  In the unlikely event the course does not go ahead as planned, or is significantly amended, we will write to inform you. If this happens, we’ll help you to find a suitable alternative course either at USW or at another provider.
 

Our teaching team is comprised of full and part time staff who also work within industry. This ensures that your teaching is highly relevant and responsive to the needs of industry.  

Most teaching takes place in the Interior Design studio at USW’s creative campus in Cardiff and typically involves a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes and workshops.  Some lectures and tutorials may take place online, and some practical classes may take place in specialist computer labs or in the fabrication workshops on campus.  Some teaching may also take place off-campus, such as on a study trip or site visit.

We use a variety of assessment types on the Interior Design course to assess a range of skills and to cater for different learning preferences.  There are no exams on this course.  The majority of assignments are practical and design-based. 

We do our best to spread the submission deadlines throughout the term to avoid ‘deadline bunching’, and we offer regular formative feedback (in various formats) to help you develop your work.