Bachelor of Design Interior Design

Interior Architecture, also called interior design involves architecture and design for homes, offices, restaurants, shops and various other kinds of interior spaces. Through this course students will also learn about building material, lighting, layout, furniture and other factors essential to interior architecture. The course provides intensive training for students to become professional interior designers.

BACHELOR OF DESIGN
Awarded by Raffles College Pty Ltd
Trading as Raffles College of Design and Commerce, Sydney, Australia

Intakes: January, April, July and October

Student can exit with Advanced Diploma after completion of 2 Years.

Year 1

Interior Design Principles & Theory

This module will provide students with basic knowledge and skills of design principles and theory which will enable them to create abstract design using 3D-models. Following the study of abstract fundamentals of space and form in interior design principles, students will utilize these principles for the planning of interior spaces. Emphasis will be on planning for spatial harmony combining geometric concepts of space and form with fundamentals design principles and planning standards.

Free-hand Drawing

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills in using drawing as a mean of communicating ideas and projects. Through a series of hands-on exercises students can familiarize themselves with a range of freehand drawing and rendering techniques, as a means of communicating ideas and thoughts effectively.

Architectural Drafting

The module provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand the application of architectural graphic conventions and drafting techniques. Architectural drafting as means of graphic communication are examined in this module.

Interior Colour Application

Students can acquire knowledge and skills in understanding basic colour theories and colour design principles in this module. Emphasis is laid on the study of properties and visual phenomena in the field of interior design using colour application. Students will develop and apply different colour theories for residential and commercial spaces.

Cultural studies

Students will acquire knowledge and skills through practical exercises, lectures, demonstrations and examples that will enable them to describe and appreciate visual Arts and Architecture. This module will help students to reflect upon and analyse the interaction between arts and associated cultural and social values. The second part of the module will focus on the development of Design within the 20th century and future trends.

Computer Graphic Skills

This module provides the students with knowledge and skills to understand and use basic graphic software in order to create and edit images and layouts. It requires the knowledge as well as the use of appropriate software available such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Power Point (or equivalent). The emphasis will be to develop skills to produce 2-D presentation layout.

Presentation Drawing 1

The module provides students with knowledge and skills to use three dimensional drawings and various rendering techniques for communication and presentation.

Creativity and Concept development

To provide the students with the knowledge and skills to develop problem solving and creativity as a mean of communicating ideas and design projects. The student will be exposed to paradigm shifts in thinking and apply lateral thinking techniques to real and fictional problems. The emphasis will be on critical skills and problem solving exercises. Students will have to complete practical exercises and integrate problem solving in their design projects.

2D Computer-Aided-Drawing

This module provides students with knowledge and skills to work in computer two-dimensional (2D) drawing environment, using AutoCAD as main drawing software tool. Students are required to apply the technical drawing knowledge acquired in architectural drafting and learn to adapt them into the computer aided design platform.

Interior Materials & Finishes

In this module students will learn about different materials for interior surfaces. A critical understanding of sustainable design and ecological issues related to materials will be discussed and analysed. Students will learn how to select and apply appropriate materials and finishes for different interior spaces.

Presentation Drawing 2

This follows Presentation Drawing 1 this module further strengthens the students’ basic understanding of rendering concepts and techniques, focusing on more complex perspective drawing and advanced colour rendering techniques.

Design Studio 1

This module follows the study of abstract fundamentals of space and form in Interior Design, Principles and Theory module; students will utilize these principles for the planning of interior spaces. Emphasis will be on planning for specific human needs, combining geometric concepts of space and form with pragmatic fundamentals and planning standards.

3D Computer-Aided-Drawing

This follows the module 2D-CAD; the 3D Computer-Aided-Drawing module provides students with knowledge and skills to work in computer three-dimensional (3D) drawing environment using AutoCAD as main drawing software tool. The students are expected to create professional interior design presentations.

Building Tech. & Construction

Through this module covers heavy construction materials, components and systems, including wood, steel, and concrete. Students will research and understand concrete foundations, floors, walls, load bearing masonry and roof framing. Other aspects covered are installation of doors, windows, stairwells, and interior finishes.

Design Studio 2

This module will enable students to conceptualize design solutions related to commercial projects such as restaurant, retail and office. A minimum of two projects will be developed – (1) advanced restaurant design and their specialized requirements and thematic concepts; (2) retail related subjects such as store environment, exterior store design and merchandising and/or ergonomic requirements and office work environment.

Construction Studies 1

Following Building Materials and Construction module, this module introduces interior construction details. The module provides students with the knowledge and skills of millwork conventional detailing. Standard reference drawing systems shall be applied to construction detail drawings. Simple sets of construction drawings with carefully coordinated and interrelated groupings of individual graphic components will be created to develop the basic fundamentals for detailing.

Year 2

Computer Rendering & Animation

Following 3D CAD the module provides the students with the knowledge and skills to use 3D Studio Max** software. This will be done through practical exercises, lectures, demonstrations and examples. Students will be working in computer 3-dimensional drawing environment, the will be required to create 3D Virtual models to be used for design presentation as well as animation. The knowledge and skills acquired in this module will help them to create professional interior design presentations.

Environmental Lighting

The students will be exposed to technical information to provide them with necessary knowledge related to lighting design and its use in the practice of interior lighting. The emphasis of this module will be on the specifications of lighting fixtures and basic calculation according to usages of spaces such as residential and commercial.

Construction Studies 2

This module follows Construction Studies 1; interior construction details and drawings related to commercial projects are further integrated. Students will continue to examine working drawing production and techniques, and will be encouraged to do external field research. Environmental systems such as electrical planning, plumbing systems, air-conditioning distribution and security such as sprinkler systems in building will be studied. The principles of acoustic in buildings will be introduced. The project done by the students in Design Studio 2 will be used to develop into a set of construction drawings.

Furniture History Design & Application

This module comprises furniture design, history of furniture and construction techniques for furniture; social and technical aspects with regard to furniture will also be covered. Students will learn about specific properties of materials used and how they are manufactured. Finally students will design a simple piece of furniture.

Academic Research and Communication Skills

This unit covers key aspects of research and communication studies in academic contexts relevant to students of design and marketing. Students engage in collaborative learning activities throughout the term in order to develop their teamwork skills.

Students learn to locate, understand and critically evaluate information from books, journals, the internet and primary sources in order to do effective research. Using these sources of information, students then produce an extended piece of analytical writing and give oral presentations to their peers. Skills in doing primary research (i.e. conducting focus groups and surveys), accessing and evaluating information, paraphrasing, using established referencing systems, applying the principles of effective communication and the professional presentation of documents are all covered during the module.

Studio Design 3

This module provides students with knowledge and skills to work independently to develop advanced design projects such as: exhibition, stage, institutional or hospitality. The module provides a platform to students to prove their capabilities as interior designers.

Budget, Costing & Documentation

This module enables students to learn how to forecast cost and work out a detailed estimate for interior design projects. Emphasis will be on how to deal with direct and indirect cost and overheads. Students will learn how to arrive at realistic cost conscious designs that would conform to client’s budget in future. Students will be exposed to the different types of contracts and procedures during the construction phases of a project. This module also include an introduction to Codes and Regulations

Portfolio

The module provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop the ability to communicate conceptual interior design through the use of a portfolio. This module will further strengthen the student’s understanding of the importance of visual presentation used in a design portfolio.

Professional Practice

This module will enable students in understanding the fundamental requirements to set an interior design practice. Emphasis will be in the developing an understanding of various aspects in setting up an office such as: marketing interior design services; preparing fee proposal; dealing professionally with the clients, consultants, builders and suppliers. The module will also introduce students to code of ethics, law and the importance of professional responsibility to the clients and to the general public.

Internship

This module provides students with practical experience of working in a design company for a period between 24 to 40 days. This will provide them an opportunity to actually learn from professionals while working with them.

Degree

Commercial Interior Design

Through this module students will develop an understanding and define problems related to commercial design, as well as devise solutions. They will identify the physical and cultural context, set goals to address functional, aesthetic and psychological needs and preference of the users. In addition, students will learn to explore legal, statutory, environmental and physical constraints when designing commercial spaces.

Design and Business Management

This subject provides an introduction to students who may manage large and small organizations of different types operating within a variety of environments. In addition, this subject will examine general business requirements and knowledge including: contract guidelines, intellectual property rights and registration, legal aspects of a design practice, disputes, codes of professional conduct, confidentiality agreements and applying ST in a design practice.

Design, Business and Law

The aim of this subject is to examine the legal, business and ethical environment in which local and international contemporary design-oriented businesses operate. It is designed to equip students with knowledge of the basic business and legal principles pertinent to both international business and to the country in which they are studying.

Design Research Interactive Systems

This subject will introduce students to the process of visual and text-based research. Through written research tasks and visual presentations, students will explore and interpret the work of international researchers and designers across the design fields. Students will develop and discuss different ways to find information relevant to their topics. Emphasis will be put into the development of a topic in accordance to a field of research. Research questions will be formulated and elaborated to orient and guide the students for their research proposal.

Interior Design - Past and Present

Students will analyse historical design movements and contexts and the way in which events, personalities and situations have influenced design. They will evaluate and survey heritage buildings and understand their importance and significance in an urban context. They will then demonstrate their knowledge through practical application of historical design trends on contemporary interior design, by developing their own brief and fully documenting their design process with the appropriate graphic techniques, models or other methods.

Major Studio Project

Studio Project provides students with the opportunity to research design and develop a series or body of work for presentation. This sustained development of work allows students to develop a strong conceptual basis to the work and to fully test and experiment with design problems to develop body of completed works. Students will work independently with regular access to the studio and project supervisor for consultations.

Public Space Design

Public Spaces are to be designed for large numbers of people. Safety, security and access for the less able in society need to be considered. Ergonomic requirements, special needs and environmental constraints will create especially challenging projects. Students will identify physical & cultural contexts, set goals to address functional, aesthetic and psychological needs and preferences of user. This subject will provide students with knowledge and understanding of constraints: legal, statutory, environmental and physical when designing public commercial spaces. Students will select a project area for example, nursing homes, kindergartens, schools, galleries or night clubs.

Strategic Marketing

This subject focuses on basic marketing principles and practices relating to commercial interior architecture; students are trained to devise strategies in today’s competitive environment. This course provides a practical framework of the various strategic options that are available during business and market planning. The focus of this module is on how the Interior Architect can help his/her client to create a favourable image of his/her project.

Sustainable Design

This subject will demonstrate to students the importance of designing in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. Designers are increasingly required to respond to a range of ethical and social concerns. This subject will equip students with a sustainable working methodology and ethos, in addition to a sound knowledge of material, technologies and processes that will enable the implementation of sustainable design, discuss and debate issues relating to ethical design, research and evaluate sustainable designs, and practitioners, and develop their own approach to producing sustainable design.

20th Century Design and Culture

This module covers the understanding and developing of a theoretical analysis of the built environment in relationship with the development of interior architecture and design of the 20th Century. Contemporary concepts of interior and furniture design in the context of our built environment will be examined as well-being.

The complex relationships between people, furniture, interior, architecture and urbanism will be explored.