Interior Architecture BA Honours

This module will introduce the historical, contextual and critical basis of art, architecture and design and its analysis and interpretation. You will explore the important role of form, materiality, colour and light in the making and experience of interior environments. You will also focus on representation and communication methods in a range of media necessary and appropriate to clearly illustrate design research, precedent and inspirational reference and new interior design proposals.

This module will introduce fundamental principles of design thinking and the design process, relative to the practice of brief-led Interior Design, through the study of fundamental elements of the interior in a series of separate, but inter-related, design projects. You will be able to explore approaches, methodologies and strategies that are appropriate to reflective design practice.

Building on prior learning in the Fundamental Contexts and Skills module, this module will allow you to interpret research as a fundamental tool in the design process and introduce research methods and tactics necessary to result in an appropriate response to the design brief. You will evaluate the importance of the historical, contextual and critical basis of art, architecture and design and its analysis and interpretation in the process of designing interiors, as well as evaluate the important role of materiality in the formation of the interior and the experience of interior environments. You will interpret representation and communication methods in a range of media necessary and appropriate to clearly illustrate design research, precedent and inspirational reference and creative proposals in response to briefing material.

Building on prior learning in the Fundamental Practice module, this module will allow you to evaluate understanding of underlying principles in design thinking and the design process to produce comprehensive and coherent design proposals for whole interiors. You will also be able to interpret approaches, methodologies and strategies that are appropriate to reflective design practice.

Building on prior learning in Interpreting Contexts and Skills module, this module will allow you to develop established techniques of research used in the design process and develop research methods and tactics necessary to result in an appropriate response to design briefs set in the Developing Practice module. You will also develop an understanding of the historical, contextual and critical basis of art, architecture and design and its analysis and interpretation. You will enhance your understanding of materials and construction technologies and processes used in formation of the interior and the experience of interior environments. You will effectively develop methods of representation and communication, and acquire new competences in a range of media necessary and appropriate to clearly illustrate design research and creative proposals in response to briefing material.

Building on prior learning in the Interpreting Practice module, this module will allow you to apply developed thinking in design and process into coherent design proposals for a range of commercial interiors, studied and communicated in comprehensive detail at various scales through to 1:1. You will also effectively develop approaches, methodologies and strategies that are appropriate to critically reflective design practice.

Building on prior learning in the Developed Contexts and Skills module and the Developed Practice module, this module will allow you to establish the essential role of in-depth research into cultural, historical, political and socio-economic contexts, within site generic commercial Interior Design Projects. You will produce project outcomes that illustrate embedded, contextual research within the design process focused on client needs and user experience, applied to the design of commercial interiors and branded environments. You will also be able to demonstrate knowledge of professional practice standards and procedures, and develop your understanding of employability opportunities, self-evaluation and personal career development.

Building on prior learning, this module will allow you to utilise employment experience to provide an insight into the work, methods and operation of a professional design practice. You will be able to apply your skills and knowledge to personal and professional practice, as well as have the opportunity to advance your professional knowledge and skills by experiencing a professional design practice working on real projects.

Building on prior learning, this module gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the work, methods and operation of a professional design practice. You will be able to use the skills and knowledge acquired during the course to personal and professional practice, as well as having the opportunity to advance your professional knowledge and skills in the context of a professional design practice working on real projects.

Building on prior learning, this module will allow you to consolidate the key role of advanced research into cultural, historical, political and socio-economic contexts, within responsible commercial Interior Design Projects. You will critically review and develop an individual process of design, from inception, through design development, to the production of a coherent, detailed design proposal and portfolio ready for employment. You will be encouraged to reflect upon creative currency within contemporary Interior Design practice to support the delivery of design proposals of the highest standards, as well as reinforce the important role of materiality within the experiential quality of interiors with aneconomic, ethical and ecological conscience, within a contemporary context. You will focus on synthesising your personal and professional approaches to the communication of proposed interior spaces through the use of an advanced range of techniques, and media. Your individual standards and skills, related to and reflecting upon professional practice procedures will be reinforced, acknowledging issues of operation, management and responsibilities of advanced literacy and numeracy.

Project work is supplemented and supported by a variety of lecture, seminar and workshop sessions intended to provide the particular skills and knowledge that you will be expected to apply and demonstrate in your work. In addition to scheduled teaching and learning activities, you will be expected to engage in a considerable amount of guided independent study and research.

There is an emphasis throughout on the value of participative and collaborative work, from group tutorials and workshops to class reviews and critiques. Not only is working collectively a valuable professional skill, but learning with and from each other is known to be an incredibly effective form of development. All the approaches to learning and teaching we use throughout the programme are intended to encourage and support your full and active engagement and participation in all aspects of your learning in co-operation with fellow students.

You will be taught through a combination of supervised studio time, tutorials, lectures and practical workshops. Lectures target important concepts within design history and contemporary practice, and allow you to gain and develop knowledge in specific disciplines.

You will receive direct personal feedback on your progress on each studio module on a weekly basis, allowing you to get the support you need to develop.

You will also have access, to dedicated design studios which replicate the commercial environment, including desktop computers loaded with specific software, and also to the 24-hour Library Building, Sample Materials Room, 3D workshops (general, metals, ceramics), 3D printing studio, digital media workshops, and photography studios throughout your course.

Your work will be divided into credits. Each credit is equal to 10 hours of study time. You will complete 120 credits per year of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

You will be based at our north London campus in Hendon.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 12 hours of supervised design studio including group/one-to-one tutorials and skills workshop
• 12 hours of untutored open studio access
• 1 hour of lectures.

Independent learning

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Your learning will be assessed regularly and is made up of 100% coursework.

We'll help you to develop your understanding through project reviews where you present your ideas. These follow industry standard practice for presentations to allow you to grow in confidence when talking through your work.

Throughout your module, all projects reviews are 'formative' meaning that the grades you receive are not yet fixed. Only at the end of the module, and the formal submission of all projects completed in a 'Summative' portfolio are the projects reassessed and the overall grades confirmed. This means you are able to build on the success of your projects, and learn from the formative assessment, to improve both your work and your grade.

There are formal assessments for each module, usually at the end, which will count towards your module and your final marks.

Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback or feedback from an external examiner.

Feedback

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback your work. This is central to skills development within the subject and is embedded throughout each module as a core part of our design practice. This includes approaches such as creative conversation around ongoing project work, peer feedback, individual tutor feedback, interim submissions etc.