Interior Design (with Foundation Year)

Available for September or January intakes.

Course overview: This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1. We are proud to be one of the longest established Interior courses in Europe with our graduates working all over the world and are a SBID Centre of Excellence. You work in dedicated design studios with access to high quality Computer Aided Design and superb workshop facilities, and have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities, including guest lectures and workshops from both professionals in practice and our graduates and alumni working throughout the world.

This course is an exciting creative industry involved in the design of stimulating environments for living, working, shopping, commerce, health, education, hospitality and almost every possible human activity. Often based around the conversion of existing buildings, the Interior Designer considers many design matters and factors including; the needs of the building’s end user, creating interior spatial layouts, improving circulation and function, interpreting buildings, space and use. The Interior Designer’s role also embraces the specification of materials, designing bespoke textiles, fittings and furniture and selecting colour palettes and lighting schemes.

You learn a wide range of skills including; design process and practice, interior decorative arts, trends, fashions and textiles, architectural drawing techniques, 2D and 3D industry standard Computer Aided Design, history of design and architecture plus the essentials of professional practice. Projects are designed to replicate professional practice ensuring you are ready for the design profession and you will have the opportunity to work on live projects with real clients and enter prestigious competitions such as those offered by the Royal Society of Arts.

Top reasons to study this course:

1. Adobe Creative Campus: our courses and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited university. This equips you with the digital tools and resources to transform the creative world. Our courses have a built-in Creative Week – a workshop based, festival style, off-timetable week each semester where you can experiment with new materials, make visits and upgrade your tech skills.
2. Work-ready: the course includes short, career-focused modules helping you understand working in the arts and creative industries. You look at how the interior design industry works, how to access it, who shapes it and how to grow within it. From industry leaders’ professional wisdom and insight, to accessing professional opportunities and creative coaching, you become an industry insider and leave with a working understanding of the professional community.
3. Industry connected: collaborate with our alumni and network at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), our very own international contemporary art gallery.
4. Professional accreditation: this course is fully accredited by the Society of British and International Design (SBID), and interior design at Teesside University is recognised as a SBID National Centre of Excellence.

Take advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.

After the course: Career opportunities include interior design or as a designer in the retail, exhibition, set design, leisure, surface pattern, merchandising or housing areas, or you might continue to postgraduate study.