Interior Architecture with Professional Placement

Uncover the potential of the spaces in which we work, rest and play, on this exciting degree.

Balancing architectural theory with practical drawing and making skills, this course produces ethical designers who are excited by the sustainable reuse of existing buildings. You’ll create innovative future-proof interiors that reimagine spatial environments and are always conscious of place, inclusivity and community. By learning to resolve your schemes to a high level of technical resolution, with a thorough understanding of the rehabilitation of space alongside interior habitation, you’ll be well prepared to develop a career in this dynamic creative specialism.

You will:
Experiment with creativity, examining its role in re-thinking the interior and developing a personal design philosophy
Explore the material construction of interior spaces through technical design and workshop practice
Consider the environmental ethics, alongside the social and psychological aspects, of design solutions
Learn to draw, model, simulate, test, communicate and pitch your design proposals
Develop project and design management skills as you collaborate with peers on live, industry-led projects or work with industry partners
Work in dedicated design studios with access to professional equipment, workshops and support from specialist staff
Use cutting-edge industry software such as VR (virtual reality) Experiment with creativity, examining its role in re-thinking the interior
Have the option of a placement year in professional practice

Through this Interior Architecture degree, you'll learn the fundamentals of interior architecture and adaptive reuse. You'll explore the relationship between people and space, the role of materiality, the importance of storytelling and the sustainable considerations of the practice. In preparation for your future career, you'll also develop vital professional practice and collaborative working skills.

Year One:
In your first year, you'll get acquainted with the principles of interior architecture, discuss environmental ethics and the role of sustainability and work on collaborative briefs with Interior Design students. You'll explore place, place-making and site-specific architectural responses, while examining the social and psychological aspects of creating spaces. You'll also learn how to shape spatial experiences, applying spatial concepts to design decisions. Through this, you'll evaluate, research, draw and model a space to propose a redesign based on an experientially focused brief.

Modules:
Spatial Awareness
Design Principles
Poetry of Place
You, Me, Us

Year Two:
In your second year, you'll learn to recognise, explain and assess the political dimensions of interior architecture as well as how to propose alternative designs based on ethical considerations. You'll enhance your knowledge of adaptive reuse and its role in the rehabilitation of existing buildings, focussing on community need and site reading. You'll also deepen your understanding of the theories and systems of colour, light, texture, materiality and acoustics.

Modules:
Spatial Politics
Reinvention
Collaboration
Fictional Interiors

Year Three:
You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.

How you’ll study during your professional placement
You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks.

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation.

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.

Year Four:
In your final year, you'll learn project planning skills and techniques and apply them to self-negotiated projects relating to your specialist interior architecture interests. Drawing on the knowledge and skills you've developed so far, you'll be challenged to design an interior space. You'll also gain vital professional practice skills through a University-wide future skills module and develop a graduate portfolio that's fit for industry.

Modules:
Design Ambitions
Materiality
Design Insights
Legible Spaces

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

You'll be assessed through practical submissions and coursework.

Assessment can take many forms, including:
Design Process - sketchbooks
Presentations
Project-based portfolios
Essays or reports