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It is often said that interior design exists at the crossroads where art, science, planning, and creativity meet. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, prospects entering the interior design field must be well-versed in art history, interior architecture, materials of construction, legal aspects of contracting, the design process, and much more.
Interior design schools provide students with the knowledge, training, and skills needed to meet the multi-faceted demands of this profession. Interior design students can expect to learn about the technical and creative process while developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to create beautiful, functional, and sustainable designs.
An interior design school is an educational institution that offers courses, professional studies, and interior design degrees for students at all levels of study. Prospective students can find interior design programs in many places, including traditional four-year universities, art institutes, and private design schools.
An interior design education typically begins with an introduction to the history of interior design, followed by studies in academic disciplines such as fine arts, visual arts, architecture, and industrial design. Students then move on to more specific coursework in interior design theory and practice, building a strong foundation in subject areas such as space planning, color theory, materials selection, computer-aided design, and basic rendering techniques.
The landscape of online learning has changed dramatically over the last decade as modern technology has allowed for more flexible modes of learning. Today, many students are opting to enroll in online interior design programs as a means of gaining access to high-quality education without relocating or limiting their educational options.
Online interior design schools give aspiring designers unprecedented access to quality education. Online courses provide interior design students with the same high-quality curriculum, course sequencing, rigorous academic standards, and expert interior design instructors as traditional on-campus programs, but with the convenience and accessibility of studying from home.
Our ranking of the 15 best interior design schools in the U.S. is an objective assessment of each school’s overall academic excellence and reputation as measured by eight weighted categories: Post-Graduate Success, Faculty Resources, Graduation Rate Performance, Student Selectivity, Financial Aid, Early Career Success, Academic Experience, and Value.
To be considered for our rankings, an interior design program must hold institutional accreditation by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or be accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
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The college admissions process for interior design schools varies by program and level of study, but generally, students should expect a similar application process to other colleges of art and design. For undergraduate students, applicants will need to submit high school transcripts and standardized test scores, as well as a personal essay or portfolio of design work. The goal, for both applicants and admissions counselors, is to get a sense of the student’s strengths, interests, and potential for success in the interior design field.
For graduate students, the admissions process is generally more competitive and may require the submission of GRE scores in addition to a portfolio of design work, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay.
Students enrolled in an interior design program may choose to specialize in a particular area of the profession, such as residential design, commercial design, sustainable design, or hospitality design. An area of interior design specialization may be defined by a functional area, such as healthcare design or hospitality design, a client group, such as senior care or commercial real estate, a specific project type, such as residential conversion, or a style of interior architecture, such as classic or contemporary.
Some common areas of specialization are detailed below:
Commercial design is the branch of interior design that focuses on designing commercial spaces, such as offices and retail stores. Commercial designers are responsible for the overall look and feel of these spaces, which includes designing furniture layouts, choosing appropriate materials, selecting color schemes that suit the type of business, and reviewing construction documents to ensure that local building codes and zoning regulations are met.
Exhibition design is a branch of commercial interior design focused on creating engaging exhibition spaces. Exhibition designers work with businesses (and sometimes private individuals) to design spaces for hosting events, launching products, and promoting brands. This may include designing everything from floor plans, lighting schemes, signage systems, wayfinding strategies, furniture layouts, and displays.
Institutional design is an area of specialization focused on designing environments for public use, such as schools, government buildings, and transportation facilities. This type of design requires an understanding of human behavior and the factors that influence it, including how space is used, how it is organized, and how the design can positively or negatively affect the way people feel in the space.
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