What does an Interior Designer do?
An interior designer is a trained professional who creates conceptual, functional and quality interior environments.
Interior designers work with clients to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, and attractive to meet the needs of the people using the space.
Interior designers must know how to plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client. They must also know about the materials that will be used to create the space, and how texture, color, lighting, and many other technical aspects will combine and interact to make the space come together.
What do I learn in Interior Design major?
You will study the principles of design, space planning, and problem solving. You will take several design courses where you will apply your learning to interior design scenarios. Some studio classes will focus on residential, corporate, or retail design, others will introduce you to design theory and process for analyzing interior environments, documenting the needs of users and space planning. The AUT curriculum is made up of 99 credits divided between theoretical and applied courses.
Why study Interior Design at AUT?
You get top faculty teaching you, bringing in professional expertise to the classroom so your education is not only theoretical. AUT’s hands-on methods helps students build their portfolio to be market ready. The collaboration with Milan’s Istituto Europeo di Design ensures you also have access to top designers to teach you special courses whether at AUT or in Milan during the summer. In addition, the internship requirements will allow you to discover the reality of the job market and get better prepared for employment or for starting your own design company.
Interior Design Career Outlook
There is rising demand for talented and creative interior designers for private homes and public spaces such as offices, restaurants, malls, museums hospitals, beach resorts and other establishments.
Interior Design Program – (105 Credits)
| General Education Requirements | 26 credits | |||
| Code | # Course | Title | Cr | Prerequisites |
| Group A : Language and Communication (12 credits) | ||||
| ENG | 260 | English Language Skills I (ENG 200 – English Writing Skills) | 3 | Placement |
| ENG | 280 | English Language Skills II (ENG 203 – English Communication I) | 3 | |
| ENG | 305 | Research Methodology (ENG 204 – English Communication II) | 3 | ENG203 |
| BUS | 210 | Business Communication Skills (COM 210 – Communication & Presentation Skills) | 3 | ENG203 |
| Group B : General Business & Humanities (7 credits) | ||||
| ENT | 301 | Start-up Business Entrepreneurship | 3 | |
| HUM | 212 | AUT Cultural Plus | 1 | |
| HUM | 318 | Human Rights | 3 | ENG 203 |
| Group C : Arts & Social Sciences (3 credits) | ||||
| ART | 205 | Contemporary Arts | 3 | |
| HUM | 210 | Arts Appreciation | 3 | |
| HUM | 211 | Music Appreciation | 3 | |
| POL | 202 | Globalization and Political Change | 3 | ENG 203 |
| SOC | 202 | Justice, Society and Gender | 3 | ENG 203 |
| Group D : Mathematics, Science and Technology (3 credits) | ||||
| HLT | 210 | Health and Wellness | 3 | |
| NTR | 201 | Introduction to Nutrition | 3 | ENG 203 |
| Group E : Health and Physical Education (1 credits) | ||||
| PED | . | Physical Education | 1 |
| Core Requirements | 18 Credits | |||
| Code | # Course | Title | Cr | Prerequisites |
| ART | 200 | Drawing &Illustration I | 3 | |
| ART | 201 | Drawing & Illustration II | 3 | ART200 |
| ART | 301 | Theories of Imaging | 3 | |
| DES | 201 | Fundamentals of Design I | 3 | |
| DES | 211 | Fundamentals of Design II | 3 | DES 201 |
| MAT | 261 | Visual Math for Arts | 3 | |
| Major Course Requirements | 58 Credits | Grade must be C or higher in every Major Course | ||
| Code | # Course | Title | Cr | Prerequisites |
| IDP | 215 | Architectural Drawing | 3 | |
| IDP | 251 | Rendering and Perspective | 3 | IDP 215, DES 215 & Co. IDP291 |
| IDP | 290 | Design Project I | 4 | Co. IDP215 |
| IDP | 291 | Design Project II | 4 | IDP290 |
| IDP | 310 | History of Architecture and Furniture I | 3 | |
| IDP | 315 | Computer Aided Design | 3 | IDP215 |
| IDP | 320 | Materials and Process | 3 | IDP291 |
| IDP | 330 | History of Architecture and Furniture II | 3 | IDP310 |
| IDP | 335 | Problem Solving for Design & Present Tech | 3 | IDP390 |
| IDP | 340 | Details and Manufacturing Techniques | 3 | IDP320 |
| IDP | 345 | Virtual Reality / 3D MAX | 3 | IDP315 |
| IDP | 390 | Design Project III | 4 | IDP291 |
| IDP | 391 | Design Project IV | 4 | IDP390 |
| IDP | 410 | Digital Presentation | 3 | IDP315 |
| IDP | 420 | Professional Practice | 1 | IDP391 |
| IDP | 490 | Senior Project I | 4 | IDP391 |
| IDP | 491 | Senior Project II | 4 | IDP490 |
| IDP | 445 | Advanced Virtual Reality | 3 | IDP 345 |
| Free Elective (200 level or above) | 3 Credits | |||
| Code | # Course | Title | Cr | Prerequisites |
| ART | 210 | Painting I | 3 | |
| ART | 211 | Painting II | 3 | |
| ART | 230 | Sculpture | 3 | |
| ART | 355 | Animation | 3 | |
| ART | 400 | Special Topics | 3 | |
| DES | 350 | Design for the Stage | 3 | Junior Standing |
| COM | 206 | Principles of Photography | 3 | |
| DES | 360 | Advanced Photography | 3 | COM206 |
