Diploma in Interior Design

Full-time career-based training in interior design for entry into the industry

Entry Requirements

No previous art or design experience is necessary. Normally the entry standard is a degree, but mature students with sufficient prior learning experience are particularly encouraged. Any non-degree holding students that are accepted on this course will be required to attend the Diploma Preparatory Course. Entry is by interview and numbers are strictly limited. The purpose of the interview is to assess applicants' academic ability, motivation, performance under pressure and the reasons for undertaking the training. English language ability must also be competent and we look for a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org or its equivalent.

Students are also required to have a laptop computer for this course, and the Adobe Creative Suite 5 – Design Standard (RRP c. £340). However students are not required to buy the software until they start the course, and once enrolled they will qualify for a student discount on the software.

Students on KLC's Diploma level courses are expected to use computers during their studies. These will be used for producing presentational material, for CAD and presentation software training, and general written work. Important information relating to the course is sometimes communicated via email. For this reason, students should ensure that they are familiar with the general operation and use of computers (for example, they should be able to confidently create, amend, save and distribute documents, and use email) before starting their course. Prior experience in using either PCs or Macs will be equally helpful. Full details of the expected level of ability will be provided at interview.

NOTE: The interview is the first step in the formal application process for KLC’s full-time courses. Before coming in you should check that you can study full-time, have the funding available, be of sufficient age and have the required language ability. To arrange an interview for this course, please contact us on 020 7376 3377 or e-mail info@klc.co.uk.

Funding

For information about financial assistance to support your learning please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 100 900.

Course Syllabus

The intensive Diploma course syllabus provides a comprehensive training for the aspiring interior designer through the carefully constructed, modular programme, built around a series of inspirational and varied design projects. A lecture and seminar programme explores the development and vocabulary of architecture and design with tutorial support in WiFi enabled studios. Our full-time tutors are all qualified professional interior designers who are experienced in teaching (some have professional teaching qualifications). They maintain some professional commitments, and where appropriate they are joined in the studios by support tutors who are also working professional interior designers. Lighting, environmental and sustainability issues, multi-media installations, accessibility and inclusive design are amongst many of the specialist lectures delivered by industry experts. Lectures are interwoven with practical workshops, and the course has been designed to develop the potential of each student, allowing confidence to grow through putting theory into practice.

In the early stages, students are introduced to sketching and the fundamentals of design drawing, carefully integrated with an introduction to computer aided design, design principles, construction and presentation techniques, all set in the context of the design process as a whole. All these areas are further developed as the course progresses so that graduates develop their design solutions on a sound basis and effectively communicate their ideas to the client.

The emphasis on practical business skills through the study of professional practice procedures coupled with the opportunity for work experience are also key elements to the success of the course, with students highly employable on graduation. KLC is very involved in helping graduates find work, providing assistance with CV’s, portfolio presentation and career direction and, with many approaches from some of the leading design companies, is often able to put graduates directly in touch with potential employers.

Aims of the course

• To bring together an interdisciplinary group of students within the field of interior design whereby mutual benefit can be gained from previous experiences.
• To develop an understanding of interior design methods and processes by introducing, exploring and challenging ideas and solutions.
• To foster a creative and enquiring learning environment, building on students’ prior knowledge and experience.
• To encourage an analytical approach, the ability to conceptualise and to communicate effectively with clients through visual, written and spoken means.
• To address social, economic, ethical and environmental issues in the context of relevant studies and contemporary design.
• To develop critical skills appropriate to development as a professional designer working either independently or as a member of a team.
• To encourage intellectual and personal development.
• To facilitate industry placements, to provide practical experiences or for research enquiry.
• To equip students with a portfolio of increasingly ambitious project work to demonstrate professional competence and a capacity to translate and resolve client and user needs and aspirations.
• To prepare students for further study or work within the profession.

Projects

There are 5 major design projects throughout the course. During the initial stages these involve research, critical analysis and evaluation, the design process and design development. Reference to design history to inform contemporary trends is encouraged. Students will learn how to produce 2D and 3D drawings, both by hand and CAD generated, and to master 3D visualisation techniques, scale models and other methods of visual presentation. Documentation at this stage will include estimating quantities, specifications, schedules, presentation techniques and self-evaluation. The use of sketching, design developmental drawings and computing to generate 2D and digital 3D models will be used throughout the remaining projects in the course.

Detailed working drawings are an invaluable tool in the workplace and the project focused on this area of practice will strengthen design development, CAD skills and increase awareness of environmental and sustainable issues. Materials and finishes, their suitability and the development of production methods will also be explored.

The group project encourages effective team work in a creative environment and students will show how they can develop and maintain working relationships, make a constructive contribution to achieving project objectives, be open to critical analysis of their own ideas and to the ideas of others and evaluate design processes. Budgets and ensuring the team works within them, managing time effectively, meeting deadlines as well as making formal board-level presentations will also be included within this section of the course.

The final design project requires students to work autonomously on a space and apply a full range of design skills acquired; they will have to demonstrate their ability to plan, timetable and complete their own presentation. A body of work will be created in their preferred style which will demonstrate their ability to reflect on contemporary design and how their research material has informed their decision making. They will also be required to show their knowledge of the use of current and emerging technologies, major design trends and to demonstrate current thinking and approaches to key issues on professional design practice.

Visits

Visits are carefully selected to support specific aspects of the course and may include the V&A, Tate Modern, British Library as well as The Soane Museum, Geffrye Museum and Wallace Collection. Studio and showroom visits will also form part of the curriculum. Familiarisation visits to the RIBA library and the Birkbeck library are used to facilitate their use during historical and social research aspects of the course.

Portfolio

The projects listed above will be based upon a variety of realistic and live residential and commercial spaces such as restaurants, bars, hotels, spas, retail, yachts and listed buildings. The resultant presentational material will form a comprehensive design portfolio including examples of all the skills which students have acquired through the course of their training.

Computer Aided Design

KLC uses Vectorworks (AutoCAD from September 2013), both of which are which are widely regarded as industry-standard CAD software. Each student is given a year's license to the current software. The fully featured professional software is used to create, document and present designs.

Qualifications

With effect from the 2010/2011 academic year, KLC students graduating from both the Full-Time Diploma in Interior Design and the Blended Learning Diploma in Interior Design will receive a KLC Diploma in Interior Design validated by the University of Brighton. The validation process required a rigorous quality assurance assessment of all aspects of the school and has resulted in some exciting and innovative updates to the training we provide. We are looking forward to developing our partnership with the University of Brighton further and are very excited to be able to offer our students this prestigious external recognition of our qualification.

What is the benefit of university validation?

There are many benefits to our students for having this validation in place:

• The award is clearly benchmarked against the QAA HE Level Framework giving it international recognition, thereby increasing employment opportunities worldwide.
• It allows opportunities for exploring further flexibility in methods of study at KLC, by opening up different progression routes to the award.
• This external validation enables KLC to continue to operate as a Tier 4 Licence Sponsor (we have been awarded an “A” rating) and issue study visas to overseas students for successful applicants on the Full-Time Diploma in Interior Design.
• KLC students are able to visit the University libraries and attend open research seminars at the University.
• Students gain credit points that can be transferred to other courses nationally and internationally.
• Graduates of the Diploma who also have a prior degree qualification can opt to study further and apply for a MA programme through the University of Brighton or elsewhere (students wishing to progress to further qualifications will have to seek admission criteria from their preferred University provider).

Explanation of the Diploma qualification

A Diploma of the University of Brighton is a qualification that is specifically designated for vocational training courses and therefore fits appropriately with our career focused courses. The course comprises 120 credits at Level 5 on the QAA HE Level Framework. It is awarded by the University of Brighton and is attainable in 9 months full-time study (or 28 months by blended learning study). Once a student gains the Diploma, they will be in a strong position to find employment in the industry anywhere in the world or to progress to further study.

We are proud to be partnered with the University of Brighton

The University of Brighton has long been established as a centre of excellence for art and design studies – the School of Arts was established in 1859. The Faculty of Arts now fosters and develops research within and across its wide range of disciplines. It is home to a number of significant collections and archives, including the Design Archives which comprise eighteen collections that amount to almost 1000 linear metres of visual and textual documentation.

65% of their research in art and design was classified as either “world leading” or “internationally excellent”. This places the University of Brighton amongst the leading research centres in the country for art and design and Research Fortnight ranked their submissions second in terms of the volume and quality of research.

From 2005-2010 the University of Brighton has been the lead partner in The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design (CETLD), which is a HEFCE-funded partnership between the Royal College of Art, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Victoria & Albert Museum and themselves. The aim of the Centre is to enhance learning and teaching in design through research that brings together resources and expertise from Higher Education and collections-based partners.

We are very proud to be associated with the University of Brighton and greatly look forward to successfully developing this relationship in the future.

Diploma Course Syllabus

Technical skills

• Freehand sketching
• Survey, plans, elevations, sections
• Axonometric and isometric drawings
• 2D and 3D CAD
• Scale models
• Detailed working drawings
• Perspective sketching

Design development

• Design analysis
• Design development
• Concepts
• Ergonomics, circulation, traffic flow
• Creative use of colour, light, textiles, materials together with psychological considerations

Presentation techniques

• Visual and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Graphics
• Rendering
• Presentation software (e.g PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi)

Technical understanding

• Lighting, environmental issues, regulations, reflected ceiling plans, low level lighting plans, electrical plans
• Plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and drainage systems
• Building construction and structural principles
• Accessibility and inclusive design
• Planning permissions and building regulations
• Multi-media installations

History of style

• Development of International Style
• 1660 – 2000 English, French, German interior design styles
• Architecture, iconic architects and designers in 20th century

Materials and finishes

• Textiles, composition, fire retardancy requirements
• Materials and the environmental and sustainable impact

The design process

• From taking the client brief, analysis, design development to implementation and final evaluation of a project

Business procedures and administration

• Professional practice and fee structures
• Specifications, schedules, schedules of works, estimating, budgeting, tender documents
• Health and safety
• Business ethics

Contextual studies

• Career workshops
• Career advice
• Working in a design team
• Student-led debates, discourse, research