BA (Hons) Degree Classroom Based

This lesson introduces students to the course structure, weekly roadmap, and assessment format, helping them understand what to expect. Learners will begin exploring basic spatial concepts, human scale, and room observation techniques while building early awareness of design thinking. The lesson also introduces essential tools, workspace setup, and methods for documenting work. Through simple exercises and a short quiz, students will start developing the habits and practical skills they'll rely on throughout their interior design studies.

This lesson introduces core drawing practices used in interior design, focusing on scale, proportion, and visual communication. Students will develop foundational skills in line weight, drawing conventions, and architectural symbols, while exploring how to represent materials, textures, and colour with hand drawing tools. The role of digital sketching is also introduced to support flexible communication. A short quiz reinforces key concepts in drawing types, line styles, and visual documentation.

This lesson builds students' foundational skills in client communication and design planning. Learners will analyse residential briefs, practice writing clear and structured responses, and use templates to organise client needs. Through collaborative analysis and scenario-based tasks, students will explore the early stages of the design process, from interpreting client goals to developing initial concepts. The lesson introduces systematic thinking, space planning fundamentals, and basic project documentation methods to support confident, professional design development.

This lesson supports students in preparing, documenting, and presenting their work for transition into HN-level study. Learners will organise their digital portfolios using clear folder structures, file naming conventions, and resolution guidelines. They’ll reflect on their technical development, space analysis skills, and design decisions using templates and checklists. Emphasis is placed on documenting layouts, furniture plans, lighting, materials, and colour use with clarity. Study planning tools and workflow tips help students build confidence in managing their creative and organisational processes.

This lesson introduces interior design as a creative profession, tracing its historical development from the Gothic period to the present. Students explore major contemporary styles and the impact of social trends, globalisation, sustainability, and technology on the field today. The lesson defines essential concepts and professional terminology, preparing students for advanced study and practice. Emphasis is placed on research as a foundation for effective design, with guidance on reliable sources, trend forecasting, and idea generation techniques such as mind-mapping and the design cycle. A short quiz helps consolidate key knowledge for the next stage of the course.

This lesson explores how designers shape environments to meet client needs, aims, and contexts. Students learn to profile clients and begin drafting briefs, supported by an introduction to the Design Cycle as a key project development framework. The lesson defines ‘space’ and its characteristics—size, shape, volume, proportion—and examines how spatial design principles like harmony, balance, rhythm, and scale have been applied historically. Students will compare open, enclosed, and transitional spaces, and practice techniques for spatial planning and flow, including functional zoning, traffic analysis, bubble diagrams, and layout experimentation. A quiz reinforces essential concepts and skills introduced.

This lesson introduces the core visual language that underpins all interior environments. Students explore key elements—form, size, space, light, line, colour, texture, and pattern—alongside an introduction to basic colour theory and the psychological impact of colour. The lesson covers types of lines, open and closed forms, and how materials, textures, and finishes contribute to design. Students also examine fundamental principles including contrast, dominance, rhythm, focal point, scale, proportion, and balance, understanding their historical origins and relevance today. Concepts of ergonomics, anthropometrics, and the role of lighting are introduced, supported by a quiz to consolidate learning.

This lesson develops the essential visual communication skills interior designers use to express ideas and solve design problems. Students explore ideation methods, sketching techniques, and the creative value of a sketchbook, while learning core skills such as line quality, shading, perspective, and proportion. The lesson introduces freehand sketching for conceptualization and rendering techniques for producing realistic representations of interior spaces. Students also learn how to create architectural drawings—plans, elevations, sections—using correct scale, dimensions, symbols, and annotations. An overview of manual drawing tools and model-making processes is included. A short quiz and a group session reinforce learning outcomes.

This lesson guides students through the initial stages of their A2 project using an iterative development process. The lesson explores understanding audiences, stakeholders, and social trends, with a focus on working with different client types—individuals and organizations. Students learn to analyse briefs, conduct user studies, and apply data collection methods like interviews and observation. Key differences between residential and commercial design are outlined, along with practical tips. The lesson also introduces concept, sample, and presentation boards, featuring best-practice examples. Problem-solving techniques and reflection methods are emphasized, supported by a quiz and an optional group session.

This lesson equips students with essential skills to accurately assess sites and inform design decisions. The lesson covers key surveying techniques, measurement methods for materials, structures, and 3D objects, and tips for capturing precise site data. Students explore the iterative design process—research, plan, test, review—and apply problem-solving strategies through material testing, prototyping, and stakeholder feedback. The role of materials, techniques, and processes is examined in relation to user experience and design challenges. Students also learn to produce clear written outputs including reflective statements and reports. A short quiz reinforces core concepts, supported by an optional group session.

This lesson explores how type, layout, and visuals communicate interior design ideas effectively. The lesson introduces manual and digital drawing practices, with a focus on CAD software, hardware, and integration with other design tools. Students learn key conventions for technical drawings, including orthogonal views, scale, line types, and annotation. The lesson highlights how 2D and 3D rendering techniques enhance presentations by showing texture, lighting, materials, and mood clearly and realistically. Digital prototyping, 3D modelling, and the creation of digital mood and sample boards are covered, along with guidance on file storage, formats, and outputs. A short quiz reinforces key concepts.

This lesson explores the creative and technical use of lighting and imagery in interior design. Students learn lighting purposes, fixture types, controls, colour temperature, and sustainability, with a focus on reflected ceiling plans (RCPs) and architectural drawing standards. The impact of natural light on mood, aesthetics, and wellbeing is highlighted. The lesson also introduces photography skills essential for capturing and presenting interiors, including composition, lighting, styling, and editing techniques. Visual media considerations extend to user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design for online platforms, motion graphics, and creating engaging narratives. A quiz reinforces key learning outcomes.

This lesson provides a practical overview of decorative methods, including wall treatments, surface finishes, trims, and textiles, explaining where and why they’re used. Students are introduced to key textile manipulation techniques, common fabric types, and window treatments such as curtains, blinds, and shutters, with a focus on their functional and aesthetic contributions. The lesson explores material properties—durability, porosity, elasticity, sustainability—and explains material testing methods. Repurposing and refurbishing existing structures and finishes is also discussed, highlighting sustainable practice. A quiz reinforces key concepts, supported by an optional group session for discussion and application to project work.

This lesson supports students as they develop their summative assessment design work, applying key considerations to material selection and design decisions. The lesson emphasizes sustainability, durability, and the visual and tactile qualities of materials, helping students evaluate choices appropriate for both residential and commercial spaces. Students are encouraged to reflect critically on how material performance, aesthetics, and sustainability goals align with client needs and project contexts. Through guided exercises, students refine their project concepts and deepen their understanding of material specification as part of a coherent, professional design response, preparing them for later stages of the project cycle.

This lesson introduces students to the range of roles involved in delivering design projects, from creative and production roles to management, technical support, and construction stage responsibilities. The lesson emphasizes the importance of understanding how different audiences—clients, contractors, collaborators—require tailored communication and deliverables, helping students recognize appropriate forms of output for each. Through examples and guidance, students gain insight into the collaborative nature of professional interior design practice and the workflows that ensure a project’s successful completion. This knowledge prepares students for real-world practice and strengthens their ability to operate confidently in multidisciplinary project environments.

This lesson teaches students how to present interior design ideas effectively to a variety of audiences, including clients, users, collaborators, peers, and stakeholders. The lesson explores appropriate formats for showcasing work—from portfolios and blogs to creative schematics, websites, and social media—while highlighting the importance of considering both temporary and permanent spaces for display. Students are encouraged to include handmade elements such as sketches, maquettes, and physical sample boards to enrich their presentations. The lesson equips students with strategies to tailor communication for different audiences and platforms, helping them promote their work professionally and engage diverse stakeholders successfully.

This lesson introduces students to the ethical responsibilities and professional standards that guide interior design practice today. The lesson explores key topics including sustainability, energy consumption, carbon footprint, material recyclability, and biophilic design. Students examine professional ethics such as codes of conduct, contractual obligations, service level agreements, and intellectual property rights, including copyright and ownership of creative work. The impact of AI and emerging technologies on practice is also discussed. The role of professional bodies, media regulators, and issues of censorship are introduced, helping students understand their ethical obligations. A short quiz reinforces key concepts and best practices.

This lesson quips students with the skills to communicate their ideas clearly and professionally. The lesson covers structuring presentations for maximum impact, managing timing, pacing, and narrative flow, and establishing a hierarchy of text and visuals. Students learn how to edit content for clarity, consistency, and audience relevance, while aligning with the project brief’s concept, purpose, and constraints. Visual and textual language is explored to convey mood, style, and atmosphere effectively. The lesson emphasizes market suitability and audience interpretation. A quiz consolidates learning, and an optional group session offers students a chance to practice and refine presentation skills.

This lesson prepares students to complete and present their work to a professional standard. The lesson emphasizes the importance of interactive meetings—both online and in-person—as part of the design process. Students review industry standards for managing and controlling technical drawings, ensuring their documentation is clear, accurate, and professional. Peer review is incorporated to help students refine their projects through constructive feedback and critical reflection. A scheduled group session provides an opportunity for final questions and guidance. This lesson ensures students are ready to submit polished, industry-appropriate design outcomes that meet professional expectations and project objectives.

This lesson develops students’ ability to critically research and contextualize their work within historical, social, cultural, and theoretical frameworks. Learners will analyse how interior design reflects and influences societal values, cultural movements, and audience interpretations. Using models such as Gibbs and Kolb, students will practice critical reflection to evaluate their process and outcomes. Emphasis is placed on developing an advanced design vocabulary, understanding key influences, and situating one’s work relative to both historical precedents and contemporary practice. By the end, students will have the tools to articulate the contextual positioning of their designs with depth and confidence.

Students will explore how philosophical, psychological, and cultural theories shape contemporary commercial interior design practices. The lesson introduces structuralism, post-structuralism, feminism, queer theory, and media theory as lenses for analysing identity, diversity, inclusion, and power dynamics in space-making. Learners reflect on how design can reinforce or challenge cultural narratives and how social behaviour, gender, race, and fluid identities inform spatial experience. Emphasis is placed on building a conceptual framework that underpins sophisticated design decision-making. Students will emerge with stronger analytical skills, able to design spaces that are critically informed, socially aware, and responsive to diverse user needs and identities.

This lesson examines how global economic forces, supply chains, consumer attitudes, and sustainability imperatives shape interior design practice today. Students analyse trend adoption theories (e.g., trickle-down, populist) and assess how globalisation drives material sourcing, labour practices, and client expectations. The lesson also introduces sustainability challenges such as circular economy principles and environmental impact assessment. Through discussion and case studies, students gain insight into how designers must balance creativity, responsibility, and market forces when responding to international trends and client briefs. This global perspective prepares students for practice in an interconnected design industry where ethics and innovation intersect.

This lesson focuses on professional strategies for engaging clients and developing sophisticated design briefs at a large scale with a focus on business and brand identities. This covers a wide spectrum, from independent cafes and pop-up stores, to large scale restaurants and franchise companies. Students learn how to gather, analyse, and respond to complex stakeholder requirements, setting clear project objectives and measurable outcomes (KPIs). Emphasis is placed on professional consultation techniques, defining roles and deliverables, managing client relationships, and drafting effective service level agreements. Learners will practice translating creative ambitions into structured briefs that reflect commercial, technical, and user-driven demands. By mastering these skills, students will be equipped to manage client interactions confidently and ensure their design process begins with clarity, professionalism, and strategic focus.

This lesson introduces structured frameworks for generating innovative design solutions beyond the foundational level. Students explore methods such as the Double Diamond model, lateral thinking, analogical reasoning, and means-ends analysis to support creative development and refine ideas in a more systematic way.

Emphasis is placed on experimentation, iteration, and embracing ambiguity and complexity as natural parts of the design process. Learners begin to critically evaluate their own ideas, reflecting on strengths, areas for development, and alignment with client needs. By the end of the lesson, students will have strengthened their problem-solving skills and expanded their toolkit of techniques for ideation and design exploration suitable for professional practice.

Students will develop the ability to produce advanced technical drawings and detailed specifications that meet industry standards . The lesson covers complex drawing conventions including orthogonal views, scale, line types, BIM integration, annotations, and presentation standards. Learners will also examine how to specify materials, finishes, performance requirements, and regulatory compliance for residential and commercial projects. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, consistency, and clarity when communicating design intent to clients and contractors. By mastering these technical competencies, students will be prepared to create comprehensive documentation that supports complex project delivery and facilitates collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams.

This lesson explores advanced material selection and performance analysis. Students learn to evaluate materials based on durability, elasticity, porosity, environmental impact, aesthetic value, and suitability for different contexts. The lesson introduces methods for material testing (e.g., non-destructive, destructive, structural) and explains how to apply quality assurance frameworks to ensure robust, sustainable design solutions. Repurposing, refurbishing, and lifecycle considerations are also discussed, reinforcing environmental responsibility. By the end of the lesson, students will have the knowledge to specify materials confidently, balancing functional, aesthetic, and sustainability priorities in both residential and commercial interior design projects.

This lesson equips students with the ability to produce polished, photorealistic visualisations using advanced CAD workflows, rendering tools, 3D modelling techniques, and digital walkthroughs. Emphasis is placed on digital workflow integration, file management, and interoperability between platforms such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop. Students will learn to enhance sketches and technical drawings with materials, lighting, textures, and atmospheric details, helping clients and stakeholders visualise proposed spaces. The lesson also covers best practices for digital presentation, export formats, and data storage. By mastering these skills, students will communicate their design ideas more clearly, effectively, and professionally.

This lesson introduces students to emerging technologies shaping contemporary interior design, including the Internet of Things (IoT), smart lighting, climate control systems, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). Students analyse how these technologies impact space performance, user experience, and sustainability, and consider technical, ethical, and practical implications of integration. Through discussion and case studies, learners explore the opportunities and challenges of designing for connected environments, preparing them to propose innovative, future-ready solutions in residential and commercial contexts. The lesson emphasizes critical thinking about technology’s role in enhancing functionality, comfort, and wellbeing.

This lesson explores the key principles of managing complex interior design projects. Students learn about project life cycles (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, closure), risk management, budget control, and collaborative workflows. Project management methodologies such as Agile, Critical Chain, and Kanban are introduced, along with tools including Gantt charts, RAID logs, and performance evaluation frameworks. Emphasis is placed on coordinating teams, managing client expectations, and balancing creativity with project constraints. By mastering these competencies, students will gain the confidence to lead projects professionally, ensuring that creative vision is realised within time, cost, quality, and regulatory parameters.

This lesson focuses on designing for commercial contexts, addressing the complexity of working at scale. Students analyse how to design for multiple stakeholders, diverse audiences, and varied functions, integrating branding, inclusivity, safety, and sustainability considerations. Emphasis is placed on user studies, audience profiling, traffic flow management, and regulatory frameworks. Learners explore real-world examples of successful commercial projects and reflect on balancing aesthetic innovation with commercial, functional, and social goals. This lesson equips students with advanced skills for delivering large-scale projects that respond to both client objectives and complex user environments.

Students learn how to present their design work persuasively and professionally to a variety of audiences. The lesson covers how to structure presentations, manage narrative flow, edit content effectively, and establish visual hierarchy and clarity between text and imagery. Emphasis is placed on mood, style, and atmosphere, and how visual language can be used to communicate design intent clearly and confidently.

Students also explore how to tailor presentations for different audiences, including clients, collaborators, investors, and the public, aligning their messaging with briefs and project constraints. By the end of the lesson, students will have built confidence in their communication abilities and developed a strong foundation in professional presentation strategies that support the success of their design work.

This lesson introduces students to ethical practice, professional standards, and legal considerations in interior design. Topics include codes of conduct, intellectual property, contractual obligations, service level agreements, and sustainability. Students discuss the role of professional bodies, regulators, and legal frameworks in shaping responsible practice globally. The lesson also addresses contemporary challenges such as the ethical use of AI, fair labour practices, and environmental accountability. By exploring real-world scenarios and reflecting on personal ethical positions, students develop the critical awareness needed to act responsibly and professionally in diverse design contexts.

This lesson supports students in planning their transition to professional practice. Learners explore career pathways, job market trends, freelance opportunities, and entrepreneurship. Key topics include portfolio development, CV preparation, professional networking, setting fees, business planning, financial management, and legal structures. Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal brand and long-term career goals, building a clear strategy for progression. Emphasis is placed on continuing professional development (CPD), resilience, and adaptability, ensuring students are equipped to build sustainable and fulfilling careers in an evolving design industry.

In this Major Project lesson, students complete an independent design project that demonstrates their conceptual, technical, and professional capabilities. Learners apply research, critical thinking, and advanced design processes to realise a comprehensive project outcome. Emphasis is placed on iterative development, self-directed learning, and rigorous evaluation, including peer review and tutor feedback. Students refine their design documentation and presentation materials to professional standards, culminating in a portfolio-ready submission. This final project empowers students to express a distinctive design voice, synthesising knowledge gained across the programme and preparing them for confident entry into the professional world.

In this module, you will learn to approach complex interior design projects by analysing client briefs and conducting research to develop creative, research-based concepts. You’ll refine your problem-solving skills to balance aesthetics with functionality while also considering market trends and client goals. Throughout the course, you’ll focus on effectively communicating your ideas through technical drawings, material specifications, and professional presentations. You will expand your knowledge of software and manual techniques, enhancing your ability to create visually engaging designs. By the end, you’ll confidently present your creative decisions using both technical and innovative methods. .

This module covers content that will contribute to the successful completion of an independent dissertation in an area relevant to interior design. The topic of the dissertation will be agreed upon with a tutor/dissertation supervisor at the beginning of the module. The dissertation will help you to build a detailed contextual knowledge of design theory and practice in a way that meets the high academic standards set by the University of Hertfordshire.

In this module, you will identify, design, develop, and critically reflect on a major design project of your choosing and that is relevant to interior design. This project will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you have built to date to an area of specialist interest to you. It allows you to create a body of work that is representative of your creative aspirations but also showcases your ability to generate creative concepts that are aligned with client needs and preferences, and define project scope based on target audiences. By the end of the module, you will have a solid grasp of the project development process and you will be ready to progress to the implementation stage.

In this module, you will gain essential skills to implement interior design projects effectively. You’ll learn how to create and interpret technical documentation, specification sheets, and efficiently manage projects. The module also emphasises collaboration with tradespeople and suppliers, ensuring you can professionally bring your design concepts to life. By the end of the module, you will be well-prepared for professional practice in the interior design industry and ready to face real-world challenges with confidence.