Higher National Diploma Live Online

Discover the foundations of interior design as both a creative discipline and professional practice. This module traces the evolution of design from the Gothic era to contemporary styles, while exploring how social change, globalisation, sustainability, and technology shape the industry today. You'll build confidence with key concepts, terminology, and research methods, learning how to forecast trends, generate ideas, and apply structured creative processes that will support your future design work.

Gain a deeper understanding of how to design spaces that balance function, flow, and aesthetics. This module introduces client profiling, project briefs, and the Design Cycle as a development framework. You'll explore the defining characteristics of space - size, shape, proportion, and volume - and learn how harmony, rhythm, balance, and scale bring interiors to life. Practical tools such as zoning, bubble diagrams, and layout testing will help you create environments that are both purposeful and inspiring.

Learn the visual language that underpins every successful interior. This module introduces the essential elements - form, line, light, colour, texture, pattern, and space - while unpacking the principles that govern their use, including balance, proportion, contrast, and rhythm. You'll explore how materials and finishes transform environments, the psychology of colour, and the role of lighting in shaping atmosphere. With a strong grasp of these fundamentals, you'll be ready to design with intention and impact.

Develop the drawing and sketching skills every interior designer needs to communicate ideas with clarity and confidence. This module covers freehand sketching, shading, and perspective drawing, alongside rendering techniques for realistic visualisation. You'll learn how to create architectural drawings - plans, sections, and elevations - using the correct symbols, scales, and annotations, while also exploring model-making as a tool for problem-solving. By strengthening your visual communication, you'll be able to present concepts professionally from the start.

Learn how to successfully launch a design project by defining clear goals, clients, and contexts. This module explores how to interpret briefs, conduct user studies, and apply research methods such as interviews and observations. You'll compare residential and commercial contexts, discover how to create professional concept and sample boards, and practice reflective techniques to refine your ideas. With a strong start, you'll set the tone for a well-structured and innovative project journey.

Build the practical skills needed to evaluate and measure real-world spaces with accuracy. This module introduces key surveying methods, measuring techniques, and approaches to recording site data. You'll also learn how to test materials, prototype solutions, and apply iterative processes - plan, test, review - to improve design outcomes. By developing strong evaluation and reporting skills, you'll be ready to make informed design decisions rooted in evidence and precision.

Enhance your ability to bring design concepts to life through compelling visualisations. This module introduces both manual and digital techniques, with a focus on CAD and rendering tools. You'll learn drawing conventions, orthogonal views, and annotation standards, before exploring 2D and 3D rendering methods that add realism with materials, textures, and lighting. From mood boards to digital prototypes, you'll gain the skills to communicate atmosphere, function, and design intent with clarity.

Master the creative and technical aspects of lighting design and visual media in interiors. This module covers natural and artificial lighting, fixture types, controls, and sustainability, alongside the preparation of professional reflected ceiling plans (RCPs). You'll also explore photography, styling, and editing techniques for documenting interiors, as well as digital media tools for creating engaging narratives online. By the end, you'll understand how light and media shape both design outcomes and user experience.

Explore the creative and functional use of materials and finishes in interiors. This module introduces decorative techniques, surface treatments, trims, textiles, and window dressings, showing how each contributes to both aesthetics and practicality. You'll examine fabric types, textile manipulation, and the properties of materials such as durability and porosity, alongside sustainable practices like refurbishment and reuse. With this knowledge, you'll be able to specify finishes that elevate your projects with professional polish.

Advance your project development by refining your material choices and design direction. This module encourages critical reflection on how sustainability, durability, and aesthetics influence your decisions, with guidance on tailoring these considerations to both residential and commercial contexts. Through applied exercises, you'll strengthen your ability to align design concepts with client expectations and project requirements, producing work that is both creative and strategically grounded.

Gain insight into the collaborative nature of professional design practice. This module introduces the different roles involved in project delivery - from creative direction to technical support and construction management. You'll learn how to adapt communication and deliverables for clients, contractors, and collaborators, ensuring each audience receives the information they need. By understanding workflows and responsibilities, you'll be prepared to contribute confidently to multidisciplinary design projects.

Learn how to present your ideas with impact and professionalism across a variety of platforms. This module explores communication formats such as portfolios, blogs, schematics, websites, and social media, alongside physical outputs like sketches, maquettes, and sample boards. You'll gain strategies for tailoring your message to clients, collaborators, and wider audiences, ensuring your work is both engaging and memorable in every setting.

Understand the ethical frameworks and responsibilities that shape modern interior design practice. This module explores sustainability, recyclability, energy use, and biophilic design, alongside professional ethics such as codes of conduct, intellectual property, and contractual obligations. You'll also reflect on how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping ethical standards, gaining the awareness needed to practice responsibly in a changing design landscape.

Develop the skills to deliver polished and persuasive design presentations. This module focuses on structuring narratives for clarity and impact, managing timing and flow, and using visual hierarchy to guide your audience. You'll learn how to edit content for clarity, align presentations with client briefs, and communicate mood and atmosphere effectively. With practice and feedback, you'll build the confidence to present your work to a professional standard.

Bring your design project to completion with professionalism and polish. This module covers how to review and refine technical drawings, ensure documentation meets industry standards, and integrate constructive feedback through peer review. You'll also explore the role of interactive meetings and group sessions in finalising outcomes. By the end, you'll be ready to submit a fully resolved project that reflects both creative ambition and professional standards.

Strengthen your ability to research, analyse, and situate your design work within broader contexts. This module explores how interior design reflects cultural, historical, and social values, while introducing models of critical reflection to evaluate your own process and outcomes. You'll also expand your design vocabulary, enabling you to articulate your work with clarity and depth in both academic and professional discussions.

Explore how philosophical, psychological, and cultural theories shape contemporary interiors. This module introduces frameworks such as structuralism, feminism, and queer theory, showing how identity, inclusion, and diversity influence spatial experience. You'll reflect on how design can reinforce or challenge cultural narratives, and develop analytical skills to create spaces that are critically informed, socially aware, and responsive to diverse user needs.

Examine how globalisation, consumer behaviour, and sustainability shape today's design industry. This module explores trend adoption models, material sourcing, supply chains, and the environmental challenges designers face. You'll study circular economy principles, evaluate the impact of international market forces, and learn how to balance creativity with responsibility in a globalised design environment.

Learn how to work with clients to develop detailed and effective design briefs. This module explores consultation techniques, stakeholder engagement, and the process of setting clear objectives and KPIs. You'll cover everything from small independent businesses to large commercial franchises, gaining practical skills in defining deliverables, managing relationships, and drafting professional service agreements that set projects up for success.

Expand your creative toolkit with structured approaches to design thinking and ideation. This module introduces frameworks such as the Double Diamond model, lateral thinking, and analogical reasoning to help you generate and refine innovative solutions. You'll practice experimentation, iteration, and reflective evaluation, learning how to embrace complexity and align ideas with client needs. These skills will enhance your creative confidence and adaptability in professional practice.

Develop the advanced technical drawing skills needed to communicate complex design projects with precision. This module introduces orthogonal views, BIM integration, line types, scales, and annotation standards, alongside material and finish specifications. You'll learn how to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with industry standards, equipping you to deliver professional documentation that supports collaboration and successful project delivery.

Learn how to evaluate and specify materials with confidence. This module covers key performance factors such as durability, porosity, elasticity, and environmental impact. You'll explore testing methods, lifecycle considerations, and sustainable strategies such as repurposing and refurbishment. By applying quality assurance frameworks, you'll be able to balance functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability in every project.

Bring your designs to life with photorealistic digital visualisations. This module focuses on advanced CAD workflows, rendering, and 3D modelling, alongside workflow integration between platforms like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop. You'll practice enhancing sketches and drawings with lighting, textures, and atmosphere, and learn best practices for exporting and storing files. These skills will ensure your presentations are polished, professional, and client-ready.

Discover how emerging technologies are transforming interior spaces. This module introduces IoT systems, smart lighting, climate control, AR, VR, and AI, examining how they enhance performance, sustainability, and user experience. Through real-world examples and critical discussion, you'll explore both the opportunities and challenges of designing for connected environments, preparing you to propose innovative, future-ready solutions.

Learn how to manage interior design projects from concept to completion. This module introduces project life cycles, risk management, budget control, and collaborative workflows. You'll explore methodologies such as Agile and Kanban, and apply tools like Gantt charts and RAID logs to real-world scenarios. By mastering these skills, you'll gain the confidence to lead projects that balance creativity with time, cost, and quality demands.

Develop the skills to design for complex commercial environments. This module explores how to address the needs of diverse stakeholders and audiences while integrating branding, safety, inclusivity, and sustainability. You'll analyse user studies, audience profiling, and traffic flow management, applying regulatory frameworks to real-world contexts. With these skills, you'll be ready to deliver large-scale projects that balance aesthetic innovation with commercial and social goals.

Refine your ability to present design work persuasively and with clarity. This module focuses on structuring content, managing narrative flow, and creating strong visual hierarchies. You'll learn how to communicate mood, style, and atmosphere, while tailoring your message to different audiences - from clients and collaborators to investors and the public. By the end, you'll have developed a professional communication style that supports your design practice with confidence.

Build a strong foundation in ethical practice and professional standards. This module introduces legal frameworks, intellectual property, contractual obligations, and sustainability, alongside the role of regulators and professional bodies worldwide. You'll also explore current issues such as AI ethics, fair labour practices, and environmental accountability. By reflecting on real-world scenarios, you'll develop the awareness needed to act responsibly in diverse design contexts.

Prepare for a successful career in interior design by building your professional identity. This module explores career pathways, freelance opportunities, and entrepreneurship, alongside practical skills such as portfolio development, networking, and financial management. You'll also reflect on personal branding and long-term goals, ensuring you're equipped with the resilience and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic design industry.

Bring together everything you've learned in a final independent project that showcases your creativity, technical skill, and professional insight. This capstone module guides you through iterative development, critical reflection, and rigorous evaluation as you refine your design outcomes. With tutor support and peer feedback, you'll produce a portfolio-ready project that reflects your unique design voice and prepares you for confident entry into the professional world.