Interior Design (Diploma)

Students learn to create beautiful and effective residential, commercial, industrial and public space designs and layouts. Graduates of this program will have developed a portfolio to showcase their designs and will be prepared to enter a career as an interior designer, planner, project manager or design consultant. 

Space, lighting, and design can influence how people feel, think, work, and relate to each other. Interior design is a rewarding and creative career that allows you to bring beauty and function into the lives of others.

VCAD's Interior Design program allows you to develop a skill set that compliments your creative vision so you can excel in interior design. The program introduces students to design principles, colour theory, space planning, drafting and industry-standard software.

Job opportunities

• Interior Designer 
• Residential Designer 
• Furniture Designer 
• Decorator 

Skills gained

• Develop an interior design project
• Integrate trends into interior design
• Produce interior design sketches
• Draw objects and spaces to scale
• Produce drawings using a computer-assisted drafting system
• Understand colour theory and use colour to influence mood
• Suggest finishes and materials for a project
• Specify the accessories, furniture and equipment for a project
• Use interior architectural and construction elements
• Create an interior design concept for a residence
• Create lighting concepts
• Produce working drawings and specifications
• Plan a layout for an industrial commercial or public building
• Create an interior design concept for a commercial, industrial or public building
• Promote your interior design services effectively

Your program begins by introducing you to the industry by building up your fundamental skills like drawing and drafting by hand.

Term 1

Photoshop I

• Through this 'hands-on' course, the student will learn the fundamentals of design, advanced features and tips to prepare images for digital output and print. By the end of this course, the student will be able to create, modify, and enhance sophisticated images using raster editing tools and features; craft special effects; work in 3D space; and prepare files for export to various applications in web, mobile, print, and manufacturing.

Colour & Design

• Understanding colour and design principles through exploration and application across media, visual, and applied design genres. This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of colour theory through design, such as layout, composition, balance, colour science as well as a diverse range of colour theories, and how to employ them creatively. These concepts will be reinforced through specific practical exercises, and activities that will serve to do.

Illustrator I

• This course introduces the students to vector image editing using Adobe Illustrator. By the end of this course, the student will be able to create, modify, and enhance vector artwork, craft special effects, work in 3D space, and prepare files for export to variations applications in web, mobile, print, and manufacturing.

Term 2

AutoCAD I

• This course is an introductory level course that will explore the fundamental features of AutoCAD design software. Students will learn to use CAD software tools, features, and commands to create simple drawings. Students will learn the basic commands, set up, work with layers and text and print and plot diagrams.

Drawing II

• This course builds upon Drawing I. In this course, the student continues to explore using complex shapes and drawing techniques. Topical coverage includes drawing styles, observation of reality, plans, elevations and projections, perspective views, shading, forms and structure, drawing architecture and working with colour and black and white drawings.

Space Planning

• This course is an introduction to space planning, where students learn various types of diagrams and matrices to visualize the layout of the space they are working with and plan space effectively. The course will also introduce building codes and environmental factors of spatial composition. Students will learn to work with bubble diagrams, block plans, matrices and CAD templates

Drafting

• This course explores the fundamental concepts of drafting. Students will learn the tools, symbols and conventions of drafting and how to use them to create simple orthographic and paraline drawings.

Term 3

AutoCAD II

• This course is an advanced level course that will explore the advanced features of AutoCAD design software. Students will learn advanced commands and features that will allow them to draw and modify more complex designs as well as explore the capabilities of AutoCAD in the design of models of 3D solids and surfaces. The course will begin by exploring the advanced draw and modify commands and techniques before moving onto the advanced drawing and modeling of 3D soli...

Lighting Techniques

• This course explores lighting as one of the fundamental elements in the design of interiors. Students will learn the fundamental principles and techniques of working with lighting to create a desired impact on an interior space. The course will explore light sources, daylight, lighting, the layer approach to lighting and the different types of lighting applications for residential, office, and other specialty institutions.

Materials and Fabrics

• This course introduces the various materials and fabrics commonly used in interior design projects. Students explore the historical, cultural and architectural uses of concrete, stone, glass ceramics, wood and products, plaster metals, synthetics and fabrics and learn about the finishes used with these materials.

Furniture Design

• This course will explore the processes of furniture design. The course will offer an overview of the classifications of furniture and uses of furniture over historical periods and how furniture has evolved as a design element. Students will the design principles that apply to furniture design, the materials used as well as the fabrication processes and methods.

Architectural Design and Detail

• This course will explore the common construction techniques in use today. The course provides an overview of the building process from site fundamentals to the building and integrating of the various systems and components. Student will study the different building techniques and materials as well as the detailing of the interior components and finishes.

Term 4

Architectural Model Making

• This course will explore the use of architectural models as a means of expressing a design or concept. The course will study the physical architectural model as an integral part of the design process. Students will learn how models are capable of generating information accurately by allowing the viewer to see the form in physical space. Topical coverage includes the equipment and materials, preparation and assembly techniques used in model making. Students will also...

Building Codes

• This course will explore the basic residential, commercial and public building, fire and safety codes that must be respected within the scope of interior design. Student will learn how each of the codes and standards impact the design process and how they must be applied to ensure that the final design is compliant with all applicable municipal, provincial and federal regulations in effect.

Interior Detailing

• In this course, students will continue to develop their design skills by focusing on the details of interior spaces and their elements. They learn to incorporate more detailed design elements such as trim, millwork, cabinetry, window, door trim, wall, ceiling and floor details as they produce the appropriate design documents and plans as they progress through the course.

Human Factors in Interior Design

• This course explores how human behaviour and requirements influence the design of interior spaces. Students will study ergonomics and anthropometrics and the role they play in the design of interior spaces. The course will also examine the considerations that need to be addressed when designing interior spaces for specific human conditions or situations such as people with disabilities, limited mobility, children, elderly and multi-generation challenges.

Residential Design

• This course explores the process of completing a residential design project. Students perform the required steps to take a design project from its initial idea to completion by designing a residential interior from appropriate design plans and documents. Students will present the design, modify the design based on client feedback, and incorporate the principles and techniques of design while producing the design documents for residential spaces.

Term 5

Architectural Working Drawings

• This course will explore the architectural working drawings that are commonly used in the interior design sector. Students will learn to read and understand the details of the various drawings and plans as well as create a set of construction drawings. Students will work with floor plans, electrical plans, elevations, sections schedules and other detailed specialty drawings.

Architectural Rendering I

• This course introduces students to architectural rendering software as they learn to render interior design and effects on AutoDesk Viz. Students learn to use the tools and features of the software and apply the techniques to produce final renderings of designs. The course will cover modeling techniques, materials, lighting and basic animations.

Studio

• This course allows students to propose project ideas by emphasizing the development of solutions for design projects. Students will work in teams applying concepts, theories and design processes to a significant and unique design problem with the intention of successful solutions being final portfolio pieces for the students.

Office Design

• This course will explore the design of commercial interiors with a focus on office design. Office design is the backbone of commercial interior design. Students will learn how to extract details for the specific office type that will be designing and translate those details into effective designs that promote the functional requirements of the office space. Students will learn about optimal office layouts and spatial organizations based on the type of office. By the...

Eco Design

• This course explores the emerging trend of green and sustainable design, construction and building materials, their properties and their sustainable and environment-friendly use. Students learn to integrate these practices through materials choice and procedures, the importance of the green shift and the benefits of designing with consideration for this greening process and alternative materials and energy sources.

Term 6

Portfolio

• This course is aimed at preparing the students’ transition to the professional world, allowing the student to place the final polishing touches on their portfolio work. Students will be required to explain and defend the presentation structure of their portfolio and individual pieces to a panel of their peers and industry in the format of a job interview. All portfolio components should demonstrate the student’s mastery of the programs core competencies...

Architectural Rendering II

• This course is an advanced course in architectural rendering. Students will continue working with AutoDesk Viz to render complex interior designs and effects. Students will use advanced tools and features of the software and then apply the rendering techniques to produce final renderings of complex designs. The course will cover advanced modeling techniques, mapping of materials, and complex lighting effects.

Professional Practices and Communication

• This course introduces the importance of professional business conduct and attitude. Students learn the importance of preparing themselves properly for the job search process and how to prepare and present the proper marketing collateral, and the techniques to market themselves to potential employers, by including résumé and cover letter preparation, professionalism and appropriate conduct, written and oral communication, career planning, interviewing...

Commercial Design

• This course will explore the design of commercial interiors with a focus on public, retail and institutional facilities. Students will learn how to extract details for the specific commercial space type that they will be designing and translate those details into effective designs that promote the functional requirements of the commercial space. Students will learn about optimal layouts and spatial organizations based on the type of space. By the end of the course...