Interior Design
Entry requirements
112 UCAS points from at least two A-levels or equivalent OR Pass Foundation in Art and Design
Access to HE Diploma
Pass QAA Access to Higher Education course with at least 30 level 3 credits at Merit. We will normally require students have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
T Level
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
On this course you will reimagine existing interiors and challenge the idea of ‘space’ to create innovative and experiential new spaces. Interior Design focuses on the way people interact within these environments, considering comfort, usability, effectiveness, aesthetics and emotional connection.
You’ll explore the regeneration of real buildings and sites, turning them into exciting new spaces for exhibition, retail, leisure, performance, spiritual, eating and socialising purposes. You'll also develop visual communication skills in drawing, 3D modelling, computing, video-modelscope, computer-aided design (CAD) and virtual reality. Your work will respond to future global challenges whilst reflecting the importance of sustainability and inclusivity.
You'll develop your own personal design style and learn to communicate your creative solutions with confidence. Our aim is to nurture these skills so that you graduate as a well-rounded designer with a broad portfolio ready for industry.
**Key features**
* Work and create in a studio environment that is designed to mimic professional practice and learn from staff with extensive industry experience.
* Determine your own design direction according to your passions and aspirations. We have seen students designing immersive art galleries, educational community hubs and boutique hotels and tackling the challenges of food waste, empty high street units and body confidence.
* Boost your career prospects with a placement. Our students have gained valuable industry work experience at companies such as Ashfield Events, Newman Gauge, Tibbatts Abel and PVH Europe.
* Strengthen your portfolio by entering prestigious competitions and showcasing your work. Our students have recently been recognised by the Interior Design Association and exhibited their projects at New Designers in London.
* Benefit from the very latest facilities – CAD, modelscope, drawing studios, video visualisation equipment and prototype workshops. Our award-winning Vijay Patel Building provides both the space and the facilities to foster creative thinking and explore your design potential.
* Our graduates have gone on to work for a range of large, medium and small design practices including Blueprint, SomeBrightSpark, Fitch Design, Faber, Checkland Kindleysides and Leonard Design Architects.
**If you are interested in advanced entry into Year 3 of this course, please visit the DMU website for the course details:** https://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/pre-edu-2030/interior-design-ba-degree/interior-design-ba-degree.aspx
Modules
**First year**
Block 1: Understanding Space
Block 2: Exploring Space and Context
Block 3: Defining Space 1
Block 4: Defining Space 2
**Second year**
Block 1: Ideation and Concept
Block 2: Design Development
Block 3: Professional Communication and Context
Block 4: Professional Design Practice
**Third year**
Block 1: Advanced Research for Interior Design
Block 2: Advanced Conceptualisation
Block 3: Advanced Design Development and Communication
Block 4: Advanced Professional Design Practice
Assessment methods
We want to ensure you have the best learning experience possible and a supportive and nurturing learning community. That’s why we’re introducing a new block model for delivering the majority of our courses, known as Education 2030. This means a more simplified timetable where you will study one subject at a time instead of several at once. You will have more time to engage with your learning and get to know the teaching team and course mates. You will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, and have a better study-life balance to enjoy other important aspects of university life.
**Structure**
The course is essentially studio-based, supported by lectures, seminars, tutorials and site visits. Assessment is project-orientated and you will continuously receive feedback on your progress throughout your learning journey.
In your first year you will explore interior design examples of the application of technologies, with an emphasis on understanding and exploring interior space. You will be introduced to the development of conceptual ideas and thinking, alongside a range of manual techniques and computer-aided design (CAD) software. You will also be introduced to cultural, historical and contextual studies.
In your second year you will build on the skills and knowledge developed in the first year to start to realise your own disinvite design identity and become more self-directed in your learning and design decision-making. You will have the opportunity to undertake live projects and can explore specialisms in Design for: Exhibition, Leisure & Hospitality, Performance, Retail, Workspace and Event.
In your third year you will select key design projects, with an emphasis on demonstrating the application of previously learned knowledge and skills and clear independent learning. You will be taught through briefings, seminars and mainly group and individual tutorials with support from current industry practitioners. Your studies will culminate in an individual Major Design Project for showcasing, alongside developing a professional employability toolkit which can be used to launch your career after graduation.
You are encouraged to take part in national competitions in which DMU has a proud history of success. Our students have won the Gensler award for Interior Design (New Designers), Aston Martin – rethinking luxury car interior materials and 3 have been shortlisted for the RSA awards. A number of students have also been involved in ‘live projects’ resulting in the installation of their designs in the Heritage Centre and the Energy Lab at DMU, input on the Leicester Castle Business School refurbishment and design for the visitor’s area at HMP Leicester.
Our staff have extensive commercial design backgrounds in display/exhibition and interior architecture. Some run their own interior design practices, working in the leisure industry, domestic and retail sectors of interior design. There are also specialists in design for television and drama productions, exhibitions and spiritual space.
**Contact hours**
In your first year you will normally attend around 17 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 23 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Leicester Campus
Arts, Design and Humanities
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