Print this page Online Diploma Interior Design and Decoration

The Online Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration course is for serious career-oriented students who wish to enter the interior design professions. It provides a strong practical focus, developing not just an understanding and knowledge of interior design, but also professional design skills. Successful graduates earn a Diploma qualification that is equal to the intensive in-house Diploma Architectural Interior Design.

The course is run over 27 months and offers the following:

• You study part-time, following an achievable but dynamic programme structure. The Online Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration is designed around approximately 14 hours of formal learning per week. However, you should expect to spend more time than this on assignments and interior design projects.
• You study in your own home or base, where you are encouraged to set up a small interior design studio.
• You can access your bespoke course website at any time and can study online or download and print course materials for offline study.
• You join a group of fellow Inchbald students who are studying the same course programme, so you can benefit from sharing, conferring and presenting your own ideas to fellow students using the online discussion forums and informal chatroom. Many interior designers and decorators work with a team, so co-operating with others and exchanging ideas gives valuable experience.
• You receive a high level of individual tutorial support from your tutors. The programme includes frequent assignments, which you complete and submit to your tutor for constructive comments and advice that is tailored to your needs. In addition, you receive informal support from tutors online.
• You practise and develop your interior design and decoration skills by carrying a series of practical design projects – with the support and guidance of your tutors – for assessment.
• At three key points during the Online Diploma Interior Design and Decoration course you attend in-house short study schools with your fellow students, first for induction at the beginning of the course, and then for intensive skills development.

Online Diploma Interior Design and Decoration – course contents

The course is structures around modules – each leading to a design project.

Semester 1

Module 1 looks at the interior designer’s role in creating design solutions and explores the skill of making design decisions, developing concepts, satisfying functional requirements and creating interior spaces that are aesthetically and emotionally pleasing in terms of spatial proportion and light. You develop skills in observation, sketching, recording and presenting design ideas for your project.

Module 2 introduces technical drawing, the production of two-dimensional drawing: plans elevations and cross sections. It also looks at how to produce a one-point perspective. You produce orthographic projections for your project.

Module 3 looks at the interior designer’s input into developing a design solution by creating a mood or atmosphere, and shows how this can be achieved by the application of colour, pattern and texture, lighting, applied finishes, furnishings and, most importantly, style. Emotional responses are a major part of this process and although it is difficult to define beauty and aesthetic excellence, the module explains a number of generally accepted principles that can be used. You will also explore the history of interior decoration, which is an important subject, enabling you to put interior design and decoration in context. The project enables you to demonstrate your developing skills in decoration.

Semester 2

Module 4 looks at building construction, services and survey. You will explore and develop your understanding of domestic structures, such as foundations, walls and floors, doors, windows and second fixings, survey techniques, plumbing and drainage, lighting, insulation and ventilation and building regulations. You will also examine the application of hard and soft finishes.

Module 5 takes you through the various stages of design for your project, which is a small domestic interior. Sessions cover the history of furniture and modern furniture.

Module 6 is a project to design a large residential interior. It enables you to develop and consolidate your learning. You will focus on decoration in greater depth than in Semester 1 with sessions on using fabrics in interior design and decoration, staircase design and lighting design.

Semester 3

Module 7 explores detailed working drawings for fitments. The project requires the presentation of working drawings.

Module 8 enables you to research commercial design, with a focus on shop fronts, signage and graphics, and carry out a commercial interior design project to create a hairdressing salon.

Module 9 centres around a major final interior design project your choice.

An important part of this module is job administration – an essential skill for practising interior designers and decorators.

Online Diploma Interior Design and Decoration – course entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, although you will need to show a commitment to the heavy workload and the maturity to contribute to the course group. If you are uncertain about making this commitment you may be interested in the shorter Online Certificate Interior Design and Decoration course. For more information about the Online Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration course, please contact the Course Administrator.