Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts (Interior Design) Level 7

Qualification: Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts (Interior Design) Level 7.
Where: Unitec Mt Albert campus.
Course date: Starts February and July 2009.
Enrolment: Applications considered in the date order they are received. First round of interviews October and June.
Contact: Ph 0800 109 510, email courses@unitec.ac.nz, website designandvisualarts.unitec.ac.nz.
Course cost: $5059 (may vary slightly depending on course options).
Course numbers: 25 places.
Prerequisites: Must be at least 16, NCEA passes required including 42 credits at level three or higher, applicants must also submit a portfolio of work.
Hours: 21 contact hours a week plus 19 hours self-directed.
Salary: Starting from $32,000-$38,000.
Career prospects: Interior designer (retail, commercial and domestic), furniture designer, lighting designer, performance designer.

This programme is awaiting NZQA approval.


Interior designs have a profound influence on the way we live and work, and can affect the dynamics of social relations.

The discipline of interior design is challenging, focusing on the production of carefully crafted interior spaces.

Interior design suits people who are creative, hard-working and committed to innovation and excellence. A keen interest in drawing, craft and technology is essential, as is a willingness to collaborate with other professionals within the building industry, such as architects.

Unitec's Interior Design degree delivers a range of studio projects to challenge and extend students' conceptual thinking skills and technical agility.

Students design spaces for cultural and/or commercial consumption. These may include museum displays and performance, retail or restaurant spaces. Students are also introduced to residential design practices and larger-scale projects that may include designs for contemporary work environments, community-focused projects, and experimental projects challenging conventional interior typologies.

In the final year of study, students complete a semester-long, self-directed project, establishing the programme and theoretical underpinnings of a design project.The purpose of this practitioner-focused course is to establish strong linksbetween design studio practice, contextual studies, technology and business.

Practitioners of interior design and allied disciplines are invited to be guest lecturers at strategic periods in studio, technology and theory papers. Also, each semester, the Insiders Symposia provide an opportunity for staff and invited professionals to present research practices to students, exposing them to critical discourses.

Students are taught a range of architectural representation techniques, engaging with digital and analog drawing and modelling. They are introduced to the computer software programs used in design practice, and are exposed to new and emergent technologies and their applications within the discipline.

This is a three-year course but if students choose to finish studies at the end of the second year, they are entitled to receive the exit award, the Diploma in Interior Design. They can then return any time to finish the degree.

THE GRADUATE
Summer Fitzgerald, age 24
Production manager with ASC Architects
Graduated April 08, started work in July 08

I thought interior design was good to go into as I was interested in installation art like window dressing. But I ended up getting into more generic interior work.

I like the way Unitec runs. Our studio spaces were big, and you have good relationships with your tutors. The class numbers aren't big so you get more time with your tutors and you take in more.

I learned heaps such as how to generate ideas and where to go to get information to back up or confirm that idea; and that helps your design skills to improve.

I learned about designers and theory and did lots of drawing. I know what I'm interested in specifically in interior now.

I'm production manager here. The job includes photocopying, organising the library, talking to sales reps, making up colour boards for others in the office.

The training has helped me with organisation. When you're a student, it's a lot more open and you do what you want. When you come into an office, it's really different.

I would like to work more on interior designs but you have to start somewhere. My goal is to do some commercial interiors, maybe some shop fit-outs and go from there. Window dressing still interests me but that's on the backburner. I'll see what happens.

THE EMPLOYER
John Sofo, director with ASC Architects

I employed Summer for a variety of reasons. Even though she is not working as an interior designer, but as a production manager, we wanted someone with a design degree.

Every aspect of what we do needs someone to be familiar with design.

We needed someone who has skills as a visual designer. We needed someone with good computer skills. And we needed someone who is calm and organised, as in this office we have a whole bunch of people who are asking her to do things. Summer has all of those skills.

The main way Summer's degree helps her in the workplace is understanding design, even though she is not working absolutely in interior design. She may be preparing materials for a building design and, while not trained in this, she has the appropriate skills to do this work in a way that is well designed and well prepared.